Two teachers received a prestigious award at Gilbert Plains Collegiate.
Jody Jubenville and Lindsay Agnew were nominated by Erin Knight, a 2015 Loran Scholar and former Gilbert Plains Collegiate student, for their impact on her when she attended Gilbert Plains CI as a secondary school student.
Agnew is currently working at Whitmore School, while Jubenville has stayed at Gilbert Plains Collegiate.
Jubenville is honoured to receive the award.
“It’s truly an honour to be recognized, I mean Erin was an inspiration, I think to students and adults.”
Agnew shares her thoughts as well.
“I think for me, it’s every teacher’s hopes that they have an impact and that they inspire students and whom they teach. To be recognized, as being that person in Erin’s life is very honouring.”
Jubenville explains how she made an impact on Knight.
“She would throw ideas off and I’d be like ‘yeah let’s do it’ and just encouraging her I think. Just telling her, encouraging her, and supporting all of her choices, decisions and ideas and watching her make it happen.”
Agnew says starting a philanthropy group at the school was one thing that inspired Knight. Knight learned of a passion for water conservation in a global issues class with Agnew.
Knight came to Gilbert Plains and Dauphin all the way from Calgary where she is currently going to university.
Jubenville says Knight had an impact on them too.
“She raises the bar, she was an easy person to teach, she was a go-getter, she would go beyond expectations and just to show that no matter what you believe in and go after it, you can achieve it.”
Agnew was also impacted by Knight.
“Erin was ok with walking her own path and not letting other people’s influences deter her from what she believed was right. I think now, teaching the elementary school, I see what needs to happen in order for them to reach their full potential and that no matter how hard it is or how many barriers you face, nothing’s impossible.”
There have only been around 50 teachers across Canada to receive the awards.
