News

Energy teacher Roy Smith gets a good shock

May 4, 2010
Roy Smith knows all about shocks.

An electrician by trade, Smith is the specialist high skills major energy program teacher at Westlane Secondary School. On a daily basis he teaches his students about volts, amps, kilowatts and the shocks that they can lead to in the classroom.

This week, however, Smith got a shock he wasn’t prepared for: he was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award from the Ontario Council for Technology Education.

Smith started teaching just over two years ago and his impact has been felt by staff and students alike. According to Westlane Principal Carol Purcer, Smith was only person shocked about his win.

“The OCTE could not have made a better choice for the Excellence in Teaching Award,” she said. “Roy is passionate about teaching and is completely committed to student success. His expertise and experience in the industry has helped him to develop our SHSM and Ambassadors for the Conservation of Energy (ACE) program into huge successes that place students on the leading edge of the movement towards sustainability.”  

Smith is married to a District School Board of Niagara teacher and even before he started teaching himself, he spent long hours volunteering at schools, volunteering his time to help students build sets for dramatic arts performances.

“I’ve always enjoyed working with students, and I definitely wanted to be part of the SHSM Energy program,” said Smith. “It is a wonderful opportunity for students to become familiar with the wealth of opportunities emerging within the energy sector.”

Purcer said his dedication is what helps to make him such a great teacher.

“Roy also has limitless personal energy and puts a tremendous amount of time into creating partnerships with organizations within the energy sector to enhance his students’ learning,” she added.  

Kevin Graham, DSBN technology and experiential learning consultant, said Smith was instrumental in the development of the speciality high skills major program.

“He spent many long hours over the summer writing the sector guide for the program and reaching out to partner with outside organizations. Thanks to his hard work, students benefit by having the opportunity to take part in unique cooperative education placements, authentic experiential learning opportunities and industry recognized training,” he said.

The specialist high skills major program is a ministry approved program that allows students to focus their learning and courses on a specific economic sector while working towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Currently, the DSBN offers programs in nine different sectors: construction, welding, manufacturing, communications, arts and culture, transportation, hospitality and tourism, energy and horticulture.


http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news/news/article/811543