As Jasper schools welcomed back its students, Sept. 6, 脡cole Desrochers, Jasper Junior/Senior High School and Jasper Elementary also welcomed new teachers. By way of introduction, the 51暗网 caught up with each new recruit. Here鈥檚 what we found out.
Marian Minar JJSHS
Fresh from Vancouver Island鈥檚 Port Hardy, Marian Minar is looking forward to exploring what Jasper has to offer, both inside and outside the classroom.
As Minar and his family settle into their new home, Minar will have his hands full settling into his new position as the Grade 7, 8 and 9 math and science teacher鈥攁 role he spent seven years doing in British Columbia.
鈥淚 grew up in the snow and the mountains so this is kind of like coming back for me,鈥� said Minar, adding that he and his family moved to British Columbia from the Czech Republic when he was just a boy. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really an awesome opportunity for me and my family鈥擨 can already tell this is going to be incredible.鈥�
Along with science and math, Minar said he鈥檒l also be teaching some cartooning, drama and other art classes.
鈥淎s a family we were ready for a change鈥攖his allows us lots of new things,鈥� Minar said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e only had a chance to explore a bit of Jasper in the past three weeks, but we know this is only the tip of the iceberg and we鈥檙e looking forward to finding out more about the community.鈥�
Maryse Dion 脡cole Desrochers
After a two-year trip exploring South America, Maryse Dion is ready to settle down for a bit and call Jasper home as she embarks on her new journey as 脡cole Desrochers pre-school teacher.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so magnificent here鈥攊t鈥檚 a good environment with beautiful nature and the people are so nice and polite. We felt very welcomed right away,鈥� said Dion, adding that she just arrived in Jasper at the beginning of the month. 鈥淚 love nature and tranquility so I think I鈥檓 going to enjoy being here a lot.鈥� 聽聽
However, what Dion said she鈥檚 excited about most is meeting her new students. Her classes begin Sept.12.
鈥淚 haven鈥檛 even met them yet, but I have a feeling it鈥檚 going to be a great year.
Having grown up in a small town in Quebec, Dion said she can鈥檛 wait to share her culture and language with the youngsters of Jasper.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really refreshing when you meet kids that are actually excited for school and want to come and learn French,鈥� Dion said. 鈥淚 think when they are in pre-school that that鈥檚 a good age to learn a language because when you are younger you鈥檙e less timid鈥攖hey鈥檙e open to everything.鈥� 聽
Marie-Eve Bissonnette JJSHS
Math, science, social studies, history鈥攜ou name it and Marie-Eve Bissonnette has probably taught it.
Over the past decade, Bissonette has called many places home, but it wasn鈥檛 until about three years ago when she moved to Jasper that her and family felt like they were finally ready to start setting down roots.
鈥淲e love it here so everything we鈥檝e been doing these last few years has been moving forward to make this our home,鈥� Bissonette said.
Since moving here, Bissonette has been bouncing around from one contract to the next, but this year she鈥檚 happy to say she鈥檚 signed into a full-time position as one of the high school鈥檚 French immersion teachers.
鈥淚鈥檝e taught everything, but I鈥檓 a French immersion teacher so I鈥檓 happy to be back in my comfort zone,鈥� Bissonette said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so happy to have a job that has the possibility of continuing鈥擨 always find work so that鈥檚 not the worry, but it鈥檚 nice to know that if I start getting involved in a program that I鈥檒l be around to continue building and improving it.鈥�
Aside from French immersion, the Montreal native will also be teaching outdoor education and social studies.
鈥淚鈥檓 really excited for outdoor education,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y goal this year is to give students access to things in their own backyard鈥攚e don鈥檛 even need a school bus. We have so many things to do right here.鈥� 聽
Sara Kongsrud J.E.S.
Sara Kongsrud is no stranger to the community, having first moved to Jasper to 2000 for work in the Tonquin Valley.
After finishing up her bachelor of education, Kongsrud and her husband knew they wanted to make Jasper their forever home and for years Kongsrud bounced around various teaching gigs in Jasper before taking on a three-year contract in Hinton.
Now she鈥檚 happy to say that she鈥檒l be returning to the Jasper students as the new Grade 5 math and science teacher.
鈥淏eing back at home is fabulous and I鈥檓 loving the commute,鈥� Kongsrud said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so nice just being able to bike to work and to stay in my own community.鈥�
Along with math and science, Kongsrud will also be filling in on some language arts positions.
鈥淚鈥檓 kind of scattered throughout which is great because then you鈥檙e in touch with so many different age groups,鈥� Kongsrud said. 鈥淛asper is just such a tight-knit place so I鈥檓 really looking forward to being back in its teaching community.
Kayla Byrne [email protected]
