The kudos keep coming Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows educator Scott Ormiston.
This week it was announced that he had won a Prime Minister’s Certificate of Achievement.
He was one of 54 teachers from across Canada to win an award, which was announced on Oct. 7.
Ormiston is part of a team that works with at-risk students in the local school district, and has increased its aboriginal graduation rate to 74 per cent – which is 20 points higher than the average for the province.
It is one of the best aboriginal graduation rates in the province.
The award announcement notes that the Garibaldi Special Education Department, developed under Ormiston’s leadership, has been used as an exemplary case model for resource departments in other schools.
His innovation is shown in implementation of the “Brag Board” to promote student success. Hundreds of students place an academic achievement on the board, that translates into entries for a prize draw – the more achievements the better odds to win.
Ormiston partnered with Shell Oil Canada to provide funds to develop a student operated recycling fund, and has been a volunteer coach during the last 43 years for both school and community sports organizations.
The latest honour follows on an award that came to Ormiston in April. His Alma mater, UBC, chose him to receive the 2014 UBC Alumni Teaching Award, citing his “indefatigable commitment to teaching, and the passion, kindness and caring he brings to his practice.”
Ormiston has a long relationship with this district. He came here in 1983, but left for Calgary after meeting his wife at the Winter Olympics in 1988. After five years in the Stampede City, they returned to B.C. in 1989, and he has been in School District No. 42 since.
For about 20 years, he worked at Garibaldi secondary, in the resource room, keeping kids considered “at risk” strongly linked to the school system. Two years ago, he was asked to become one of two resource teachers for secondary school aboriginal education. In this new role, Ormiston works at Thomas Haney, Garibaldi and Maple Ridge secondary schools, supporting aboriginal education workers and dealing directly with students.