Inspiring teacher
Summerside educator recognized for going the extra mile to support students with learning disabilities
Mark Ronahan sits a desk with a few Summerside Intermediate Students. They each take turns rolling a die. “What do you think the probability is of one of us finally rolling a three,” he asked his Grade 9 math students. Suddenly, members of Ronahan’s family walk into the classroom accompanied by his colleagues and other familiar faces.
“We’re here to present the educator of the year award… oh wait, that’s you,” said Martin Dutton, the executive director of the P.E.I. Learning Disabilities Association (P.E.I. LDA). Ronahan smiles and gives a laugh.
Students clap and after a brief award presentation Ronahan looks at his award.
“I’ll admit when I saw my family walk in I was scared that something bad had happened.”
Ronahan is the vice-principal of Summerside Intermediate School. He also teaches a Grade 9 math class.
“It’s a little overwhelming. But it’s nice to be acknowledged. I’m still floored, and it’s very gratifying. “As a teacher, you think and hope that you’re getting through to your students, but you’re not always sure. I guess this acknowledges it.”
His math students, as well as Patty Rayner, the educational assistant for the class, nominated Ronahan for the P.E.I. Learning Disabilities Association/Staples Educator of the Year award.
Keira McCloskey one of the students shared her thoughts on the surprise.
“It’s really cool. Mr. Ronahan makes learning fun. He makes math easier for me to understand even with a learning disability.
“He’s very involved and the way he teaches makes it easier for all of us to process.” Rayner also weighed in. “When I got the email calling for nominations, the first person I thought of was Mark.” He goes the extra mile, she said.
“He tutors students from this school and others everyday and doesn’t ask for anything in return. He always shares his time willingly.”
It’s pretty incredible what he does for the students, she added.
“He’s the vice principal of the school, not a resource teacher and what he does is really important. He always keeps his cool with the students and never gets frustrated.
“He is continuously reassuring them that ‘they can do it’, or ‘if that doesn’t work, why don’t we try it this way. You can get it’. Teaching isn’t a job for him. It’s his life. I don’t think he’ll ever say no to helping a student.” Ronahan added, “As a father with a son who has a learning disability I’ve had to learn and recognize that he learns and thinks differently than me. And it’s important to recognize and understand that people learn in different ways. I’m very fortunate because, I love what I do.”