Coaldale teacher Holy Spirit’s nominee for Edwin Parr Award

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on April 22, 2023.

Submitted photo Holy Spirit Catholic School Division's Edwin Parr nominee, Zara Johnson is seen in her classroom earlier this week with her Grade 1 students at St. Joseph School in Coaldale.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The Holy Spirit Catholic School Division has selected a first year teacher at St. Joseph School in Coaldale, as the division’s Edwin Parr nominee for the 2022-2023 school year.

The Edwin Parr Award recognizes excellence in teachers beginning their professional careers, and for Zara Johnson the nomination comes just before her first year anniversary of graduating from the University of Lethbridge.

Johnson said she feels very fortunate and very thankful to be nominated, as she knows there are lots of first year teachers working very hard everywhere.

“It feels nice to just have some recognition, a little bit of recognition for all the hard work that we do,” said Johnson.

Born and raised in Golden, British Columbia, Johnson moved to Lethbridge in 2017 to attend the University of Lethbridge. In 2022, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degree. She received a major in General Social Sciences with disciplinary streams in Kinesiology, Psychology and Indigenous Studies, as well as a major in Physical Education and a minor in Mathematics Education.

Johnson said after graduating in April 2022 she worked as a substitute teacher through May and June with a different school division throughout southern Alberta and in September 2022, she started working at St. Joseph’s School.

“I did my final practicum for my university at a school that is with the Holy Spirit school division, and I just really liked the sense of support that I felt within that school and I’ve had the exact same experience at the school in St. Joe’s as well, And I’ve had the exact same experience with the division,” said Johnson.

She said their support feels like a family and she is very appreciative of that since all her family is in a different province.

When it comes to her passion for education, Johnson said it can be traced to her childhood.

“I have always had a passion for kids and helping others, serving others is a part of that too and it is very important to me,” said Johnson.

She said she is more inclined to teach younger grades, but she would be open to teach older grades as well.

“At the end of the day they’re all kids and they’re all amazing,” said Johnson.

She said something that attracts her to teaching younger grades is the children’s interest in learning and capacity to enjoy the little things.

“What brings me so much joy is that you could literally be like ‘the sky is blue’ and the kids are beyond themselves. They’re just so excited about learning and they are so excited about everything basically,” said Johnson.

She said she is thankful to have the opportunity to learn from them about their ability to just find joy in everything that’s going on.

“I think the way they see the world too, it’s just that they’re so fresh and they just see the world in such a different way and I think it’s so amazing that I get to see that and learn from that as well,” said Johnson.

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