Mackenzie Gill, a teacher at Ecole St. John Paul II is the Edwin Parr Nominee for the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education. (Submitted Photo)

By Jesse Gill

Kindergarten teacher from Ecole St. John Paul II is Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education nominee for Edwin Parr Award

Mar 29, 2024 | 2:14 PM

Mackenzie Gill, the Edwin Parr Award nominee for the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education spends her school days teaching kindergarten students at Ecole St. John Paul II in two different languages.

Each school division in Alberta nominates an Edwin Parr Award candidate based on excellence as a first year teacher.

Gill teaches two different half day programs, one half is spent with a French Immersion group, the other half she teaches a group in English.

Children in Ms. Gill’s Kindergarten class following instruction. (Submitted Photo)

Born in New Brunswick as part of a military family, Gill has also lived in Nova Scotia and Cold Lake, AB before moving to Medicine Hat seven years ago when her father retired after 20 years with the military. She spent most of her childhood in Cold Lake.

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Gill obtained her education degree locally through Mount Royal University’s partnership with the Medicine Hat College.

Her experience with MHCBE has been a positive one and she was honoured to be nomination.

“I was surprised but pleased to be nominated by my Principal, Robert Dunamowksi. This nomination has been a true blessing and has allowed me to reflect on my teaching in such a positive way,” Gill said.

“I could not have asked for more supportive colleagues and administration. As a first year teacher, I tend to be hard on myself, but I just need to remember that my hard work is being recognized and that his is the path that God has set out for me,” she added.

A group hug in Ms. Gill’s Kindergarten class at Ecole St. John Paul II. (Submitted Photo)

Knowing she wanted to help people, Gill had an interest in teaching at early age.

“Around the age of seven, I remember staying up past my bedtime drawing pictures of my future classrooms and playing pretend,” Gill said.

“Now I get the priviledge to no long play pretend and to be inside my very own classroom with two amazing groups of students,” she added.

“It is truly a dream come true.”

Seeing the faces of her students each school day Gill said is the most rewarding part of her job.

“They come to school with the best stories and the best attitudes and it makes our days more positive,” Gill said.

“I also love to see my students learn what I teach them and make progress in their learning over time.”

Ms. Gill walking with students in the hallway at Ecole St. John Paul II. (Submitted Photo)

Teaching in two different languages according to Gill does present some challenges.

“Not only trying to navigate being a first year teacher, but also navigating it in two languages. It can be challenging to find and create resources in French when there are so many English resources available,” Gill said.

“I am slowly collecting and creating resources and will feel for comfortable going into the next year.”

Teachers in the Medicine Hat area are part of the Alberta School Board Association’s zone six, the 10 Edwin Parr Award nominees will attend a banquet in Taber, AB on May 15 where a winner will be chosen.

The Edwin Parr Award winner for zone six will then attend a provincial award ceremony in the fall.

The other nominees from the Medicine Hat area are Brooklyn Burzminski, a teacher at Eagle Butte High School with the Prairie Rose School Division and Tanisha Preston, a teacher at Southview Community School with the Medicine Hat Public School Division.