Truro teacher honoured for efforts in physics
Farrell recognized for mentoring skills, providing professional development to other teachers
A local teacher has been recognized for his mentoring skills that have resulted in students performing at a high level in physics and other teachers benefitting from his encouragement and guidance.
Truro’s Kevin Farrell Truro has been a physics teacher at Cobequid Educational Centre since 1993 and was honoured by the Canadian Association of Physicists with the Award for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics.
“I share this award with my colleagues at the elementary and junior high level who instil a love of science in my students long before I have the pleasure to teach them,” Farrell said.
Specifically, Farrell was recognized for his mentoring skills that have led his students to continually succeed at top levels in physics competitions. He’s also helped many new science and physics teachers in the region do their jobs better, providing professional development to hundreds of teachers during his career with sessions ranging from providing ideas for teaching physics concepts in grades 3 to 6 to elementary teachers, to leading round table discussions on the IB Physics curriculum.
“I see it as the school being recognized for the math and
science departments and the work that all teachers are doing to help the students prepare for university,” he told the Truro Daily News. “It certainly feels that the connection I’m making with students is paying off. The results have been very good over a number of years, so it feels very nice to be recognized for the achievement of my students.”
According to students, Farrell
makes physics dynamic, creates labs that capture and keep their attention and provides students with challenging problems, while maintaining a sense of lightness in class that leads to intense learning. His IB Higher Level Physics students consistently finish well above the world average and they often fill many of the top spots in Nova Scotia on the CAP High School Exam.
His colleagues view him as “the most involved staff member at CEC,” attending sporting events, concerts and plays. He has also served as a chaperone on many school trips.
He currently teaches his two children, Kevin and Lauren, and was a 2014 recipient of an Excellence in Teaching Award from the Chignecto Central Regional School Board.