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Year: 2000 – Province: British Columbia
Certificate of Achievement Recipients
Susan Murray
School: Gibsons Elementary School
Box 548
Gibsons, British Columbia V0N 1V0
Principal: Joanne Pearson
School Telephone: 604-886-2612
School Fax: 604-886-2306
School Website: www.sd46.bc.ca/Schools/Gibsons/default.html
Grades/Subjects Taught: Resource and special education teacher
Teaching Approach:
- all children's needs are met and parents are well informed of their child's progress
- all teachers are involved in resource room program and informed of current issues in special education
- all Special Education Teacher Assistants (SETA) are supported in their work.
Outstanding Achievements:
Makes school an inviting, welcoming place, even for reluctant, special needs and school-phobic children. Many of the school's students have low self-esteem, learning difficulties and school anxiety as a result of their family circumstances. Ms. Murray creates programs that gradually move these children into the classroom and towards academic and social success.
Adapts curriculum materials to meet the needs of her students, provides teachers and SETA with tests and updated material, meets with all teachers on a regular basis, and monitors and mentors SETAs' work with children.
Developed a peer tutoring program pairing gifted, learning disabled and behaviour disordered students with younger students. Parents, children (both the tutors and their students) and teachers have found this program very beneficial.
Established a recess and lunchtime behaviour program for students struggling with social skills. The program helps students set goals, think for themselves and make wise decisions.
Initiated a buddy system for a diabetic student that ultimately saved his life. Well trained beforehand, his friends knew what to do when he lost consciousness due to low blood sugar.
Rave Reviews:
"Susan Murray's support and one-on-one explanations helped my son understand the difficulties he was having at school and accept his learning challenges with an incredibly positive attitude." Parent
"A friend, a team member extraordinaire… in tune with people's feelings and concerns, Susan supports and has a genuine interest in each teaching staff and support staff member both educationally and personally. What a gift!" School secretary