Pearl Lorentzen

Lakeside Leader

Sarah Berglund from Smith School was the Aspen View School Division nominee for the 2023 Edwin Parr teaching award. This is an award which recognizes first year teachers.

On May 26, Berglund was invited to an event to honour all of the nominees across the zone, but she didn’t win.

“It’s still pretty cool,” she says, to be nominated.

Berglund taught Grade 6 to 9 language arts and social studies at Smith School in the 2022-23 school year.

Smith principal Amber Hensch nominated Berglund. Aspen View then chose her from all of the first-year teachers which were nominated across the division.

In the nomination letter, Hensch says, “students walk into Sarah’s class knowing they are cared about and capable of achieving greatness.”

“Sarah was extremely well prepared before the school year began,” adds Hensch.

The summer before Berglund started teaching, she move to the Smith area. She took part in the Smith School 100th anniversary and the Smith Fall Fair. Her mother even came to judge some garden entries at the fair.

During the school year, Berglund used various techniques to make her students feel comfortable, such as alternative seating, calming music, LED lights, and plants. She coached volleyball and took students to a basketball tournament. She also encouraged student leadership.

“I was very surprised at first,” says Berglund about being nominated. It felt like she was just surviving, but being recognized by her principal and the division “reinforced that I’m in the right place.”

By which she means teaching. Berglund will be moving schools in the fall to be closer to her family.

“It’s a little bitter-sweet,” says Berglund of changing schools. “It’s been a good year. I learned how to be more patient, learned to enjoy the time with the kids.”