Prime Minister's Awards for teaching Excellence

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Year: 2002 – Province: Ontario

Certificate of Achievement Recipients

Frances Linton-Schell

School: J. L. R. Bell and Stewart Scott Public Schools
121 Queen Street
Newmarket, Ontario  L3Y 2E9

Principal: Garry Kaszper
School Telephone: 905-895-2601
School Fax: 905-895-9184
Grades/Subjects Taught: Reading recovery teacher for elementary grades

Teaching Approach:

  • Do whatever is necessary to bring students to their grade-appropriate reading level.
  • Lead by example and coach children towards becoming good citizens.

Outstanding Achievements:

Instituted a school-wide reading proficiency testing program to identify weak readers and highlight their specific deficiencies and challenges. In collaboration with Grade 1 teachers and school administrators, Linton-Schell developed a program to provide kindergarten and Grade 1 teachers with ongoing support for students' areas of weakness. Held in-class demonstrations of interactive writing, workshops for primary teachers, and whole-class reading lessons to help teachers identify effective strategies. Also helped teachers implement reading assessment tools and fostered their use to guide instructional strategies.

Spends time before school, at recess, at lunchtime and after school working with students not eligible for her Grade 1 program.

Promotes growth of citizenship in students with monthly Good Deed draw, which awards eight students a month with a special lunch.

Eagerly and easily shares her knowledge, experience and expertise with fellow teachers at both schools. She served 10 years as computer site administrator, co-chaired a year-long multi-age individual enrichment program, and has held executive positions on the Simcoe County Reading Council and both the Ontario and international reading associations.

Rave Reviews:

"Frances's dedication, expertise and knowledge have been a beacon of inspiration to all who have known her as an educator." Fellow teachers

"I can only hope that my son continues to have teachers that are as caring and dedicated as Mrs. Linton-Schell." Parent