Nicole Cooper, a first-year math and science teacher at Sexsmith Secondary School (SSS), is the 2020 Edwin Parr Teacher Award nominee for Peace Wapiti Public School Division (PWPSD).  

The award, presented annually by the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA), recognizes one outstanding first-year teacher in each of the six ASBA zones. The nomination was a joint effort by SSS Assistant Principals Alison Lario and Jennifer Thompson. 

Ms. Cooper graduated with combined Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Lethbridge in 2019, prior to joining SSS in September to teach Grade 7 Math, Grade 8 Science, and Biology 20 and 30. 

“Speechless” is the word she uses to express her initial reaction to the award nomination. 

“Becoming a teacher is all I have ever wanted. It is humbling to receive this recognition in the first year of my dream job, especially in a division filled with others who have set such high standards of education and student engagement.” 

In their nomination letter to the selection committee, Ms. Lario and Ms. Thompson commended the first-year teacher for her willingness to pull from the expertise of seasoned colleagues and collaborate with staff to support the needs of students. 

The pair say Ms. Cooper regularly blends creativity with her depth of subject matter knowledge to create an engaging classroom environment for her students, turning a Biology 20 lab on macromolecules into a Murder Mystery study of digestive forensics. A “Barbie Drop” project saw groups of Grade 10 students working together on mathematical equations to calculate drop data based on the height and weight of a doll and the bungee cord length. 

“Ms. Cooper uses her professional knowledge to overlap curricular outcomes in ways that add real depth of student understanding. She also asks students to read articles that provide real world connections to science curriculum.”  

The Assistant Principals applaud Ms. Cooper for her relationship-building skills, beginning with her “Get to Know You” survey on the first day of school to identify students’ interests and learning styles, through to the professionalism she exhibits in her communication with parents.  

PWPSD congratulates Ms. Cooper on her nomination and wishes her success as she moves forward to the Zone 1 competition. The winner for the region is announced at the ASBA Zone 1 Fall General Meeting.