UPPER CANADA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

The Red Apple Award

The Red Apple Award is given by the Director of Education Ron Ferguson to individuals that stand out for their deeply-rooted dedication to our school board’s top priority – our students. Their day-to-day impact on those around them branches far & wide, planting seeds of inspiration for us all.

Congratulations to our Winter 2022 Red Apple Award recipients:  

	Debbie Banks, Principal of Special Education, for her dedicated years of service with us and specifically, her work with the development of the Power Up Program which was designed to increase inclusion in our board.
	Erin Hurford, local CUPE President, for having the best interest of staff in mind, while keeping student impact front and centre during this pandemic. Erin went far beyond expectations when assisting in medical emergencies on more than two occasions since the start of the pandemic.
	Jane Veninga, Teacher at R. Tait McKenzie, for her mentorship of new teachers, dedication to her students and heightened focus on literacy, ensuring all students in her class have the best opportunity to learn how to read.
	Larry Berry, Trustee Ward 7, and retired principal, was diagnosed with ALS shortly into his term, which has come with some significant challenges. Trustee Berry continues to be determined to ensure that his family is taken care of and to finish his term as trustee for our school district, with the attention and dignity that his office requires. He remains positive, courageous, and resilient while dealing with this difficult and life-changing diagnosis.
	Bridgewood Public School, Power Up Program Team  Nadia Benton, Lauren Bertrand, Erin Muir and Laura MacDonald are recipients for their dedication to the Power Up Program at their school and their students. They volunteered their time in the summer to learn about the program and continue to be excited, sharing their learning during and after school hours with each other. These educators have literally given their students a voice by teaching students how to speak, and providing programming to them that allows them to attend school each day.
	Lynda Johnston, Executive Assistant, is a long-serving office administrator in the school board, currently working within the teaching and learning department. Lynda is known to many as the moral center of the schools she’s worked in, both elementary and secondary, and is a strong advocate for disadvantaged students.