Teaching excellence saluted in Baker
Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary School teacher honoured with inaugural award
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
BAKER LAKE
Baker Lake's Becky Tootoo has been awarded with the inaugural Nunavut Teacher's Association's (NTA) Teaching Excellence Award.
Becky Tootoo of Baker Lake addresses the gathering after being presented with the Nunavut Teacher's Association's (NTA) inaugural Teaching Excellence Award. - photo courtesy of Nunavut Teacher's Association |
Tootoo was presented with the award by NTA president Terry Young in Iqaluit this past month.
A member of the teaching profession since 1985, Tootoo spent all of those years, save one, teaching in Baker Lake.
She has taught kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 3 and Grade 5, as well as spending time working with student support.
Tootoo also held an administrative position as coprincipal at Rachel Arngnammaktiq Elementary School, before spending the better part of the past decade teaching at Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary School (JASS).
During that time she's taught Inuktitut to students in the high school's senior grades, aulajaaqtut, and a culture course focusing on caribou.
Tootoo said she was very honoured when asked if she'd allow her name to stand for the first NTA Teaching Excellence Award.
She said the five categories taken into consideration for the award are program and instruction, extra curricular leadership, community engagement, language and culture and student advocacy.
"Winning this award gave me some time to reflect on my professional life," said Tootoo.
"I never felt like teaching is just a job. I truly enjoy it and like to witness the success of my students.
"I'm from Baker Lake, so I want all students who walk through the school doors to be successful."
Tootoo completed her Masters Degree in June of 2013 through the University of Prince Edward Island.
Tootoo said that time allowed her to grow more, both personally and professionally.
She said she wrote a paper focusing on young Inuit men because she wanted to learn why some are successful but others don't feel the same way.
"In order to do well at your job, you must develop deep, meaningful relationships with your students, their parents or guardians, and the community in which you work.
"When you develop these relationships you gain respect from them and vice versa.
"Teaching isn't easy but it is rewarding and I strongly encourage more Inuit to become teachers.
"If I'm able to help one student, then I feel I've had a successful year."
