Myers teacher a nominee for provincial teaching award

Posted on April 24, 2025 by Taber Times

By Cal Braid
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

W.R. Myers teacher Alexe Bara has been chosen by the Horizon School Division (HSD) as its nominee for the Edwin Parr Teacher Award – the namesake of past Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) President Edwin Parr. The award recognizes outstanding first-year teachers who have demonstrated excellence according to its teaching quality standard.

 According to the ASBA, nominees include first-year Kindergarten to Grade 12 teachers who meet the following criteria:

-First-year teaching experience must be completed in an ASBA member school board.

-Completion of a minimum of 100 full-time equivalent days of teaching service from the beginning of the current school year and prior to the nomination deadline.

-Must hold an Interim Professional Certificate or equivalent.

-Must have no more than 120 full-time equivalent days of teaching service prior to the current school year.

 HSD staff were eligible to nominate local teachers who met the criteria. Myers Principal Adam Hughes described Bara’s hiring and integration into her relatively new role.

“Alexe joined the W.R. Myers staff as a late addition, initially stepping in to cover a personal leave temporarily,” Hughes said. “When the position later became a permanent vacancy, she applied and was successfully hired. It quickly became clear that Alexe was exactly the right fit for the role.”

 Hughes explained that unlike most new teachers who often have months to prepare for their teaching assignment, Bara had only a few days’ notice before starting. Despite the short timeline and a diverse teaching load, she did an outstanding job preparing for and delivering her classes with professionalism and care.

 According to Hughes, Bara has already displayed many admirable traits in her first full school year. “She is a deeply compassionate educator. One of the first things that stood out was her intentional effort to create a safe and welcoming classroom environment. She is focused on supporting each individual student, meeting them where they are, and helping them grow.”

 He said that in large classes, making everyone feel included can be a challenge, but Bara “goes above and beyond to ensure that every student feels comfortable, cared for, and supported in their learning.”

 Bara explained that though she taught as a substitute (mostly at Myers) last year from January to June, this is her first year of full-time teaching — and she loves it.

 “Truly, I couldn’t have dreamed up a better teaching assignment,” she said. “Finding my footing as a full-time teacher has definitely been challenging, but the students and my colleagues make everything easier.”

As is with many folks who are committed to their work, Bara said her biggest challenge so far is balancing her personal and professional life. It’s a work in progress while she continues to find satisfaction in her teaching.

 “The most rewarding part of my job is building relationships with the students and creating a safe space where they can flourish and grow into intelligent and independent individuals,” she said. “I feel so lucky to work at a school like W.R. Myers, where I look forward to coming to work everyday.”

 Bara teaches Grade 12 English, Grade 10 English, and Knowledge and Employability, which is a mix of students from Grades 10-12, as well as Social Studies and Occupations.

 Her nomination came as quite the surprise. “I was completely shocked!” she said. “The award is not something I imagined being nominated for, but I am so grateful for the nomination. I take pride in my work and always try to do my job to the best of my ability; it’s wonderful to be recognized for that.”