We are better together

Last night I won a Capital Educators' Award - sort of.  My colleague Al Overwijk and I got a joint nomination from our principal.  There were over 600 nominees from junior kindergarten to post graduate, 65 finalist and 15 individual  winners.  Nominations from students and parents - touching testimonials of teaching talent, passion and compassion.  It is a real honour to be included in this very inspiring group of professionals.  Yet in the 12 years of the award we were the first co-nominees since there was no such type of nomination - until now. That's our brilliant principal - not afraid to bend the rules when the rules need bending.

Two and a half years ago Al and I each had a section of grade 10 applied math.  We started with a germ of an idea and rebuilt the course on the fly.  The students would do activities every day and the math would build over the semester.  We met almost every lunch hour to talk about the latest activity and plan the next steps.  Our approach worked better than we imagined.  We are now helping other teachers change their practice to help more students have success in mathematics.

I think that Al and I are pretty good teachers but when we get together we produce our best work. I believe that advances in education come when teachers talk and work together.  The best teaching comes from collaboration. 

It was wonderful to be recognized for our work together, as a team of two.  I hope that this is the beginning of a trend for the Capital Educators' Awards where the work of collaborators will be recognized and celebrated. 

I have a slab of acrylic with my name on it sitting on my mantle.  Al has one with his own name as well.  One nomination and two wins. But I didn't win anything really - we won together.  I will have to take my little trophy somewhere to have Alexander Overwijk's name etched on it.  The only question is the order of the names.  Does Al come before Bruce or does McLaurin come before Overwijk?

The irony of all this is that my last class of the day before I left for the awards ceremony was lousy.  I had a collection of grade 9 students that I failed to engage, interest or control.  I always say that you are only as good as your last class.  Wednesday was good, but Thursday was lousy.  Thank goodness that Friday's class was fine. 

Now when my last class of the day is lacking, I can look at the acrylic trophy and console myself - or maybe it will just make me feel like a fraud.