ARCHIVED—Peter Slobodzian
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Year: 2009 – Province: Manitoba
Certificate of Achievement Recipient
Ste. Anne Collegiate
197 St. Alphonse Street
Ste. Anne MB R5H 1G3
Principal: Elaine Lochhead
School Tel.: 204-422-5417
School Fax: 204-422-5614
School Email: sac@srsd.ca
School Website: www.sac.srsd.mb.ca
Subjects and Grades Taught: Apprenticeship and Career Development in grades 9 to 12
When a student was more interested in rebuilding a car motor than school, Peter Slobodzian invited him to bring it to school and worked with him on it over the lunch hour just to keep him coming to school. When six students expressed an interest in a career in the recording industry, he arranged for them to go into a recording studio in Winnipeg, even though he is not a music teacher. Mr. Slobodzian believes in making it real, so when students express an interest in a particular career, he does what it takes for them to learn everything they need to know about it.
Teaching Approach
Mr. Slobodzian puts students at the centre of their own learning. He listens to students and structures his course accordingly, to provide a positive atmosphere and beginning to the term. He encourages students to learn to listen to each other and to communicate the goals they want to achieve. For students who participate in community placements, he puts the responsibility on them to do the legwork to get the learning opportunities organized.
Outstanding Achievements
- Mr. Slobodzian does not let school walls get in the way of students' learning. He makes contacts with businesses to bring the working world into the classroom and give students a chance to go out into it. For example, he arranged with a local firm to get business records and other materials for students to work on in accounting class. He took students to the offices of a long-distance trucking company to see how the staff there used what the students were learning in geography and math class to organize trips to deliver goods to another country.
- Mr. Slobodzian is working with Canadian Exporters and Manufacturers (an industry group) and the Manitoba government to develop lesson plans to be shared across the province linking work done in manufacturing (an important segment of the Manitoba economy) with the math, science, technology and communications curriculum.
- All of Mr. Slobodzian's work has had a significant and positive effect on attendance and graduation rates at the school. Out of a typical class of 60 students, the school estimates that up to 20 percent make it successfully to graduation due to Mr. Slobodzian's efforts.
Rave Reviews
"Peter is a tireless educator and has a heart for students who do not fit in to the traditional school setting. Through his many connections both inside and outside school walls, Peter has assisted students to develop their talents and skills in new ways." School superintendent
"As there is a shortage of mechanics in the field of school bus maintenance and repair, I was only too glad to participate when Peter Slobodzian asked me if we would be interested in supporting the School Apprenticeship Program. I can not adequately describe the value of this program and the dedication of Mr. Slobodzian to his students." Industry partner