Edward Johnson PS teacher wins 2020 Mike Elrick Environmental Leadership Award
For Immediate Release
June 22, 2020
GUELPH, Ontario – A teacher from Edward Johnson Public School in Guelph has be awarded the Upper Grand District School Board’s Mike Elrick Environmental Leadership Award.
Teacher Yvette Tendick is the 2020 recipient of the environmental award.
Now in its 11th year, the Mike Elrick Environmental Leadership Award is presented each year to a staff member or volunteer who has demonstrated environmental leadership within their school community or school board.
Mike Elrick was an Upper Grand teacher who demonstrated outstanding commitment and leadership in his work on environmental issues within the board. In addition to running the Community Environmental Leadership and Headwaters Programs for fifteen years, he also chaired the board-wide Environmental Issues Committee and was involved in numerous other initiatives within the UGDSB. Mike role modelled environmentally friendly practices from biking to school to washing mugs for staff meetings. Mike passed away in November 2009 from lung cancer.
The recipient of this award is someone who does one or more of the following:
- Drives environmental projects, earth week activities, or advises the environment club within their school
- Models numerous sustainable practices for students, like biking to school, bringing a litterless lunch, or using “good on one side paper”
- Infuses discourse and action on environmental issues into their teaching
- Demonstrates environmental leadership in other ways
This year, the UGDSB received 13 nominations of deserving candidates throughout the school board. The Award Committee, comprised of previous award recipients and nominees, curriculum leads and board staff, had a difficult decision to make.
Yvette is being honoured for her dedication and commitment to the environment, both in her school and in the community. Yvette has been a champion of the environment at Edward Johnson PS for years, running environmental clubs for the past 12 years and organizing programs at the school such as a compost and recycling program, litterless lunches, walk/bike to school, presentations and plays about taking care of the Earth and more.
As just a small example of her community involvement, Yvette has been President of the Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation (GCAT) for eight years, is engaged in the Active and Safe Routes to School committee, organized and ran a city-wide bike skills program for children in grades 4 and 5 last June 2019, called the Royal City Bike Rodeo, and is currently organizing “Bikes 4 Community Connections” with the City of Guelph and Guelph Wellington Immigration services to help newcomers and refugees learn about their community by riding through Guelph with bike mentors.
According to her many nominators, Yvette selflessly coordinates numerous programs and eco-initiatives at the school and is a role model for the students and staff every day.
“Yvette is the epitome of an environmentalist. Her care and respect for the environment permeates her beliefs, attitudes and lifestyle,” said one nominator.
On Monday, Yvette was surprised with the news of the award through a virtual staff meeting with her school. Members of the award selection committee, including last year’s winner Kim Gordon, presented the award to Yvette at her home.
Congratulations Yvette!
About the Upper Grand District School Board
The Upper Grand District School Board serves more than 35,000 students through 65 elementary schools and 11 secondary schools in the City of Guelph, County of Wellington and County of Dufferin. The UGDSB covers the ancestral and traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Six Nations of the Grand River, and Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territories. Student success is the goal of over 4,000 dedicated teaching and support staff who are aided by the contributions of caring volunteers and community partners.
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Media contact:
Heather Loney, Communications and Community Engagement Officer
Upper Grand District School Board
519-822-4420 ext.725
[email protected]
Megan Sicoli, Administrative Officer, Communications
Upper Grand District School Board
519-822-4420 ext.764
[email protected]
Categories: Media Releases • News Tags: UGLearnGreen