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    • Adolescent Literacy Summit
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      • I Love to Read Month
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    • Parent Resources
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    • Easy Grants
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Award Winners

Kathie MacIsaacBarb Lepp
Barbara Lepp – MRA Crocus Award to an Advocate for Literacy, 2019

Literacy has been a subject that is near and dear to Barb’s heart for as long as she has been involved in education. Literacy and books are her passion. As the principal at the Elm Creek School for seven years, she never denied any requests when it came to PD books or books for the kids or libraries.

Even though she has retired, Barb is still as busy as if she were still working full-time at school and on the family farm. She spreads her love of literacy wherever she goes. When she subs for people, she will leave a book on the desk because she thinks that person might enjoy reading it. As an independent literacy consultant, she shares book ideas with kids and talks about the importance of reading for the love of it. Staff and students are always eager to see what books are in Mrs. Lepp’s bags. Also, anyone who has ever had the opportunity to have Barb read to them is a very fortunate person! It’s a delight listening to her.

If you need a book recommendation, Barb is the one to tag either through the PERC Twitter account she manages or her own personal Twitter or Facebook account. Make sure you are ready for this conversation though. It could last awhile. If you can’t find a copy of her recommendations, she probably has it in her office or on her night stand. She has the best home library ever! And now that she has grandkids, all the more reason to buy more picture books!
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Barb also sees the potential in people and is famous for giving little nudges to those who just need a bit of encouragement to become all that they can be. Those of us who know Barb, also know  “the look”  she gives people when she asks people to do something like join a council or apply for a new position. “Come to just one meeting and see what you think” is one of Barb’s favourite lines. And because Barb is so kind, wonderful and an amazing friend, one cannot say no. She is an amazing colleague, mentor and friend to all.


Tanis TheissenShauna Archer
Shauna Archer – Crocus Literacy Award to an Administrator, 2019

Shauna Archer has proven to be a worthy and an outstanding administrator in multiple areas of literacy. Victor Mager School has been on an exciting journey and one that would not have been possible without a strong and supportive leader. As vice-principal, Shauna has been the driving force to support interventions when it comes to phonological awareness and sound-letter correspondence. She has also been instrumental in promoting and supporting innovative and effective school literacy plans, allocating resources, providing opportunities for on-going teacher collaboration and supporting professional development.

Shauna has supported the school, division and community in many ways. She has provided time for Speech Language Pathologist, Student Services Teachers, and classroom teachers to meet, discuss and plan programming, as well as to participate in professional learning opportunities. The initiative was also supported financially with the ability to purchase resources to support classroom-based interventions.
Shauna demonstrated an in-depth understanding and a commitment to foster literacy development for all learners throughout the school. She promoted the use of a balanced comprehensive literacy program which includes assessment, teaching and learning across all curriculum areas. She also welcomed and allowed sister schools to come observe and learn various literacy programs and techniques that are implemented at Victor Mager.

The school pre-school program and the many parent nights held to strengthen school readiness are facilitated by Shauna. She also facilitates outreach to strengthen parent partnerships and community connections.

The Victor Mager community is very fortunate to have strong literacy leadership from their vice-principal, Shauna Archer.


Tanis TheissenMargaret Fair
Margaret Fair – Crocus Literacy Award to an Administrator, 2019

For 13 years, Margaret Fair has passionately inspired, facilitated, built trust, and strong relationships through her collaboration with school staff members, divisional and provincial colleagues to transform the lives of students and staff at John de Graff School through literacy. Margaret has empowered, encouraged and challenged her staff to grow through the Regie Routman residency. Margaret had a vision for developing and transforming John de Graff into a professional learning community where voice, shared ownership, accountability, co-teaching, and inclusive leadership of literacy are shared amongst the entire school team.

Under Margaret’s leadership a shared vision and collaboration has supported the development of a school-wide literacy practice that is consistent, sustainable and accountable between team members. Children and adults are engaged and learning has moved forward.

Margaret is a learning leader who inspires her team to strive to continually grow for their students, themselves, and their community. Margaret has high expectations for herself, staff and students and enthusiastically celebrates the literacy accomplishments of students and staff.

Her legacy is the empowerment, confidence, and competence that have been developed in the staff to sustain the work and share it with others.

Margaret expects staff to attend to the latest literacy research and provides regular provocations for her staff to invite creative thinking, one of the goals on the school improvement plan.

The level of collective efficacy in the staff is high and as a result students’ achievement is high. John de Graff is a school where authentic, meaningful learning takes place. Margaret is an exemplary leader who brings out the best in all those she touches through literacy!


Tanis TheissenNicole Koroluk
Nicole Koroluk – Crocus Literacy Award to an Administrator, 2019

Nicole Koroluk is currently the half-time vice-principal and half-time teacher librarian at Kirkcaldy Heights School in Brandon, Manitoba. As a teacher librarian, Nicole teaches/models/reinforces literacy strategies with all classes K-8, exposing students to variety of texts through read-alouds and book talks. She also enriches the school library with variety of new books, with a  focus on developing and enhancing an Indigenous resource section. Working with teachers to enhance themes studied in class and reading to pre-school aged children from community day care are also very important parts of Nicole’s day.

In the past, Nicole has also planned and hosted a school/community book fair and a campaign to promote reading at home, with a focus on the significant impact that reading has on each child. She has also successfully reached the goal to put a book into the hands of every student as families were able to purchase discounted books during the book fair to donate to children who were unable to purchase books for themselves. Thirty books were donated from families and the school.

She also plans exciting events for I Love to Read month, and school-wide literacy activities  (reading train, buddy reading, teacher swap, guess mystery book)Community involvement opportunities (guest readers from community - paramedics, police, fire fighters, athletes, school board members, city officials) are also organized by Nicole.

Other areas of literacy Nicole is involved in are supporting school literacy plans, allocating time and resources to supporting Collaborative Teacher Teams working in Professional Learning Communities, as well as allocating time and resources to supporting teachers' professional learning through the attendance of conferences. Knowing the importance of starting literacy practices early, she participates in the Welcome to Kindergarten program, working with families to prepare pre-school aged students for Kindergarten. She has also been an integral part of committees focused on developing and promoting divisional Early Years practices, assessment resources and the Balanced Literacy document.


Tanis TheissenLeanne Rolfe
Leanne Rolfe – Crocus Literacy Award to an Administrator, 2019

Leanne Rolfe is the vice-principal at the Souris School. She is incredibly supportive of endeavors by middle years ELA teachers.  She supports them in collaboration as a PLC group by allowing the group to meet several times a year, and booking guest teachers for the classrooms.  She is also supportive of requests to include cross-curricular teachers in our PLC, as she understands the importance of literacy in all subject areas.  During many of these meetings, Leanne finds time to sit down with staff, and is eager to hear how newfound strategies are working with students.

Outside of collaborating with peers, Leanne also believes in fostering growth by encouraging staff to take part in numerous Professional Development (PD) sessions.  Many of the staff have been fortunate enough to attend the Adolescent Literacy Summit numerous times, as well as workshops with the accredited Faye Brownlee, all with Leanne’s support.

Leanne’s commitment to literacy achievement in students is such that she not only supports attendance at meaningful PD sessions, but she attends as many as she can, as well.  This allows her to have a better understanding of what educators are striving for in their own classrooms, which is a powerful skill for a principal to possess.  Leanne is also able to transfer her knowledge directly to students, as she engages with them on a daily basis using language consistent with what we use in our own classrooms.

The classroom is another place that Leanne has advocated for her staff.  When the school has an idea involving a new literacy project, she supports it not only with praise and confidence, but she arms staff with the tools to help make their ideas into reality.  She is a big believer in classroom libraries, and she consistently and creatively comes up with funds to help purchase books to build our libraries within classroom libraries.
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Having a leader who encourages  growth through collaboration and professional development, who makes time for her own growth as an educator, and supports classroom endeavours are just a few of the qualities that make Leanne Rolfe deserving of this literacy award.


PictureSally Bender and ILA Provincial Coordinator Barb Lepp
Sally Bender – ILA Celebrate Literacy Award, 2019

Sally Bender’s passion for literacy is inspiring.  She consistently blogs salsfictionaddiction.blogspot.com about her new favourite titles and has been doing so for ten years.  Sally happily visits schools as a special guest reader, and she has been presenting and sharing her love of books at LIFT conferences (provincial inservices) for many years.

Sally Bender developed a love of literacy as a child as her parents always valued books and reading. Sally always considered herself a reader. As a teacher and the mother of two young children, she became more interested in children’s literature and her interest became her passion. She joined two other teachers and opened a store called Total Teacher to meet a need in the Brandon and rural area for children’s literature. These three ladies were full-time teachers as well as entrepreneurs!

Sal is a committee member for the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Canadian authors and illustrators. Her reviews help decide which books are essential to inform teachers, librarians, booksellers and parents about quality literature. Whether you’re stocking a bookshelf in a classroom, library or at home, Best Books for Kids & Teens is a guide to the best new Canadian books, magazines, audio and video that have been handpicked by expert committees of teachers, educators and librarians from across the country.

Sally Bender has been a professional development provider for school divisions throughout Manitoba and for Brandon University for many years. She has made over 900,000 visits to schools or preservice teachers to talk about books. Sally has also worked with author David Bouchard contributing to his title The Gift of Reading.

As a retired educator, Sal happily supports the BRC and Brandon Teacher Librarians with book sharing events whenever she is asked. Brandon Reading Council acknowledges Sally’s wisdom and dedication to empowering teachers and providing children with quality literature with the ILA Celebrate Literacy Award. 


David A. RobertsonSandra Shaw-Lyons
Sandra Shaw-Lyons – ILA Celebrate Literacy Award, 2019

Sandra Shaw-Lyons has made significant literacy contributions to staff and students in Portage la Prairie School Division and in Manitoba. Sandy has helped to roll out two new provincial ELA curricula. She was seconded to Manitoba Education as a Consultant and was a vital member of the writing team for the previous curriculum. Sandy and Louise Duncan, another former MRA president, led regional workshops introducing teachers to the curriculum.

Sandy is once again playing a pivotal role in the introduction of our current ELA curriculum, once again leading in her own school division and in the south central region. She describes the experience as messy and slow, but one with much anticipation. She counsels teachers to always be thinking and reflecting on their practice and the responsiveness of their students.

Sandy has been an active literacy leader for Manitoba Reading Association and the Portage Area Reading Council (PARC). She has served as a member-at-large, secretary, vice-president, president-elect, president and past-president of MRA. As the president of PARC, Sandy represented her area in literacy leadership at the provincial level. She was known as a quiet, determined leader with a “can do” attitude. Sandy participated in three ILA conferences and two Leadership Institutes to enhance her skills as a literacy leader. Sandy helped to bring author Tanny McGregor to Manitoba and Tanny’s Comprehension Connections has resonated with many Manitoba educators.

Sandra Shaw-Lyons has worked tirelessly to assist students, parents and colleagues grow in their literacy journey. Her superintendent Todd Cuddington states,  “We are very fortunate as a school division to have a committed literacy leader like Sandi helping to lead and support kids.”

Manitoba Reading Association is pleased to Celebrate Literacy with Sandra Shaw-Lyons. ​


David A. RobertsonScott Templeton, representing the Brooklands School Literacy Team
Brooklands School Literacy Team – ILA Celebrate Literacy Award, 2019

​The Brooklands School Literacy Team has an extremely strong literacy plan that was created through the use of a PATH Planning Process to create a common vision for literacy in the school community. Every classroom teacher has implemented common strategies for strengthening literacy instruction based on several professional development sessions.

At Brooklands School the teaching team has established or taken part in programs such as:
  • Wiggle, Giggle, Munch-a literacy based movement and nutrition parent and tot program offered weekly in the Learning Commons Library to any parent and child combo in the community.   School staff assisted in the selection of appropriate reading material for toddlers and parents and created home reading
  • Literacy Links-a program for school aged students and families.  This intensive one to one program introduces students to literacy foundational skills. 
  • Welcome to Kindergarten in a program offered through The Learning Partnership and introduces all incoming kindergarten families to literacy activities that will assist their children in transitioning to school.  The school team won a national award from The Learning Partnership for its work at creating an outstanding Welcome to Kindergarten Event.
  • The Adopt-a-School program through Indigo/Chapters-Over the last six years the school has raised over $16 000 for books, and the Library Collection average age has gone from the late 1980s to 2004!  Students and staff have taken field trips to select books for the collection – an activity that drives their connection to good books.
  • Has purchased pallets of books for summer book gifting for over 5 years.  Every student has had the opportunity to pick 10 books from over 2000 each June.  They take the books home to keep.
  • ‘Grow Your Library’-provides a brand new book to every student in Grade 1 and kindergarten, every month.  Thanks to generous support from local business employees and owners, we have placed over 10 000 books into the hands, hearts and homes of our students.
  • Reading partnerships with Bison Transport that sees a dozen of their office staff visiting the school every other Tuesday to read with students. 
  • Partnership with former students who now attend St. James Collegiate. These students return to Brooklands to be reading role models.  Each year the alumni of the school who attend our local high school purchase a book for each of our students and write an encouragement in the book to personalize it.  The alumni then visit Brooklands and make a pancake breakfast for all students, participate in a literacy activity in each classroom and gift every student their books. 
  • Installed a Little Free Library for the community to share books. 
  • Brooklands students were a part of the reviewing and development of the book "Pisim Finds Her Miskanow" by Elder William Dumas, illustrated by Leonard Paul. 
  • David A. Robertson chose to visit the school to share the launch of his book “When We Were Alone”.  The team used the book’s story as a launching pad for discussions not only on the dark history of residential school’s but for their walk in truth and reconciliation. 
  • The Power of Story – International Women’s Day 2019 partnership with Access Nor’West was another event that illustrated the importance and the agency of writing.  Students at the school hosted several authors who shared their stories of empowerment and equality.  The staff at the school partnered with community agency Access Nor’West to host the sessions.


David A. RobertsonSusan Hayward, Carol Hryniuk-Adamov, Arlene Kinden, Brenda Grieve
Barb Galessiere, Brenda Grieve, Susan Hayward, Carol Hryniuk-Adamov, Arlene Kinden, Linda McPherson - Recognition of Service to the Adolescent Literacy Summit

​The Manitoba Reading Association recognizes Barb Galessiere, Brenda Grieve, Susan Hayward, Carol Hryniuk-Adamov, Arlene Kinden, and Linda McPherson for their dedication and service in planning the first 5 Adolescent Literacy Summits, spanning nearly 10 years of continuous commitment. Their tireless work has laid the foundation for what has become a can't-miss literacy event. Thank you for your hard work!


Previous Years

2018
Kathie MacIsaac - MRA Crocus Award for Literacy Advocacy
Tanis Theissen - MRA Crocus Literacy Award to an Administrator
David A. Robertson - ILA Celebrate Literacy Award


2017

Joyce Sawatzky – MRA Crocus Award for Literacy Advocacy
Dawn Kidder – ILA Celebrate Literacy Award
​Susan Mooney – ILA Celebrate Literacy Award
Monica Wiebe – ILA Celebrate Literacy Award​​
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