GUELPH, ON - The Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) is pleased to announce that this year’s Mike Elrick Environmental Leadership Award has been awarded to Katie Gad, an outstanding educator at Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute. Gad is also a teacher for the UGDSB CELP program.
Gad was nominated by colleagues in recognition of her commitment to environmental education and sustainability. As a teacher in the CELP Program, Gad has guided hundreds of students as they experience connections with nature and the importance of sustainability. Gad has also created a love of outdoor learning for the students who have come through the program.
Through CELP, students take part in hands-on environmental learning opportunities through an outdoor education experience. Students also have the chance to share their learning with elementary students, take their Science, Civics and Careers courses in the context of current climate issues, and form lasting friendships through experiential learning.
One of Gad’s nominators for the award shared how Gad did many things to help recognize the 30th anniversary of the CELP program this year, including an anniversary reunion, and the arrangement of guest speakers. They continued to say, “Katie has worked tirelessly to keep Mike's legacy alive in this school board. Her integrity in maintaining her vision is unparalleled. CELP, the life changing program for our grade 10 students, continues because Katie wills it to continue. You will never hear Katie talking about her substantial accomplishments. She is a quiet champion of the environment and the vulnerable, making a difference every day in the life of our students and the life of our planet.”
Another of Gad’s nominators said, “Katie Gad embodies environmental leadership and the spirit of this award.... In all that she does both at CELP, as a classroom teacher, and as an active community member, she is keeping Mike Elrick's legacy alive. I have witnessed the immense amount of effort that she puts into fostering environmental leadership skills in her students from both the perspective of a colleague and as a parent of a student in the CELP program. Katie works tirelessly to organize strong community connections so that her CELP students have a varied and meaningful experience.”
The Mike Elrick Environmental Leadership Award is presented annually to a UGDSB staff member or volunteer who demonstrates a deep commitment to environmental stewardship. Named in memory of Mike Elrick, a dedicated UGDSB educator who passed away in 2009, the award honours individuals who model sustainability and inspire others to take action in their schools and communities.
Congratulations to Katie on this well-deserved recognition. Your leadership and dedication are making a lasting impact — not just on the environment, but on generations of students learning how to protect it.