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Literacy 'the foundation of everything'
Yk1 educator awarded for promoting reading

Simon Whitehouse
Northern News Services
Wednesday, October 14, 2015

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A promoter of literacy working for Yellowknife Education District No. 1 was recognized with an award from the education minister late last month.

Caroline Roux, literacy coach and French immersion educator at J.H. Sissons and William McDonald schools, said she was taken aback after winning the 2015 Ministerial Professional Educator Award on Sept. 22.

Education Minister Jackson Lafferty was on hand at Northern United Place to present the award. Roux said she is glad to see literacy among young students being celebrated.

"The main goal is to really improve student success and ensure that students reach the highest level that they can," she said. "What makes this award really special is that it is people around you who nominated you.

"If literacy can be in the news and we can promote literacy in general, that is great because it is the foundation of everything."

Roux has been with the board for 20 years, beginning as a classroom teacher. Five years ago, she was hired by the board as a literacy coach, meaning that she advises and supports classroom teachers with the best literacy techniques and teaching practices to provide to students.

She also ensures proper curriculum is used and that evaluation of students with language acquisition is carried out. Often she meets with teams of grade school teachers to see that teaching methods are established.

"It could be with teaching practices I could support them with material or show a model lesson with them or sit down and plan with them," she said. "But I also promote literacy among the schools. I kind of lead different committees and I don't do this alone."

Roux said her job, on behalf of the district, also consists of working with the small number of French immersion teachers in the South Slave district as Yk1 has a partnership with that board for this purpose.

J.H. Sissons principal Rachell Simmons said there's a real benefit to having her working on site at her school. Roux does not necessarily meet with all teachers weekly but is in contact frequently to offer advice about the most up to date literacy techniques and strategies for the students.

"It is fabulous," Simmons said of the recognition. "Because she is based here, we actually have an arm's reach to her as a resource and the fact that she was recognized for the work she has done is phenomenal. She is a wealth of quick information so teachers don't have to go to far to have questions answered."

Jean-Marie Mariez, supervisor of instruction for French programming with Yk1, oversees her directly and nominated her for the award. He called her "the queen of the literacy."

"The award is mostly for all the hours she puts in and for many years she has always been dedicated to help the teachers in the programming or to give advice and reading strategies and all of those things," he said.

"She is the best person to receive the award and she did the extra mile to get that."

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