Throughout the entire province, only four teachers were selected for the 2019 National Inclusive Education Awards – and one of the winners was Kim Moffat, who teaches Grade 5 at SenPokChin.
Moffat won the category for Inclusive Teaching at a ceremony last month in Victoria.
“It was a big surprise, and very humbling,” she said. “It wasn’t just me – this whole school is very inclusive. Along with our support staff and principal, this is really an award for our school.”
Senpaqcin teacher Kim Moffat (midde) is presented the award by Executive Director of Inclusion BC Karla Verschoor (left) and Angela Clancy, Executive Director of Family Support Institute of BC. Photo contributed
“Kim has nurtured an environment of compassion and understanding, where classmates look out for each other and care for each other,” says school principal Val Allen.
Asked why they think their teacher was the winner of such a prestigious inclusivity award, “She’s nice and willing to teach us,” said one student, and “Sometimes I feel lucky to have her,” said another.
Moffat embraces the International Baccalaureate philosophy of student-driven learning and uses it to inspire her class and allow each student to work at their own level. She engages her classes in group discussions about inclusion and disabilities, and she models compassion and understanding to create an environment where every student feels they belong.
She works to make sure students of all abilities are meaningfully included in activities inside and outside of the classroom, and collaborates with other teachers to find positive solutions to ensure students throughout the school are receiving an inclusive, high quality education.
