It’s not a surprise that the Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools nominee for excellence from a first-year teacher wanted her initial job in the division.
After all, CTR Catholic is practically running in St. Francis of Assisi Academy teacher Kristin Ford’s veins.
“I was born and raised in this division it was a blessing to complete my first year in the division,” said Ford, CTR Catholic’s nominee for the Edwin Parr Memorial Award.
She is a Jill-of-all-Trades at the K to Grade 9 school in the Davisburg area. She teaches Grade 1-2 physical education and health, Grade 7 social studies, Grade 8/9 drama and learning support and enhanced reading.
“It’s never a boring day because I work with all ages,” said Ford, a 2011 grad of Holy Trinity Academy. “It’s quite fun, but a big learning curve. I’m very fortunate that I have excellent mentors and colleagues who have been very supportive.
“Everybody has something to offer, from administrators, teachers, support staff. I could go up to anyone and they would give me constructive feedback or we can collaborate on something.”
She said a highlight is teaching the reconciliation portion of the social studies program.
Time management is key to a rookie teacher, which includes remembering to take care of the person nearly important as the students – Kristin Ford.
“It can be very easy to make teaching becoming your whole life,” Ford said “Being able to have time for yourself is important. It can be extremely busy and time consuming.”
It can be easy to become consumed with a vocation when it is a passion.
“Those moments when a lesson is going so perfectly and you are having so much fun learning along side your students," Ford said. "Not every day is easy that’s for sure, but building those relationships with students and staff makes it so worth it.
“Just being able to have incredible classroom discussion, and healthy debates in such a safe environment.
“That makes it so much fun.”
She needed those strong relationships, because now in the bizarro world of COVID-19, the rookie teacher is no longer in front or her students in her wide variety of subject matters, but instead the pupils are being taught at home – with her guidance – due to the pandemic.
“That has been a big learning curve for everybody – students, teachers and parents especially,” Ford said. “We’re doing online lessons. I’m trying to be accessible and giving constructive feedback to the students.”
She is trying to keep it simple for the students.
“I just give the lesson and then I am available through email and messaging through Google Classroom and I will phone if needed just to give those kids that one-on-one direction,” Ford said. “I definitely miss continuing to build the relationships with the kids and seeing them, it is very different.”
She credits plenty of teachers, coaches – Ford was a standout on the HTA Knights basketball team – and administrators in helping her become a teacher. But one former teacher stood out. While that mentor didn’t teach her Hamlet, she might have read her Hop on Pop or Go, Dog, Go.
“My mom has been a huge role model,” Ford said of her mother Paula Ford. “She has been a huge inspiration in my life. She was the behind the scenes worker that solidified teaching at home and was a real good role model in my life.”
Paula Ford was one of the leaders in establishing the then Okotoks Catholic School Division more than 25 years ago. It was the predecessor of Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools, which is now the third-largest separate school system in Alberta.
Kristin earned a hoops scholarship after attending HTA to Trinity Western University and graduated from St. Mary’s University in Calgary with an education degree.
She helped coach both the St. Francis Academy and the Holy Trinity Academy Knights girls basketball teams this season.
“I am very passionate about that sport,” Ford said. “And just being able to help build the program in this division. The students are so incredible and it was so great to help shape their basketball careers.”
From COVID-19 to basketball, it's been a whirlwind first-year for Ford.
“I am so incredibly honoured to be nominated (for the Edwin Parr Award),” Ford said. “I have had incredible support, so much excellent feedback from students, teachers, support staff. It’s been an incredible journey.
“Especially with the pandemic. I feel so much support and the biggest focus is everybody’s health and well-being.
“I will never forget my first-year teaching, that is for sure.”
