Excellence in Public Education Awards

District 8 OSSTF (Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation) and the Avon Maitland District School Board are pleased to recognize the winners of this year's Excellence in Public Education Awards. Award recipients include secondary students, secondary teachers, support staff members, and community members.

We invite the Huron and Perth communities to celebrate the accomplishments of these outstanding individuals with us.

Read the Program

2025 Excellence in Public Education Award Recipients

Student Achievement Awards

The OSSTF/FEESO Student Achievement Awards is a writing and creative arts competition, which is open to all public secondary school students in Ontario.

This year's winners include:

Quinn Mayer (SDSS): Grade 11-12 Prose & Poetry - “Mourning Star” (Staff supporter: Tiela Miller)
Emma Carmichael (GDCI): Grade 9-10 Visual - “Wonder of Life Beyond” (Staff supporter: Angela Milley)
Raya Chloe Scott (SDSS): Grade 11-12 Visual - “The Fox’s Cry” (Staff supporter: Michele Carter)

Linda Clements Memorial Best Buddies Award

Sophia Colling & Aliya Oke - South Huron District Elementary School (pictured below)

ESSP (Education Support Staff Professionals)

Pictured below
Elissa Kok (Educational Assistant, Clinton PS)
Kelly Hooper (Educational Assistant, Listowel Eastdale PS)
Lauren Lovell (STRIVE Child and Youth Worker, Listowel Eastdale PS)
Tonya Hummel (Educational Assistant, Huron Centennial PS)
Christa Marple (Educational Assistant, North Perth Westfield)
Alena Nadeau (ECE in an Educational Assistant role, Maitland River PS) - pictured separately

Carrie DeGraff (EIPE), Elissa Kok, Kelly Hooper, Lauren Lovell, Tonya Hummel, Christa Marple, Absent Alena Nadeau Alena Nadeau holding her plaque

Central Huron Secondary School

Pictured below with EIPE Rep Shane Taylor and Principal Scott Richardson
Lori Greig (Staff)
Theo Sawchuk (Community member)
Alyssa Keys (Student)
Kyla McLeod (Student)

Shane Taylor (EIPE), Scott Richardson (P), Lori Greig, Theo Sawchuk, Alyssa Keys, Kyla McLeod

FE Madill Secondary School

Pictured below with EIPE Rep Anne Guay and Principal Katie Wilson
Jon Meekins (Staff)
Sydney Bromley (Student)
Madison Forster (Student)
Mark Hoba (Staff)

Anne Guay (EIPE), Katie Wilson (P), Jon Meekins, Sydney Bromley, Madison Forster, Mark Hoba

Goderich District Collegiate Institute

Pictured below with EIPE rep Bridget Hayden and Principal Lucy Langis
Will Stewart (Student)
Melanie Ball (Staff)
Sarah Ball (Student)
Jason Doble (Staff) Absent from photo

Bridget Hayden (EIPE), Lucy Langis (P), Will Stewart, Melanie Ball, Sarah Ball Absent: Jason Doble

Listowel District Secondary School

Pictured below with EIPE Rep Dana Theil and Principal Scott Bannerman
Paul Ridley (Staff)
Jaelynn McKinley-MacPherson (Student)
Aganetha Bartsch Neufeld (Student)
Shelley Dick (Staff)

Dana Thiel (EIPE),Scott Bannerman (P), Paul Ridley, Jaelynn McKinley-MacPherson, Aganetha Bartsch Neufeild, Shelley Dick

Mitchell District High School

Pictured below with EIPE Rep Sarah McKay and Vice Principal Josh McClinchey
Alexis Gettler (Student)
Grace Bach (Student)
Brock Boville (Student)
Andrea Gerber (Staff)

Sarah McKay (EIPE), Josh McClinchey VP, Alexis Gettler, Grace Bach, Brock Boville, Andrea Gerber

South Huron District High School

Pictured below with Vice Principal John Gordon
Rudra Patel (Student)
Liz Stuckless (Staff)
The Trailer Factory - Andy Orr and Tom Enns (Community)
Molly Groot (Student) Absent from photo

John Gordon (VP), Rudra Patel, Liz Stuckless, Trailer Factory ( Andy Orr, Tom Enns) Absent: Molly Groot

St. Marys District Collegiate and Vocational School

Pictured below with Vice Principal Ian Moore
Donna Mitchell (Staff)
Emma Kruse (Student)
Niko Taylor (Student)
Abby Houston (Student)

Ian Moore VP, Donna Mitchell, Emma Kruse, Nico Taylor, Abby Houston

Stratford District Secondary School

Pictured below with EIPE Rep Leah Challenger and Principal Deanne Deelstra
Peer Wahlquist (Student)

Quinn Mayer (Student)

Haley DiDiomete (Staff)
Jen Wilson (Staff)

Leah Challenger (EIPE), Deanne Deelstra (Admin), Peer Wahlquist, Quinn Mayer, Haley DiDiomete, Jen Wilson

Congratulations to all of the winners! Well deserved!