OISE B.Ed. candidate earns prestigious education award from U of T chapter of Phi Delta Kappa
April 29, 2011
As a kindergarten pupil, Linda Ristevski taught her classmates how to tell the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears using felt boards. The curious English-language learner peeled away her shy exterior to find novel ways to communicate with her peers, and has never looked back. Today, Linda, who already possesses an MA in linguistics, is pursuing a Bachelor of Education in Computer Science and Mathematics at OISE to prepare for a career as a secondary school teacher.
So it comes as no surprise then to learn that on Thursday, April 28, Linda received the Excellence in Student Teaching/Prospective Educator Award from the University of Toronto's chapter of Phi Delta Kappa (PDK). In addition to presenting her with the award, members of the U of T chapter welcomed her into the PDK community at a special awards banquet held at the Faculty Club.
Linda Ristevski, centre
Nominator Anne James, a copy- and structural-editor at the Editors' Association of Canada, warmly commended Linda on her instructional capability, engaging manner and interactive approach, as well as her generosity in volunteering her teaching talents to colleagues. "I believe the qualities that made Linda such a pleasure to work with -- her sincerity, curiosity, dedication, intelligence, cheerfulness, and passionate love of learning and sharing knowledge -- also make her a natural teacher. That is why I am thrilled to see her pursuing a career in the teaching profession."
Linda's OISE instructors Anthony Meli and Jo-Anne LaForty were invited guests to the awards banquet and expressed their excitement for Linda. Anthony described the qualities that uniquely qualify Linda to receive this distinction: "Linda is a very enthusiastic student who demonstrates a great deal of dedication to her selected vocation as a teacher. She regularly distinguishes herself in the way she advocates for student success and lends a positive voice to any class discussion. She is proficient with the mathematics content, and passionate about helping students who struggle to learn the subject she loves."
The Excellence in Student Teaching/Prospective Educator Award is open to students in undergraduate education programs with a student teaching component who have engaged in student teaching during the current year. As part of the nomination process, students submit a competitive essay in which they respond to questions pertaining to research on the traits and characteristics found in effective teachers. In Linda's essay, for example, effective teachers were highlighted as: caring and nurturing, encouraging and warm, fair and respectful, able to overcome stereotypes, and good listeners and communicators.
In reflecting on what being selected for this award means for her, Linda demonstrated the qualities that earned her the award: "Recognition early in my career affords me the opportunity to meet other hard-working teaching professionals who applaud my persistence in academics and community commitments. The positive side effect of my initiation into the PDK is that I want to constantly evolve into a better teacher."