Kyle Baird is a teacher at Rockland District High School, and he has been a supportive and encouraging colleague and teacher throughout the COVID-19 pandemic period.
When returning to school in September 2020, Kyle checked in with his colleagues about their technology set up. His experience and knowledge with the online platforms made him a comforting supporter to have within the Rockland District High School hallways. He offered technical support for his colleagues to provide training on Microsoft Teams and D2L.
As most of the staff were new to these two platforms, Kyle’s support and check-ins were helpful in providing staff build the skills needed to teach both in-class learners and synchronous learners. Kyle’s in-school presence has greatly contributed to raising the bar in terms of the quality of education that Rockland District High School staff provided to the students this year.
In Spring 2020, when schools went to remote learning due to COVID 19, Kyle provided incredible support for his students in Senior University Biology. His students said the following about him: “Mr. Baird is a hero. His lessons at home are so well organized and thorough.”; “Anytime I have a question, I just email Mr. Baird. He replies right away.” and; “Anytime I need extra help, he is willing to connect with me via Teams.”
Kyle’s support and assistance has greatly helped the staff gain further confidence for the new reality in teaching. Kyle continues to be available to support his colleagues at any time of day, and he exemplifies the character traits of an excellent teacher!
For his ability to foster human connections while helping to build the staff culture at his school, the Upper Canada District School Board is pleased to present Kyle with a Director’s Award of Merit.