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C.P. Blakely teacher nominated for award

First year teacher Steve Higgs is nominated for the Edwin Parr Award
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He was volunteering in Uganda when Steve Higgs found his calling as a teachers. Now he is teaching Grade 6 at C.P. Blakely Elementary School, but had originally studied music at a small university at his home province of New Brunswick.

It was while in school Higgs met a group of volunteers who were heading to the small African country to work with children. Higgs said he jumped at the chance to join them. Three and a half years later, he returned to begin his degree in education after finding his place in the world.

“We were working with very vulnerable children, and we were convinced that if we could provide as many kids with as decent an education as possible, it could make a valuable difference for individuals and families,” said Higgs of his experience in Uganda.

He said he found what proper education can mean to children and what it can offer the human race as a whole.

He remembers seeing the gratitude in the children’s eyes while being taught.

“Now that my first year of teaching is nearly done, I can say that I’ve felt my most authentic self when I’m in the classroom. I am so happy to be here,” Higgs said.

C.P. Blakey Principal Anne Frey nominated Higgs for the Chinook’s Edge Edwin Parr Award because of his capacity to be reflective on his teaching practice, for valuing each student and for forging strong relationships with everyone around him.

The Edwin Parr Award recognizes teachers who are new to the profession and show “significant promise” in their first year.

Frey said his relationship skills with students and parents is “extremely strong,” which lends to him being well liked at the school

“He has contributed so much to our culture here that it’s hard to believe he is a first year teacher,” said Frey.

He is able to keep his students engaged in a diverse and flexible classroom, according to Frey, as well he is “Google savvy” and has shared his Level One Google education skills staff at C.P. Blakely.

“He’s been a great staff member right from the start and he’s been an impactful teacher, because he made it a priority to immediately become part of the community,” Frey said.

Becoming part of the community meant repeating what is important to his students. It is common to see Higgs at students’ hockey games, dance recitals or theatre performances.

“This told them they were important to him, that he believed in them and had great hopes for them,” said Frey. “He truly knows the kids in his classroom and cares about them.”

Higgs is also involved in the school and goes the extra mile in the school. He volunteered for the two-month basketball intramural program, comes in early one morning every week to help with the school’s breakfast program, is part of the student leadership group, and took the lead in building a Grade 6 culture at C.P. Blakely, this includes organizing a student showcase.

“His past music, sound and light experience is an asset to us at assemblies and he has skills and abilities well beyond his experience. He has never felt like a brand new teacher,” said Frey.

While Higgs has never “felt like a brand new teacher” he has taken advantage of every opportunity Chinook’s Edge offers to new instructors. He arrived a week early last summer to take part in the New Teacher Orientation, is part of ongoing teacher mentorship and the Grade 6 PLC, and is committed to continuing to improve his practice, according to a press released issued by Chinook’s Edge.

“The idea of forming a strong relationship with students isn’t a new concept for Chinook’s Edge – this division already has that priority right,” said Higgs. “I just wanted to work hard to establish myself as someone worth these kids’ time for eight hours a day.”

It is Higgs’ hope his students remember their experience and time in his classroom.

“For me, I’ll remember their innocent reminder to me to have fun, because we really enjoy our learning together. They have helped me as a teacher.”

The Edwin Parr Award winner from Zone 4 will be announced at a special event on May 28.