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Excellent Educators Day – an exclusive look at the men and women
helping our kids adapt to a world that’s constantly changing.
Our local educators are dealing with new challenges like
remote learning and new safety guidelines.
Listen all day February 11th to hear their stories and learn how
they’re making our children’s education and well-being their top priority
Excellent Educator Chris Couper
Chris Couper left a career in pharmaceutical management when he found it difficult to get over two bouts of parental leave, and decided to work with kids full-time. He's now an early childhood educator working with kindergarteners at St. Joseph's Elementary School in Arnprior, and wouldn't have it any other way. Couper...
Feb 11, 2021
Excellent Educator - Carol Lee Todd
Carol Lee Todd is the Office Administrator at Pakenham Public School. She says she "fell into the role," and we can't imagine a nicer landing. Initially she had been volunteering her time with another elementary school when an Office Assistant's role opened. As fate would have it, this was the year Grades Sev...
Feb 11, 2021
Excellent Educator - Theresa Weselake
Mrs. Weselake is a Special Education teacher at Central Public School in Renfrew. She has taught lots of different grades in several schools but Mrs. Weselake loves being a Special Education teacher the most. In her free time she likes canoe trips, Taekwondo, and playing her guitar. Mrs. Weselake lives in the Ottawa Va...
Feb 11, 2021
Excellent Educator - Peter Arbour
Peter started his teaching career with Algonquin College as a part-time professor of Dendrology in the Urban Forestry-Arboriculture program at the Pembroke Campus. He became a full time faculty member and coordinator of the Forestry Technician program two years ago, joining the college after a successful career as the ...
Feb 11, 2021
Excellent Educator - Joe Graham
Joe Graham earned undergrad at Dalhousie University in Halifax, and did teachers' college at Acadia University in Nova Scotia. He grew up in Renfrew, and is thrilled to be back in the county working in schools. Joe lives with his partner Kauri and their two dogs. He loves travelling, camping, and spending time with fa...
Feb 11, 2021
Excellent Educator - Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth Wright, known mostly as Mrs. Wright at RCI always dreamed of becoming a teacher, even as a young girl. Wright currently teaches grade 10 math at RCI but has also taught history and food classes. She says over her years of teaching, the biggest challenge is trying to find the spark in a student and find the ...
Feb 11, 2021
Excellent Educator - Joy Pilgrim
Joy Pilgrim is working as a virtual teacher at Queen Elizabeth Public School in Renfrew. Pilgrim says teaching is actually the second part of her career as she went back to teachers college in her late 30's. Pilgrim says she always knew she wanted to be a teacher and before going back to school owned a flower shop in d...
Feb 11, 2021
Excellent Educators Ruthann McKie
Educational Assistant Ruthann McKie says her commitment to social service work is a family tradition. McKie says both her mother and grandmother gave tirelessly of themselves to help enrich the lives of others. Grandmother provided tea and empathy along with an open door policy for anyone who needed an ear to listen. H...
Feb 11, 2021
Excellent Educator - Sasha Pole
Sasha Pole is a kindergarten teacher at Admaston Public School in Renfrew. She started her career as a highschool teacher in Manitoba, but says her favourite grade to teach is kindergarten. Pole taught at Central Public School in Renfrew before moving to Admaston Public School where she has been for 12-years. She says ...
Feb 11, 2021