During the Covid-19 pandemic, educators in the district went to great lengths to provide students with the consistent, high-quality lessons they’d come to expect. The extra effort they put into teaching is the norm, of course. However, this effort was multiplied to deal with an unplanned, unprecedented global event.
So many of our educators deserve honours for their efforts before, during, and after that time. And, thankfully, one of those educators—Charles MacTavish, an academic support teacher for reading and numeracy at Geary Elementary Community School—has received his, thanks to a parent’s nomination.
MacTavish was recognized last week by Dyslexia Canada with an Educator of Excellence Award, after being nominated for the recognition by Geary Elementary parent Ainsley Congdon, whose daughter Raelyn Burke was in his Grade 1 class during the pandemic.
“I nominated him for his hard work as an academic support teacher, his hard work and dedication to the building blocks of the literacy curriculum, and the way he supported our daughter with her literacy development,” Congdon said.
MacTavish is known for this system-based approach to teaching reading, said Geary Elementary Community School Principal Amy Durant.
“I have seen him work with dedication to thoughtfully explore and develop his teaching to meet the needs of his students most effectively,” said Durant. “This year, Charles has spread his enthusiasm for lifelong learning to our staff through his role as an Academic Support Teacher.”
MacTavish’s record of results in student literacy has been helpful to his colleagues, she said.
“Our classroom teachers have significantly benefitted from Charles’ enthusiasm and teaching with intention in both literacy and numeracy,” said Durant. “He really is a phenomenal educator, and we are so proud to see him being recognized in this way.”
Said MacTavish, “This recognition reaffirms that the dedication poured into each lesson, each interaction, has made a meaningful impact. Knowing that a parent took the time to nominate me fills me with a sense of appreciation.”
To hear more from and about ASD-W’s own Charles MacTavish, tune into the Dyslexia Canada Spotlight podcast for his soon-to-be-released episode.