Loved by students
O’Leary teacher Tanya Gaudet recognized for going the Extra Mile
O’Leary teacher Tanya Gaudet was recognized with another of the P.E.I. Home and School Federation’s Extra Mile Awards presented this Teacher/ Staff Appreciation Week.
Students in Tanya Gaudet’s Grade 4 and 5 class at O’Leary Elementary School had lots to say when asked what they like about their teacher.
“She’s nice, she’s funny, she’s kind,” Messina Sweet exclaimed.
Gaudet’s caring approach to teaching and to her students has earned her one of six Extra Mile awards the P.E.I. Home and School Federation is presenting this week in celebration of its 65th anniversary.
It took a little bit of trickery to make sure Gaudet was in attendance to receive hers. Gaudet had arranged to take a personal day Wednesday so that she could drop in on her daughters’ Heart Art Day at neighbouring Bloomfield Elementary School.
“It’s hard to be a teacher and a mom sometimes, so this afternoon I felt like I needed to be in the mom role,” she explained.
At the urging of her principal, Gaudet agreed to drop in on an assembly, supposedly to help present an award. Home and School Federation secretary, Donna MacLeod, was partway through reading the citation before Gaudet figured out she was the one receiving the acknowledgement.
Gaudet attempted to downplay her role. “Everybody at this school goes the extra mile,” she said. Asked what she views as qualities of a good teacher, the Brockton resident responded, “being patient, understanding, calm and supportive.” She continued, “these kids need to be surrounded by love. I call them my work kids. Sometimes you have to take on that parental role for them.”
The citation MacLeod read included excerpts taken from nominations for Gaudet written by students, parents and fellow teachers.
“(Gaudet) inspires students to do their best in everything they do,” read one entry. “(She) makes sure every child has enough to eat and adequate outdoor clothing,” read another.
Victoria Gaudet is in Tanya Gaudet’s class for a third time. She was her teacher in Grades 1 and 4, and she has her again this year in a combined Grade 4 and 5 class.
“She lets us have fun and we love her as our teacher. She cares for us and, if we don’t have any food, she gives us food. She treats us like we are her children and she loves us and helps us when we need it,” Victoria read from the letter of endorsement she had written.
It was Victoria’s mother, Shawnna, who got the nomination process started.
“You deserve it,” she told the teacher.
One parent’s written nomination expressed appreciation for what Tanya Gaudet does for her students and described the recipient as “a positive breath of fresh air and honestly reminds me of an angel, and is the definition of what a teacher should be.”
“She turns what seems like the world’s most boring project into the best thing ever,” a student wrote.
The director of the Public Schools Branch, Parker Grimmer, was on hand to extend his congratulations and noticed that Gaudet seemed a bit uncomfortable with the attention. “She doesn’t want the focus to be on her; she wants the focus to be on her students,” he acknowledged.