Kasey Graham (Photo: CESD)

By Chinook's Edge School Division

rookie of the year

First year of teaching a doozy for Chinook’s Edge Edwin Parr Award nominee

Apr 9, 2020 | 7:00 PM

Kasey Graham was on a roll. In her first year of teaching Grade 7 at École Innisfail Middle School, she had forged strong relationships with her students and that connection was encouraging great strides forward in her classroom. And then the pandemic arrived.

“We were already using a lot of the technology before, so shifting so quickly to online learning from home wasn’t too challenging. What did strike me at first was my concern to protect those great connections we had, because we were always so happy to see each other every day. I have the best group of students and I want to do so much for them – I was worried about how to lead them through this,” said Graham.

“But their support of one another is as strong as ever! They are so excited to see each other, which still happens every day through Google Classroom. I make sure I bring my enthusiasm and positive energy to every interaction, just as I always have, and the whole group is caring and supportive. My first online message was to praise them for their resiliency. Kids are so much smarter and more adaptable than we know – I just love working with them.”

Graham’s previous work at a children’s group home taught her how important strong relationships are to moving young people toward success. She grew up in Red Deer and attended the RDC/UofA Bachelor of Education program, and is teaching primarily Language Arts and Science.

“It has been a really amazing first year! My Grade Team meets every day through Google Meet and I’m learning so much from them. I found that I dove headfirst into this year and have learned so much more than I expected. It has been the most self-reflective learning I’ve ever done, and with online learning we’re all reflecting on how we could be teaching differently. I think a lot of positives can come from this experience and now more than ever that constant support is so important. I’m supporting kids, my team is supporting me and our admin is supporting all of us. This whole thing has brought us together and parents have been so supportive through this. They are trying so hard for their kids and I’m so happy to be working with these sweet students. They mean so much to me.”

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That commitment to connecting with every student is what Principal Clark Peters sees as one of many strengths Graham brings to teaching.

“She genuinely loves it, she always has kids around and she is completely devoted to them,” said Principal Peters. “Kasey has high expectations for herself and her students, and she’s always trying to grow in her craft. She’s always discovering new ways of reaching students and she’s ready to deliver what every kid needs in order to succeed. They really seek her out – not just for instruction in LA, but for navigating the world! They’re engaged and they’re learning and there are never behaviour issues in her classroom. She is very respectful of her students and it is returned tenfold. Her teaching abilities are far beyond what you’d expect for a first-year teacher.”

Still, Graham was a bit surprised at being named the Chinook’s Edge Edwin Parr Award nominee. The ASBA award recognizes teachers who are new to the profession who show significant promise in their first year. She was chosen from over 40 first year teachers in the division, following thorough classroom observation.

“I looked around at the division’s New Teacher Orientation last fall and thought everyone was amazing! They are all great, so I am honoured to be nominated.”

(Sandy Bexon)