Congratulations to Ms Katie Young for receiving the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. Out of the hundreds of nominees, Ms Young received the Certificate of Achievement.
This award is presented by the Prime Minister of Canada to exceptional Canadian elementary and secondary school teachers. It is the most prestigious prize awarded to a teacher in Canada. This award honours educators who go above and beyond to support students, create learning experiences that lift up student voice, and have a lasting impact.
Some of Ms Young's achievements include: Developing a new dual-credit interdisciplinary course, informally called the English Social Justice course. She supported the Feminism for Change Club in raising over $2,000 for breast cancer research, secured renowned speakers and organized the Youth Uniting for Justice Conference.
Ms Young encouraged students to design and implement social justice action plans, resulting in initiatives like providing free menstrual products in school restrooms, creating murals and advocating for scholarships for underprivileged athletes. She has also led a two-day Hackathon for all Grade 10 students, partnering with companies like Apple, Egale Canada, InStage and McKesson Pharmaceuticals to offer real-world challenges for students to address.
Former HTS students state; "From teaching and co-designing our social justice course to serving as the faculty advisor for our Feminism for Change Club, Ms Young's passion lies in equipping students with the skills they need to become advocates for themselves, for others and for the issues that matter to them."
Ms Young is a passionate champion for gender equity and social justice, consistently creating a classroom environment where all students feel secure and respected. Her dedication to supporting each student reflects her deep commitment to the art of teaching.