Long-time Howe Sound Secondary School teacher Linda Firbank was lauded as one of the 20 first ever recipients of the Premier's Award for Teaching Excellence during a special ceremony at Government House in Victoria Monday (March 3)."It was a great honour. It was a very, very nice surprise," said Firbank, adding her co-worker also shares the honour. "Our career programs assistant, Linda McHale, we work as a team - you can't really separate us."Since 1994, Firbank has played a pivotal role in the development of her school's Career Prep program, nurturing relationships with employers in the community to ensure career opportunities for students. "In the past decade, the school's Career Prep program has been acknowledged as one of the finest in the province," said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Rick Erickson. "Linda makes connections with the companies in the community and ensures that our students have a successful work experience. "On average, almost half our Grade 12 students participate in work experience and many go directly from secondary school into the work force."Howe Sound Secondary Principal Nancy Campbell, who nominated Firbank and attended the awards ceremony with Board of Education Chair Dave Walden, said Firbank embraces challenges and seeks innovative ways to find solutions that work for students. "When the Grad Portfolio came out, Linda worked to make it 'doable' in our district," said Campbell. "Now that the grad program is in place, Linda has once again embraced it and worked out how to communicate effectively with staff, students and parents."Firbank also helped to establish a searchable database of more than 700 local employers who have an interest in work experience programs. Firbank has extended her influence beyond her school, creating partnerships with Kwantlen University College and Vancouver Community College."We know we do not currently have enough students with the requisite skills to fill the jobs that are already out there waiting for them," said Walden. "We need more educators like Linda Firbank to expose students to the possibilities that are out there for them to pursue."The Ministry of Education received more than 150 nominations from principals, teachers, administrators, superintendents, trustees, parents, students and community members across B.C. A selection committee consisting of representatives from community and education partners reviewed the nominations and then chose winners.The awards presented for the first time this year recognize the efforts of outstanding teachers in British Columbia.
