Katherine Penner, of J. R. Walkof Elementary in the Garden Valley School Division, is the recipient of the Teaching Excellence Award – Early Years.
In Katherine Penner’s Grade 1 class, every new day is an adventure! She uses her repertoire of masterful strategies to fully engage her young students in discovering the wonders of learning, in a technology-rich environment. Mrs. Penner adopted Shutterfly, a social networking and photo-sharing site where student quotes, examples of student work, photos, and classroom highlights are shared daily. Portable media players, a SMART Board, video camcorders, “Zune in the Classroom” projects, and the use of ePearl, an electronic portfolio system, promote collaboration, expand individual learning and propel students to attain extraordinary outcomes.
Mrs. Penner’s pioneering spirit and leadership in implementing technology into Early Years classrooms at her school, in her division, and throughout the province, have been widely recognized. Her principal describes Katherine Penner as a “natural leader” whose “innovation, commitment and dedication” have inspired students, parents, colleagues and administrators alike.