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UGDSB teacher wins award for commitment to literacy, use of technology in the science classroom

For Immediate Release
September 26, 2016

GUELPH, Ontario – A teacher in the Upper Grand District School Board has won a prestigious award, recognizing her innovation and passion for teaching science while incorporating technology and literacy in her lessons.

The Science Teachers’ Association of Ontario (STAO) will present Erin District High School’s Kendra Spira with the Irwin Talesnick Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Science.

Among the many requirements of the recipient of the STAO award are unique and extraordinary accomplishments in teaching science to students in the province.

Over the past few years, Spira has been engaging her students and opening up whole new worlds of learning, by integrating technology into the science classroom.

Spira was recently featured by TVO’s Teach Ontario for her efforts in creating a learner-centred classroom that uses technology to help deepen student learning. 

Last year, she led a project that investigated how technology can be used effectively with Applied-level learners. Throughout the project, teachers in science, geography, physical education and math explored how using technology can help improve student engagement, literacy and increase the effectiveness of teaching practices.

Spria was also invited by Google to design a virtual field trip for Google Cardboard. Her class then piloted and participated in the virtual journey. Google has since launched this project as part of the Google Expeditions program. 

As a Literacy Team member, Spira provided support for students who were struggling with the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). She also incorporated literacy skills into her Grade 10 Applied science course, leveraging the confidence her students feel in the science classroom to improve their literacy results.

Spira will be presented with the award on Nov. 10, 2016, at the STAO2016 conference in Toronto.

The 2015 winner of the Irwin Talesnick Award was James Ball, a physics teacher at John F. Ross CVI. 

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For more information:
Heather Loney, Communications and Community Engagement Officer
Upper Grand District School Board
519-822-4420 ext.725
[email protected]

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