BAKER LAKE
A man who's recognized by many students and staff in every Kivalliq school he visits received some recognition of another kind this past month.

Kivalliq School Operations program consultant Jim Kreuger of Baker Lake is seen as the man when it comes to science in the Kivalliq.

Kreuger, who was the head judge at the recent Kivalliq Regional Science Fair in Baker, was ready to deliver his judge's comments following a slide-show at the awards ceremony, when he realized all the slides were of him.

It turned out the first award to be presented was for him - a Youth Science Canada Distinguished Service Award.

"I never saw that one coming," lamented Kreuger.

"It was pretty emotional once it started, so I can't say I got all the details of what they were talking about because I was fighting pretty hard just to keep it together.

"I hold the teachers in the Kivalliq Science Educators Community (KSEC) in very high regard, and, to have them identify me as worthy of something like this was very meaningful for me.

"I don't think what I've done is all that extraordinary, except to network other like-minded people and then see that network be able to do a lot."

Kreuger was one of the founding members of the KSEC during a meeting in Rankin Inlet in March of 1994.

He said since day one, KSEC has always been a teacher-driven organization.

"I consider myself a teacher, even if I work in an office and don't have a class.

"A professional learning community is what best describes the organization.

"Rankin swept the first fair we attended, with the projects from the other communities being entry level.

"Today it's hard to pick a strong project or a week one when you walk in, because they're all so tight."

Kreuger said three different communities are represented by the projects going to this year's Canada-wide Science Fair.

He said that's a huge step away from what it was 20 years ago.

"You look at the success Chester has at the fair, and the number one most important characteristic of any teacher at any school, is that they stay.

"Glen (Brocklebank) and Ana (Leishman) have been there the entire time, and Glen has also grown from his participation in KSEC and is now one of the KSEC leaders helping other teachers grow.

"Improvement and consistency every year in the teachers spreads to the students and, today, students in Chesterfield Inlet expect to do well at the fair."

Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik science teacher Katharine O'Connell is in her eighth year in Rankin and said Kreuger has been absolutely foundational to the KSEC.

She said Kreuger has kept the KSEC going through good and bad over the years.

"It's something that's very difficult to achieve in the territory because there's so much turnover," said O'Connell.

"Jim's been a great mentor to so many individuals, and he's taught all of us so much.

"He's been an inspiration to everyone, and we're very fortunate to have him in our region.

"Jim is someone I look up to, personally, because of what he stands for and what he does as a selfless person, always giving to other people."

Brocklebank, a teacher at the Victor Sammurtok school in Chesterfield Inlet, said in his opinion, Kreuger has played a bigger role than anyone in the development of science programming for the Kivalliq.

He said Kreuger has also played the biggest role in his own personal development as a teacher.

"I wouldn't be the teacher I am without Jim Kreuger's support," said Brocklebank.

"It comes so naturally to him, that I'm not sure he's even aware of the support and encouragement he provides many teachers in this region.

"I can think back to, probably, about 150 quotes of things that Jim has said to me over the years that kept me going and focused.

"He gets a national recognition award on a Sunday night and, on Monday, he's the only one sweeping the gym at 6:30 in the morning."

Brocklebank said that type of devotion is typical for Kreuger.

He said it's hard to describe the impression a scene like that leaves you with.

"I'm watching my mentor sweeping a gym floor that early in the morning because he's so committed to the science fair.

"He's worked with teachers and staff at the school for weeks to get the science fair ready and organized, spent the weekend totally involved with it, and then there he is cleaning to make sure we're invited back and our programs continue to be successful.

"His energy and enthusiasm is infectious, and it's allowed teachers like me to grow, blossom and be ourselves in the classroom."

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