news release
Thursday, February 18, 2016
NATIONAL INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AWARDS PRESENTED
(Fredericton, NB) – Eleven National Inclusive Education Awards were presented during a ceremony at Government House today. Introduced by the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL), the awards recognize New Brunswick individuals, schools and organizations that work every day to include all students in education and school life. The awards presentation is the focal point for celebrations marking National Inclusive Education Month in New Brunswick.
The ceremony was organized by the New Brunswick Association for Community Living (NBACL) and hosted by the Honourable Jocelyne Roy Vienneau, Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick and the patron of NBACL.
Her Honour Jocelyne Roy Vienneau and NBACL president Dianne Cormier Northrup presented the awards to recipients representing the continuum of inclusion throughout the educational cycle: two owner/operators of childcare centres, the staff of two elementary schools, a teacher and an educational assistant, teachers and students of a high school production team, a resource teacher, a community college learning strategist, a community college instructor, a director of student services, and an entire school community.
The people who were celebrated today “are making a significant impact in the lives of individuals and communities through their contributions and through their example,” said Dianne Cormier Northrup in her opening remarks.
“We know the job of educating any student is challenging at the best of times, but there are many people in our education system who not only rise to the challenge, but find inspiration in their work and therefore inspire others,” Cormier Northrup said.
“Now is the time for us to recognize those who go that extra mile, knowing that they are not only changing one life, but many.
“While these success stories are inspiring, there is still much work to be done to make education in New Brunswick truly inclusive,” she added, “but we want educators, support staff, students and parents to look at the examples of those whom we are honouring today and know that it is possible and it is worth the effort.
“As we face tough economic times, there could be no greater opportunity for us to showcase why inclusive education is so effective. Inclusive education is about leveraging the collective strengths of educators, students, parents, and the community for the betterment of all.”
Founded in 1957 by parents whose children were not legally allowed an education in our public schools, NBACL has evolved over the past 59 years and now works on initiatives that touch almost every aspect of the lives of people who have an intellectual disability.
The New Brunswick recipients of the 2016 National Inclusive Education Awards are:
In Oromocto, Jillian Power, owner and operator of Shooting Stars Daycare, where every child is accepted and included unconditionally in the daily program. At Shooting Stars, inclusion is not just a policy, it is an inherent part of everyday practice.
In Saint John, Centennial School, for bringing educators, parents and the broader community together to ensure that every child feels valued and is learning to their greatest potential.
Lincoln Elementary School, Lincoln, for being a model of inclusive education best practices in every aspect of their school and school community.
From Fairvale Elementary School in Rothesay, teacher Shonna Martin and educational assistant, Karen Roscoe for their outstanding efforts to ensure that a student with autism and her service dog are welcomed and included in every aspect of school life.
From Fredericton, the Fredericton High School (FHS) Production Team for ensuring that any student who wants to join has a meaningful role to play.
Barb Manship-Hayden, educational support teacher at Frank L. Bowser School in Riverview, for teaching students how to advocate for themselves and for supporting students to exercise their own leadership skills.
From NBCC Moncton, Mandy Bellefleur, for revolutionizing the college’s approach to serving students with a disability and for supporting students to experience all aspects of college life.
From NBCC Woodstock, Early Childhood instructor Tammie Hachey, not only for her exceptional ability to ensure that all students had opportunities to succeed in her program, but for her ability to support other instructors who wanted the same for their students.
From Dieppe, Lise Maillet, Director of the Platinum Education Centre, for investing in the inclusion of all children under her care through training and professional development for her staff and partnerships with community organizations.
Also from Dieppe, the entire teaching and non-teaching team, parents and community of École Sainte Thérèse, for their outstanding success in implementing Inclusion Education Policy 322 in their school.
From Campbellton, Susan Arseneault, Director of Student Services (Francophone North East). She is credited as a real champion of inclusive education in her district. She has helped implement such projects as Integrated Service Delivery (in collaboration with directors of the Department of Health and Public Safety and the Department of Social Development for the region), and a program where schools can apply for special funding for adaptive equipment and other tools to accommodate students with a disability.
NBACL is a provincial, non-profit organization that works on behalf of children and adults with an intellectual disability and their families to ensure persons with an intellectual disability live, learn, work and participate in community as valued and contributing members.
Complete profiles of the award recipients are available upon request.
Contacts:
Christy McLean, Communications Manager, NBACL
506-453-4404 (office) 506-260-6212 (cell) cmclean@nbacl.nb.ca
Shana Woodill, Manager of Inclusive Education, NBACL
506-453-8638 swoodill@nbacl.nb.ca
