WRSD is excited to announce Alena Liddell as the Board’s representative for the Zone 4 Edwin Parr Award.  This award is handed out on a yearly basis to first-year teachers who show exemplary dedication and commitment to the education of their students.

Mrs. Liddell was notified of her nomination last week and shared, "I was pleasantly surprised to be nominated for the Edwin Parr award. I fell in love with the teaching profession in my teens when I taught 3-5 years old kids how to dance. Their determination and desire to learn inspired me to become an educator ready to bring joy into the classroom and support students through their learning adventures. I also come from a family of educators. My grandfather taught in a rural school for several decades. Though he passed away, I feel closer to him when I teach.

As a first-year teacher, I often feel that there are so many things I need to learn how to do. You are susceptible to mistakes, and you need to develop various skills that you have not had a chance to acquire beforehand during your time in university. Only in the physical classroom, when you are one-one with a group of students, you truly grow as an educator. It is amazing that the Edwin Parr award exists. It shows that teachers are moving in the right direction in their professional journeys. It is an opportunity for us to pause and appreciate our beautiful work. It also allows students and families to get to know the educators around them. Students in my classroom are looking forward to demonstrating what they have learned and have already started to collect some examples we want to share."

Alena graduated from The King’s University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Education with distinction and also has a bachelor’s and Master’s degree with distinction in Psychology from Belarusian State University.  In addition, she holds a diploma in Folk Dance Choreography from Minsk State College of Arts. She is currently teaching a grade 6/7 homeroom at Drayton Christian School in Drayton Valley.

Drayton Christian School added Mrs. Liddell to their staff in September 2022 and Principal Mrs. Emms says: “We are thrilled that Mrs. Liddell has been selected as WRSD's Edwin Parr award nominee.  Mrs. Liddell is a passionate learner, and she brings exceptional knowledge to our profession.  She is very attuned to her student's academic and social-emotional needs, and they are thriving with her support.  We wish her many more successful years as a teacher.”

WRSD Board Chair, Daryl Scott,  says: “We are excited to be able to honour one of our fantastic first year teachers through the Edwin Parr Award. Mrs. Liddell is a great nominee as shown by her ability to work well with all students. Her range of experiences and knowledge bring a unique aspect to her classroom. We are fortunate that Mrs. Liddell chose to start her teaching career in Wild Rose School Division.“  

A recognition event will be held for all nominees from each division and a zone winner will be selected from those nominees. Zone 4 is made up of eight Central Alberta school divisions: Battle River, Chinook’s Edge, Red Deer Catholic Regional, Red Deer Public, Wetaskiwin Regional, Wild Rose and Wolf Creek School Divisions. 

The award is named after Edwin Parr, who served as the Board Chair of the Athabasca school division, and as the president of the Alberta School Trustees’ Association (now the Alberta School Board Association) from 1956 until 1962. When he passed away in 1963, the association established an annual honour in his name the following year.