SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - After receiving the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence, Eileen Erasmus, returned home last night at around 10.30 p.m. and was back in the school's kitchen by 6.30 a.m. this morning.

Eileen Erasmus with Stephen Harper after receiving the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence on Monday. - Photo supplied by the Prime Minister's Office -

"I'm going to put on my apron and get to work, because my class caters the (Thanks Giving) feast – no rest," she told Yellowknifer from Ottawa on Wednesday afternoon.

This is perhaps a fitting illustration of the dedication Erasmus displays in her job, insisting to school principal Angela James that the feast not be put back on her account.

"I don't want to sound mushy, but she loves her students," said James. "She goes over and above the call of duty to serve them – I can't say enough about her."

Erasmus was still coming to grips with the award on Wednesday afternoon, having received it at a lavish ceremony on Monday night.

"It was surreal. It was a very grand room that we were in, and it was a real honour to be chosen from all of the amazing teachers, to be given the privilege to even walk with my colleges," she said.

Erasmus was quick to pass on the accolades to her students.

"I think I was selected because, first of all, I work with an amazing group of students who have taught me much more than I could probably teach them," she said.

She was given the award alongside 15 other teachers from around the country, and has had long days in workshops discussing the big education issues.

"There's just been one event after the next," said Erasmus. "It's an amazing group, we're all getting along so well and learning from each other."

She had a chance to talk to Stephen Harper after receiving her award, and was excited that he remembered her the next day at a reception. "He said 'oh, I remember you – Yellowknife," she said.

As a teacher at K'alemi Dene School for the past 10 years, Erasmus has taught a variety of grades, but for the last five years she has taught Grades 9 through 12.

Originally only going from kindergarten to Grade 8, Erasmus played a major part in the school's high school program that uses an alternative style of education.

"It's something I just fell into because the students required it," she said. "We have two very good high schools in Yellowknife, and many of our students do go up town to the high schools, but also, many of them end up getting lost." Principal Angela James enthused about the prospect of the school's first high school graduates.

"This year we have grade 12 students, thanks in whole to Mrs. Erasmus, and thanks to her teaching abilities we will be having some graduates in June," she said.

As well as teaching the high school program she is a part-time program support officer and counsellor in the afternoons.

Among other things, Erasmus has played a major role in introducing an emphasis on exercise before some classes, which she says helps the students concentrate for longer, as well as a program to help keep kids in school by letting the students work and fundraise toward an annual trip.

James said Erasmus' award was well deserved.

"She is the type of teacher that thinks outside of the box," said James. "She does not let any obstacles stop her from achieving success for the kids."