Mother Teresa School principal retires after 30-year teaching career

She has been principal at Mother Teresa School for the past 9 years and at Medicine Hat Catholic School Division for 17 years.

Her educator career spans 30 years in three provinces, four school divisions, and nine schools.

Bodnaruk says her husband is a firefighter so they had the chance to move around.

“One of my highlights I would say would be being principal here at the school. I was fortunate enough to get support to open a STREAM school this year and that’s been my goal. I’m a programmer I always have been, I built fine arts programs in all those three provinces – Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. And then I was able to build programs here as a principal here.”

STREAM stands for science, technology, religion/reading, engineering, arts, and math.

Bodnaruk says that programming was introduced last year at the school as a pilot project and they opened up as a full STREAM school this year.

Adding that it’s a more unique way of teaching students and you meet the children where they’re at in their learning.

Bodnaruk says every student learns differently and students also teach staff how they learn.

“What it does is bring the community into the school and use the experts in the school and have them become our expert teachers as well with some team teaching.”

Bodnaruk says she will be saying goodbye to one career.

But is excited to grow her landscaping and Christmas tree farm business just outside Medicine Hat.

She plans on having a proper goodbye with her students when it’s safe to do so.

Starting in September, Ms. Aura Street will be the new principal and Mr. Cody Young will be the new vice principal at Mother Teresa School.

by Chantal Wagner

Mother Teresa School principal retires after 30-year teaching career

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