A 91原创 teachers work with students and other teachers has earned her the Premier鈥檚 Award for Excellence in Education.
Lesley Gunning is a teacher at R.E. Mountain Secondary, and is one of 34 B.C. educators announced as award recipients in the category of Indigenous education.
鈥淚鈥檝e been teaching seniors Indigenous studies classes for over a decade now,鈥� according to Gunning. 鈥淏eing able to figure out how and where all of us as individuals can contribute is really what this work is all about, that teachers of all backgrounds feel agency to contribute and find their role in this work.鈥�
District director of instruction George Kozlovic said her influence extends beyond the 91原创 School District.
鈥淪he is so willing to share everything that she does. She鈥檚 had a tremendous impact on teachers in our district and then beyond that,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n the last couple of years, Leslie also basically on her own time, decided to create an online course around Indigenous education, and I鈥檝e had districts all over the province regularly reaching out to me, saying 鈥榟ey, I鈥檝e heard about this course that Leslie鈥檚 created and can I have access to it鈥�.鈥�
Launched in 2018, the awards honour public, independent and First Nations school teachers, support staff, principals, vice-principals, as well as school and district leaders, who all go above and beyond to make life better for K-12 students throughout the province.
Gunning shared some of her motivation.
鈥淚鈥檓 fearful of making mistakes, but I鈥檓 more fearful of the silence,鈥� she commented.
She enjoys working with teenagers and sees a key part of her work as helping them find their voices.
鈥淭hey want to understand the world,鈥� Gunning said. he kids get it. It鈥檚 the adults who might need a little bit more work. The kids really do get it. We shouldn鈥檛 be afraid to step forward and support these voices. We should be more afraid of being a part of silencing them.鈥�
The nomination period ran from April 14 until May 5, 2023. It was open to the public, as well as those working in the education sector. Nominations were received from throughout the province.
The award recipients were celebrated at a ceremony at Government House in Victoria on Thursday, Oct. 26. Each recipient received a $2,000 personal bursary for professional learning, a $1,000 contribution to their school for professional learning, and a commemorative trophy.
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