sao 2018 Nomination Checlit- Prime Minister's Award fer Teaching Excellence D Ben Seems" seesear Canada Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence > Nomination Guidelines 2015 Nomination Checklist % Copy of this checklist fully completed (one page) % Signed nomination form (two pages) - Note: Please provide a separate form for each member of a team nomination, % Teacher Certification - A copy of the nominee's teaching certificate that shows the original year of certification. % Evidence that nominee's teaching certification remains in good standing ~ Letter from the provincial or territorial licensing body or from the College of Teachers is accepted (one page). ¥ Evidence of nominee's experience - Employer letter confirming a minimum of three years employment in an elementary or secondary school (one page). % Evidence of Abori al status (if applicable) ~ A copy of status card (one page). If a card is not available, confirmation of the nominee's Aboriginal status and affiliation of Aboriginal Ancestry is required in writing from the nominator (one page). @ Nomination text (no more than three pages per criteria, maximum of 15 pages) - Note: If the nomination text is longer than 15 pages double-spaced, nominators will be asked to reduce the text. ¥ Letters of support (three letters, maximum two pages each) - Note: Ensure that each letter is dated and contains the contact information of the author. If more than three letters are included, only the first three will be sent to the committee for evaluation, Date modified: 2015-02-12 itp: i. ge.callclsitelpmate-ppmeennstieng 202001 hil 42Government Gouvernement ofCanada du Canada i+ Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence 2015 Nomination Form All personal Information collected in the nomination package 's protected under the Privacy Act. Its used by Industry Canada to process the nominations and for related statistical studies, Participation Is voluntary Information wil be stored in Personal information Bank IC PPU O03. Nominees may access, request correction of, ar have a notation attached to the information about them by contacting the Prime Minister's Awards (PMA) Office at 613-991-4255 or pmate-pomee@ic.ge.ca. Each award recipient's name, school, community, and work contact information are included in short biographies published for the media and online at yuw.pma.gc.ca ‘Award recipients! photographs may alo be used in promotional and information materials by the Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence. Nominee's Personal Information (Please provide names as they should appear on the certificate.) © Dr. a Mr. Mis. o Mis Last Name Mas daer Fist ames Cvisha Home Address 11 S32 A Gale streaus ity/Community_________rovince/Territory Postal de VOB 2% Telephone (Home)___2SO- $4A- O2 a E-mail ome) Pmajcher @ gre Teaco Telephone (Work) E-mail (Work) Fearing k- $0 cathedvalscloal.cn Is the nominee a Canadian citizen or permanent resident? de¥es No At the time of nomination, does the nominee teach a minimum of 2.5 days per week? es aNo Does the nominee use information communications technology (ICT) in his or her classroom? wYes ONO Is thisa team nomination? Yes No Does the nominee self-identify as an Aboriginal teacher? Yes No ‘At the time of nomination, does the nominee teach at a First Nation school or in an nuit region? Yes No Nominator Information (rove completed by either an Inlvidual nominator or @ representative of a nominating group.) 0 Dr. o Mr. Wh Mrs. 9 Miss tastName___ Mc Lead FirstName Jennifer Organization represented lif applicable) TT Con address _GROS Mark Cane City/Community Vi erovien. Province/Territory BC. Postal Code VIE 2A Telephone (Home) Telephone (work) Facsimile E-mail Me Lead @ telus. net _ do you want to receive PMA news and updates? Yes No Principal/Supervisor Information o Dr, Mr. O Mrs. c Miss lastname Hatt ristname — Stuaut Telephone (Work) 250 - 3Q3- SIQS _ Email(work) rad © cathedval schoalca \Was this nomination written by the nominee's principal/supervisor? a Yes &No Nominee's School Information (Cash owards will be shared with this teaching institution if the nominee is chosen fora Certificate of Excellence.) School Name (or schoo! board i teacjer isnot affliated with a particular school neve Clue Pedra aeboal Address. i ‘St. City/Community Prose eriony BC Postal Code VAV 3V Telephone =i LeBS Facsimile = BB3-Sibe-mail__cavhnedvalgel Neal 2 athedealed Website Wii. cathedval cae Teachers Website at schoo if efferent Grades currently taught’ rten through to grade eigh Subjects) currently taught nanquaag First nation school? a Yes “NoSignatures Nominator I, the nominator, hereby affirm that all the information contained in this nomination package is, to the best of my knowledge, complete and caect and thatthe nominee upholds the highest standards ofthe teaching profession Signature of Nominator Nominee |, the nominee, hereby affirm that, to the best of my knowledge, all the information contained in this nomination package Is complete and correct. By signing this form, | authorize the Prime Minister's Awards office to conduct a verification of the information provided in this nomination package. | understand that the best teaching practices of national level Prime Minister’s Award recipients will be published online and | give my release for that purpose should | be chosen for this award. | have also read the Prime Minister's Awards recipient Code of Conduct found on the program website at wwnw.pma,ge.ca and understand that failure of abide by these standards, if chosen, could result in the revocation of this award. vate_O.5 J 7 Signature of Nominee Principal/Supervisor |, the principal/supervisor, affirm that all information contained in this nomination package is, to the best of my knowledge, complete and correct. By signing this {9rm, J, the principal/supervisor, have read and support this Sigature of Prinlauparitr A, LES one OS 1 15> Ea For PMA Office Use Only a Isa copy ofthe completed nomination cheeks included inthe nomination package? ayes aNo | Tea copy ofthe teacher's certificate included? Yes No [Is the teachers certificate vad? Dyes No Does the nominee have at leas three years experience teaching in primary orsecandary schools? Yes NO, ifapplicable evidence ofthe nominee's Aboriginal status included in the nomination package? aves No [Ts the nomination text included Inthe nomination package? ayes ano fre the thre letters ofppor included in the nomination package? ayes oNo | Does the nominee meet al criteria to he eligible fora Prime Minister's Award? ayes No For more information, please contact the Prime Minister Awards Office at 613-001-4255 or pmaie-opmes@ic.gc.cafer McLeod, O.T.(C), M.A, 6805 Mark Lane oria, British Columbia, V9E 2A1, Phone: 250 4157259 May 13, 2015 RE: Christina Majeher’s nomination text for Prime Minister's Awards for Ts 2015 Nomination ’ing Exeellence | am writing to nominate Christina Majcher for the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence for 2015. | have known Christina over 11 years in her role as learning support teacher at Christ Church Cathedral School. One of the challenges facing special education is the need for skilled and innovative teachers. Christina possesses the expertise in providing comprehensive assessments and remediation of children with learning challenges. Christina is an exceptional team player and an extraordinary teacher in supporting children with special educational needs. Innovative and Exemplary Teaching Practices: Christina entered Christ Church Cathedral School over nine years ago when the learning support services were in their infancy. Some teachers on staff would even argue that this program was non-existent! Yet, over time, Christina shared her innovative skills and exemplary teacher strategies and placed them into practice by creating a collaborative based framework to support inclusive learning environments with a multidisciplinary team approach. Christina is a proponent of universal design and set out to share and collaborate with the Cathedral School teaching staff, such learning strategies to help our student's success soar. Using universal design regulating strategies for all learners, we value and honour each student in every class at the stage and place they are currently learning at. Achieving this approach without Christina’s understanding and high level of competency with all learners at the school would have been challenging Getting Christ Church Cathedral School's learning support services to the level it is today was an awesome task! Christina has had to provide a high level of training andeducation to staff and parents throughout the school. From this, she has created a collaborative relationship with everyone she works with including students, parents, teachers, staff members, and community professionals. By working together, Christina creates an optimal learning experience for each student. Christina has been able to connect outside agency supports with in school policies and procedures to focus on the child in a holistic manner. This bridges the necessary skills between home and school. Again, creating exemplary teaching practices throughout the student's life Christina was diligent in working with the administration team to create current and forward looking inclusive policies and procedures at the school. Christina fostered inclusion and support for all students. This included setting collaborative weekly meetings with her team of Educational Assistants and weekly School Based Team (SBT) meetings. This allowed for collaboration on a regular basis to ensure that we are meeting individual student's needs and following IEP guidelines well Christina has also created a resource room where children feel safe and welcome regardless of their social, emotional, or academic challenges. It's a classroom with an. element of fun and a lot of learning that takes place daily. She embraces many modes of learning resources and creates a particularly stimulating and innovative learning environment which integrates hands-on strategies and problem-solving activities into her daily teaching practices. Christina also embraces using Information and Communications Technologies in the classroom via various programs, assessment strategies, SMART board use, and tablets. These innovative approaches provide ways to improve student learning and outcomes. Her classroom even comes complete with aroma-therapy which provides a calming break to the busy schedule of her students. Many teachers and staff members often refer to this room as the ‘heart of the school’. Digital Literacy and Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in theClassroom: The use of technology in Christina’s classroom is not limited to her student’s needs or requirements. As a collaborative teacher, and mentor to many, Christina seems driven to communicate best practices daily. She teaches colleagues and students how to use technology within the classroom to help bypass learning barriers. Some examples include - speech to text, pictello, videos as an alternate to written reports, SMART board interactive learning options, and iPad applications. Each week Christina takes time together with her Educational Assistant team to teach and learn strategies. This increases the success of learners reaching their IEP goals, and her team's ability to support these goals. Again, with her universal design approach, all students in the school end up accessing these innovative learni ig tools. Everyone benefits in sharing Christina's great learning skills and strategies. Student Skills Development: Persistent and ongoing challenges continue in the classroom for teachers and special needs students as resources and expertise decline while increasing numbers of children are being identified with learning difficulties. Christina is a true leader in bridging the gap for the successful inclusion and integration of her students within the classroom. True and authentic inclusion for students into regular classrooms is challenging. Yet Christina demonstrates success in providing child advocacy, designing programs, routines and activities appropriate to each child's needs and grade level. Christina is passionate and practical in enabling students with developmental challenges to meet their goals. Christina has also somehow managed to create momentum skills and development with both the students she works with and also her colleagues. She has provided many professional development opportunities for teachers with strategies to meet the diverse learning needs of the children within their care. When Christina works with theteachers and student, she manages to ‘think outside the box’ every time. She designs creative solutions that assist in developing the student's skills further, while considering social, emotional, and academic areas of concern. Student Ac vernent and Participation: Christina always keeps her students’ individual goals as the driver for seeking overall achievement from them. She is strategic and methodical in finding out where a student, is in their social, emotional, and academic development. Then she works tirelessly to ensure they meet their goals. Often they exceed their goals! She works with many students with significant challenges and yet still helps them achieve their social, emotional, behavioural, and academic success. Since Christina is so attached to her student she fosters high attendance rates. She has exceptional success with children that harbor school refusal issues attached to anxiety disorders. Regardless of her student’s challenges or ability level (students from kindergarten to grade 8) there is outstanding engagement. The students Christina reaches are the proof of her effectiveness as a master educator. She receives many positive testimonials, such as letters from parents, students, administrators, businesses, and education partners. These groups can all affirm the impact she has on her students, families, community members, and the education system in its entirety. Teacher Commitment and Leadership: ch ina has excellent communication skills. She is responsive to the roles and contributions of other team members (e.g. myself as an occupational therapist, speech language pathologists, behavioral consultants, psychologists, teachers and educational assistants) and parents. Team meetings are productive for families and team members where she speaks to the child’s needs, goals and outcomes, and is sensitive and empathic to the process and discussion especially where there are complex family and child issues. Christina is quick to give recognition and support to others, and expressesher ideas and opinions in a direct and thoughtful manner. Christina demonstrates a great deal of personal commitment above and beyond the typical role of a learning support teacher. She is extremely organized, and conscientious in supporting the needs and goals of a team. Her commitment to her students and profession is so clear at any point in her week. She is always working to improve her skills as she does with her students daily when she works with them. Christina is completing studies in the Master's degree in Applied School and Child Psychology, where she will graduate in 2016, In summary, Christina is a leader with extraordinary capacity. She achieves anything she sets out to do for herself and others. In the special education community, she brings a passion to making a difference in the lives of many children and families with developmental challenges. | strongly support choosing Christina for this Prime Minister's, ‘Award for Teaching Excellence. If can be of further help, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely; Jennifer McLeod, OT(C), MAChrist Church Cathedral School 912 Vancouver Street ‘Telephone 250-383-5125 Victoria, British Columbia Facsimile 250-383-5128, vav 3V7 cathedalschool@cathedralschool.ca May 4, 2015 To Whom It May Concern, | offer this letter of support as an expression of my very high regard for Christina Majcher, teacher extraordinaire. Christina has worked at Christ Church Cathedral School since 2004. Christ Church Cathedral School is an independent school with 230 students from Junior Kindergarten to grade eight. Christina Majcher first came to our school asa learning support teacher. She held a strong belief that we could be doing much more to help those students with special learning needs succeed in school. She has spent the past decade actively researching best practices and sharing them with the teachers, educational assistants and administration. This persistent contribution to the school’s knowledge base has helped transform our intervention approach from the traditional ‘pull-out of the classroom’ model, whereby students with learning challenges were removed from the classroom and provided isolated skills training in order to ‘fix’ their problems, to the inclusive and more responsive approach we use today. Because of Christina's drive, and leadership through example, ‘we now approach learning interventions in a truly inclusive way. Christina has helped our teachers develop the necessary skills to support all children within the classroom environment, as the children slowly but surely move toward self-management of their learning, their emotions, and ultimately their destiny. She has also spear-headed the implementation of a Response to Intervention (RTI) model of service delivery at CCS. This RTI model has helped us all to better manage the complexity of our classrooms and meet the needs of all students. As part of this model, Christina supports and manages a team of six educational assistants. She meets with the team every week to share new research, interpret student assessment data, explain student support plans, and to fine tune the programs that support our students. She also meets with each educational assistant almost daily to model learning strategies in the context of the busy classroom, which is the students’ day to day reality. The result for our students has been the emergence of a seemingly invisible network of support. Christina is very professional in all her relations at our school. She is tactful and discreet when supporting students and families in crisis. She is supportive and positive when helping teachers meet their students’ needs. She provides valuable support to the administration team and is most helpful in diffusing or resolving situations that often arise in the world of special education Head of School: Stuart Hall, Bed. MA. www.cathedralschool.caChristina is often required to communicate both verbally and in formal letters to parents and professionals outside the school. With parents she is clear, concise, and compassionate, providing enough information to inform without unnecessarily creating anxiety or confusion. Learning about the world of special education, with its unique vocabulary and concepts, the complexity of the reports, and the grief parents experience when they first learn their child has learning challenges, can be a very intense and challenging experience. However, Christina's compassion along with her deeply held belief that we can and will help a child experience learning success, allows parents to move beyond grief and into hope and constructive action. Christina has also developed excellent relationships with the professionals and para- professionals who support our students and staff. Several of these service providers have told me that coming to our school is a highlight of their week because of Christina’s welcoming and appreciative approach as well as her impeccable organization. One of these professionals has nominated Christina for the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Teaching this year. This type of collaboration is essential for the success of our students who have complex needs and require a multi-service approach to intervention. Christina Majcher has many strengths that work in combination to make her the great educator that parents, students, and teachers know. Two are most relevant to me, as the Head of School. The first is her ability to gather all the information we have about a student (including reports from professionals, para-professionals, teachers and parents) and to then guide the development of a relevant individual education plan that will meet the student's needs in the context of a busy classroom environment, all while protecting the student's dignity and encouraging engagement. The second strength that has an enormous impact on our school is her ability to communicate with compassion and respect as she lets students know they can and will learn and then shows them how to accomplish this. This instills hope and builds the confidence our learning challenged students require as they move toward more and more success. For all these reasons, it is with enthusiastic conviction that I support Christina Majcher’s nomination for the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence. yi Sincerely, StF Stuart Hall Head of SchoolPrime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence Industry Canada Jean Edmonds Tower North 300 Slater Street, 20 Floor Ottawa, Ontario 20 Deborah Stevens-Reznick Naar ome 3440 Upper Terrace Road Victoria, B.C. VBR 6E7 Dear Members of the Selection Committee, Thave been asked to write a letter of support for Christina Majcher’s nomination for the Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence, and | accept this task with great honor and enthusiasm. Christina is a dedicated, hard working, exemplary advocate of all of the children in her care, She consistently goes ‘above and beyond’ for all of her students and their families. My family and I have had the great privilege of working with Christina for going on four years now at Christ Church Cathedral School. My daughter, Azaria, had just been diagnosed with severe dyslexia, anxiety and other learning disabilities when I met Christina. [home schooled my daughter for Grade 5 after she had been beaten up and bullied at her elementary school in Grade 4. Christ Church Cathedral School was recommended by Dr. Gillian Roberts who had just finished her Psycho- educational testing with us. Azaria and I went to look at Christ Church Cathedral School and never looked back. The staff were amazing! Azaria had been receiving Orton-Gillingham tutoring during her home schooling. Christina realized that tutoring would be too exhausting to do at the end of the day for Azaria so she invited Heather, our Orton-Gillingham Tutor to come into the school and tutor Azaria there. Christina juggled Azaria’s schedule so that she could continue to work with Heather every day at school. Heather was included in staff meetings and at I.E.P. meetings to help facilitate the best possible care for Azaria’s well being and academic needs. Christina understood the value of having a trusted adult help Azaria transition back into school and saw the value in Heather's work. It was not an easy transition for Azaria to return to school but Bob MacMillan and Christina encouraged her to go to their Learning Assistance Room whenever she needed help, just to talk or to take a break if that was what was necessary. Azaria was not receiving any funding upon her arrival to Christ Church Cathedral School although she was diagnosed and was eligible for funding. Christina and Bob spent an hour and a half of my half hour appointment explaining the benefits and help Azaria would receive should | accept the funding that was due to her. Christina is deeply passionate about her work and understands the plight of a frightenedparent adjusting to the fact that their child will need extra help and funding to succeed at school and in life. 1 took a great deal of convincing! Christina had to assure me and reassure me again that Azaria would not only be helped to reach her potential but thrive in her new environment. Christina was right, Azaria found great success academically and emotionally at CCCS with Christina’s guidance and care. Azaria is a very shy person. However she recently came to a parent teacher interview with me at her new High School and listed off different things she needed her teachers to help her with and how they might be able to help her better succeed. I called Christina after the interview to thank h¢ s | knew this advocacy came as a direct result of Azaria’s time with such a great child advocate. Christina was in constant contact with Azaria's teachers and Educational Assistants ensuring that she was cared for and had every opportunity to succeed academically and emotionally. When my daughter graduated from CCS last year and had an unsuccessful start at a new High School, Christina was on the phone immediately with Dr. Gillian Roberts and myself trying to brainstorm a good place for Azaria to go. Every application and every new school | spoke to got a phone call from both Christina and Dr. Roberts recommending that they take my lovely daughter and explaining exactly what was needed to help Azaria to continue on her successful school journey. Azaria settled at a new school with great thanks to Christina and Dr. Robert Christina called the Principal of Azaria’s new school and offered her time to do an inservice on how best to help Azaria and children like her succeed at school. Christina has always told me that she is just a phone call away and she really means it! Christina’s dedication, enthusiasm, passion and hard work for all of her students and their families at Christ Church Cathedral School and beyond, shows in the success and confidence exuding from those students fortunate enough to be cared for by her. Iam sorry that this letter is longer than you would like but I have honestly cut this letter down as much as I can in all good conscience. Christina is the perfect candidate for the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence as she is that rare and invaluable teacher that inspires and encourages all of our children to reach for the stars. Sincerely yours, Ly ee heen Deborah Stevens-ReznickPrime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence Industry Canada Jean Edmonds Tower North 300 Slater Street, 20th floor Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C8 Sandi Love May, 8, 2018 4151 Hawkes Avenue Victoria, B.C. V8Z 3Y9 Dear Members of the Selection Committee: Re: Letter of support for Christina Majcher It is my great honour and privilege to have been asked to write a letter of support for Christina Majcher. Christina has long exemplified a level of commitment to her students that should serve as a model for others. We have had the pleasure of working with Christina for the last 4 years. When our daughter Gracie started at Cathedral School she struggled to adjust to the daily rigours of school. Gracie has Autism Spectrum Disorder. Christina has worked with us to create an environment where our daughter is now thriving. Gracie had several meltdowns in Kindergarten and Christina was able to quickly deduce that Gracie had undiagnosed sensory issues. She then walked to the store on her lunch hour and bought my daughter a pair of sound proof headphones. Our daughter struggles with fine motor issues and printing was a major stumbling block. I asked Christina if she could recommend a program to help with handwriting. We tried the app she suggested and over the course of a weekend, our daughter was able to do cursive writing. I emailed Christina a photo of Gracie’s cursive writing one Saturday afternoon as I was so thrilled with Gracie’s progress. I never expected her to email back until Monday, but she sent back the most positive and encouraging email an hour later. She was so happy for Gracie and so very proud. She was just as happy and excited as we were!She keeps the rest of the teachers and Educational Assistants up to date on all the latest strategies for helping to foster a safe and dynamic school for the Special Needs children and the Neuro Typical children. She cares deeply for each child and family that she works with. I know that our daughter's success at school can be directly attributed to the amazing work that Christina does in the background, She regularly checks in with my daughter's teachers and makes sure that Gracie is succeeding in all aspects of her school day. It is with overwhelming enthusiasm that I support the nomination of Christina Majcher for the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence. Sincerely yours, > \ Ora Sandi LoveChrist Church Cathedral School 912 Vancouver Street 250-383-5125 Victoria, British Columbia 250-383-5128 vBV 3V7 cathedralschool@cathedralschool.ca May 06, 2015 ‘To Whom It May Concern: Re: Christina Majeher ‘This is to confirm that Christina Majcher is employed full-time at Christ Church Cathedral School. Christina began at Christ Church Cathedral School on November 01, 2004, She took a maternity leave of one year from March 31, 2008 to April 01, 2009 and has been employed with us continuously since then For any further information please contact the undersigned. Sincerely, A bvroleg 4. any Beverley Laing Sr. Administrative Assistant Jol Head of School: Stuart Hall, H.ed. M.A. www.cathedralschool.caHM 60 T00G wowanva 860 TOO auwaanssr eiquinjod ysitag fo sjooyps aqqnd ayy us yey oj pazeaoygme Aqasay 5} pus qywoyfiysay TWNOISSHIOUL appar ne] Susysvay, ayy fo suotsiaoad ay sapun ape padsas ssaysoay. fo a83y10-) ays fo sowophq ayy ypron parydiao> Surany UAHOLVIN ANITAVd VNILSIYHO stoyy Afyaay of st sty ysrin015 Find Teacher Nome» Conca Services = Fad 9 Teacher Find a Teacher in the Online Registry | LastName: MAJCHER | Given Name(s) (CHRISTINA PAULINE ‘Current Validity Status: VALID To Jun 30,2016 ‘Current Centfcate Holder Status: Certificate Holder Certfieation valid | Current Certifcate(s) and 4, professional Certificate of Qualification Letter(s) of Permission: Seas History ae ‘Start ate End Gate [Case Summary 7 i No Status History i i Back to Search nip ww cleachertegtaticn.calCertiicaleSevicesFindATeacte. aspx "