The three local nominees for the Edwin Parr Award: Anastasia Potratz (Top Left), Daniel Bishop (Bottom Left), Janelle Dentinger (Right)

By Shaun Penner

Edwin Parr

Three local first-year teachers nominated for award

May 3, 2019 | 12:00 PM

Three local school districts have each nominated a first-year teacher for the Edwin Parr award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in their inaugural year of education.

Anastasia Potratz from the Peace Wapiti Public School Division, Daniel Bishop from the Grande Prairie Public School Division and Janelle Dentinger from Grande Prairie and District Catholic Schools have all been nominated for the award in Zone 1 (Northern Alberta). There is a total of six zones across the province.

The awards are given out by the Alberta School Boards Association and are given out annually at their annual general meeting in Edmonton in November. They are named after former Association President Edwin Parr and have been awarded annually in honour of his memory since 1964.

ANASTASIA POTRATZ

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Potratz is a Grade Four teacher at Savanna School in Silver Creek. She also teaches French and Health for Grades Four to Nine, plus sharing responsibility for Phys. Ed at the Grade Four level.

“It’s lovely to feel recognized for the work that I’ve put in this year and I really appreciate that coming from the staff that I work with,” said Potratz.

Potratz graduated (with distinction) from GPRC’s Teacher Education North (TEN) Program in 2018 with a Bachelor of Education.

Hailing from her hometown of Grande Prairie, she notes that becoming a teacher was about trying to make the world a better place.

“It is part of my personal belief that everybody should work, at least a little bit, everyday to make the world a little bit better of a place,” said Potratz. “That was what drove my entering the teaching profession.”

Outside the classroom, Potratz also volunteers her time at the Kitakaze Martial Arts Club in Spirit River. She holds a second-degree black belt in karate. She notes her experience teaching and coaching a broad age range of individuals has helped build her skills as a teacher.

“Just the opportunity to teach across such a broad age range doing something that I love has been great,” said Potratz. “It’s been really fabulous to apply what I’ve learned there to working with kids in my classroom as well.”

DANIEL BISHOP

Bishop is the nominee for the Grande Prairie Public School District, where he teaches Grade Seven Math and Science at Aspen Grove School. He also teaches Outdoor and Physical Education.

“It’s a job that I don’t really look for any recognition ever, but it still feels special to be recognized,” said Bishop. “Both my parents were teachers and I would say this is a nomination I definitely kind of hold close to me in that sense, as it’s something I am kind of proud to do and say I have that nomination.”

Seeing his parents as teachers was just one reason Bishop decided to get into the teaching profession. Serving as a coach for several years in the junior program at the Grande Prairie Golf and Country Club also played a role in his decision.

“I enjoyed so much of the coaching from golf and I got to see athletes develop and grow in that respective sport,” said Bishop. “That led me to working in this profession where I can not only help kids I coach, but see kids develop in the school setting as well.”

His love of sports originally had him going for a degree in Kinesiology. He did his first three years at GPRC, while playing with the JDA Kings Junior ‘B’ Hockey Team, before transferring to the University of Alberta where he graduated with both a Kinesiology degree and a Bachelor of Education.

Bishop also serves on the board of the 3D Charity Hockey and Soccer Tournament, which raises money for children with serious illness.

JANELLE DENTINGER

Dentinger teaches Grade Five at Ecole St. Gerard and is the nominee for Grande Prairie and District Catholic Schools.

“It is such an honour and I just feel so grateful to be nominated and to be recognized for this,” said Dentinger. “Being in my first year, I just try to do my very best and it just feels awesome to be recognized.”

Dentinger is also a graduate from GPRC, getting her Bachelor of Education there. While there, she played for the Wolves Volleyball team. She feels that gave her a lot of confidence and helped develop her leadership skills, noting it was an example she can pass on to her students of how to work as a team and to work together.

For her, teaching is all about bringing a positive environment to the classroom.

“I just love working with kids and I like seeing them succeed,” said Dentinger. “I want them to enjoy their learning and love coming to school. I basically want them to feel welcomed in the classroom and enjoy learning and trying new things, and not being scared to make mistakes.”

“I just thank everyone that has helped me on my way and everyone who helps me everyday here (Ecole St. Gerard).”