Martin named top first-year teacher

By Rob Vogt
A teacher at Willow Creek Composite High School has been recognized as one of the top first-year teachers in Alberta.
Mackenzie Martin was recently honoured with the Edwin Parr Teacher Award in Zone 6 of the Alberta School Boards Association, which recognizes outstanding first-year teachers who have demonstrated excellence in the Teaching Quality Standard.
“I’m really honoured to be selected,” she said. “Hopefully I can live up to Edwin Parr.”
Martin was born and raised in Edmonton, took a gap year, then went to the University of Lethbridge where she earned Bachelor of Arts in English and Bachelor of Education degrees.
She also did her professional placements, that is student teaching, in the area.
One was at West Meadow Elementary School with Grade 5 teacher Haley Weinrauch, the other at Crowsnest Consolidated High School in the Crowsnest Pass.
“I loved the LRSD (Livingstone Range School Division), what they stood for,” Martin said.
When she finished university, she had ties to Claresholm so she took a job at the high school teaching English 10, 20, and 30, -1 and -2, and -4 if there are students who wish to take it. She also teaches Grade 7 social studies and a health class.
Martin’s name was put forth for the Edwin Parr Teacher Award by Principal Robert Rodgers, who submitted a testimonial. The Livingstone Range School Division then nominated her.
She then went for an interview that consisted of 11 questions covering her teaching position; what an outsider would see in her classroom; advice to first-year teachers and boards; how she meets the teaching quality standards; her teaching philosophy; supports she offers students; and more.
A month later she attended a banquet where all the nominees in the province were announced.
After that, Martin had to make a video showcasing her teaching.
She enlisted the help of local videographer and composer Alec Harrison to help her make that. She was excited about that because she had taught Harrison’s son Jude.
Another month later, Martin attended a banquet where all eight nominees were introduced and their videos were shown.
Then Martin was announced as the winner.
“It was really cool,” she said. “It’s definitely an honour to be nominated.”
She was also impressed with her fellow nominees. In fact, she went to university with four of them.
“What amazing educators they are,” Martin said. “It was really inspiring to see all those other amazing candidates.”
She also paid tribute to the education program at the University of Lethbridge.
“Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am or so well prepared,” Martin said.
Moving forward, Martin plans to enjoy her career.
“I really love Claresholm,” she said. “That’s why I like my job so much.”