For Immediate Release 2007EDU0041-000328 March 27, 2007 Ministry of Education PROVINCE HONOURS 14 OUTSTANDING B.C. TEACHERS VICTORIA – Education Minister Shirley Bond recognized the 14 B.C. recipients of the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence at a ceremony in the legislature today as part of Education Week in B.C. “These teachers are wonderful examples of the high calibre of teachers in this province,” said Bond. “They represent a wide variety of experience and expertise and, in their own special way, each has contributed to improving student achievement in this province.” The 14 teachers are: • Briar Ballou, a science teacher at Handsworth secondary in North Vancouver. • Lorraine Baron, an advanced placement math and calculus teacher at Mount Boucherie secondary in Kelowna. • Linda Beaven, a performance teacher at Summerland secondary school. • Sharon Conrad, a fine arts teacher at Brookswood secondary in Langley. • Jim Cram, a science, math, history and geography teacher at Ladysmith secondary. • Brent Cameron, co-founder of SelfDesign Learning Community. • Dr. Kathleen Forsythe, a teacher with SelfDesign Learning Community. • Don Hutchinson, a physical education teacher at Montgomery middle school in Coquitlam. • Andrew Lum, a teacher-librarian at North Delta secondary school. • Christina MacDonald, the kindergarten - Grade 7 teacher at San Josef elementary teacher in Holberg. • Michael Maser, a teacher with SelfDesign Learning Community. • Maryam Moayeri, currently a doctoral student, researcher and teacher at the University of British Columbia, who taught at West Vancouver secondary. • Antonio Vendramin, now a vice-principal at Holly elementary school in Surrey. • Janet Williams, formerly a social studies teacher at MacKenzie secondary and now the principal of MacKenzie elementary school. “It is important that we recognize the talent and dedication of exceptional teachers,” said Bond. “Today’s ceremony and the Premier’s Award for Teaching Excellence announced yesterday are two of the ways we are thanking people who make a huge difference for students in this province.” Today’s ceremony was one in a series of events during Education Week to celebrate the excellence and innovation taking place in B.C.’s schools. During Education Week in 2008, Premier Gordon Campbell will announce the first-ever recipients of the Premier’s Award for Teaching Excellence. To view Minister Bond’s Education Week video, please go here.