By rdnewsNOW staff

Chinook’s Edge celebrates World Teachers Day

Oct 5, 2018 | 11:11 AM

INNISFAIL – Bev Hohenwarter just experienced her 38th first day of school at Ross Ford Elementary in Didsbury.

“I guess that’s a lot of back to school outfits!” joked the longtime Grade 1 teacher. “I still get excited for school to begin each year, because I just love being with these kids. But I always feel a bit apprehensive at the same time, with all the same concerns that a first-year teacher deals with. No matter how long we have been in schools, every teacher wants to do their very best for kids.”

Teaching is prevalent throughout Mrs. Hohenwarter’s family, as her grandmother taught at École Olds Elementary for many years and her brother currently teaches there. Both her children are also teachers in Chinook’s Edge – her daughter at Hugh Sutherland School in Carstairs and her son at Didsbury Career High School.

“Looking back, when I first started I was totally focused on curricular success beyond anything else. Now I just want all these darling children to be the best they can be – in terms of achieving the curriculum and also in every other way that makes them well-rounded and happy,” said Mrs. Hohenwarter.

“One thing I still marvel at is when kids learn to read. When they master words and discover how wonderful reading is, I’m sure I’m as excited as they are! Children’s language skills are affected by all the technology they are exposed to, and the pace of families is much more rushed than it once was, so I try to make up for all of that by reading to my students throughout the day. Year after year, it is very clear to me that reading truly is the foundation for all other success – which is why it is such a focus at every school in our division.”

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Mrs. Hohenwarter has invested nearly four decades of teaching at Ross Ford School, she says, because of the strong relationships in the building. “Parents leave these young children at the beginning of the day, knowing they will be nurtured and honoured – and then I know that they will be giving that to me in return. We share a strong relationship and that makes everything else work,” she said. “But that also extends to the other staff at Ross Ford – I’ve always had the most wonderful staff to work with and they have made it so nice to come to work each day.”

Principal Brent Runnett describes Bev Hohenwarter as a master teacher whose steady approach is a huge influence at the school. Along with her devotion to students, she has a number of interests outside of work that help her achieve a work/life balance that is known to be so important to a successful teaching career.

“She is an example of a strong lifelong team member who has continually stretched her skills to bring her very best to students every day,” said Principal Runnett. “She is grounded and focused on what is important in a classroom and in a school, instead of getting caught up in small distractions. In the end, her students clearly know what she wants and they move forward together wonderfully.”

(Sandy Bexon – Chinook’s Edge School Division)