Carly was nominated by a colleague, who said:

“When it comes to her students Carly cares deeply and always creates a space of positivity for every child that enters her room.

Everyone that interacts with Carly is reminded of the vocation of teaching as she brings a sense of excitement and purpose to her days. Anytime you talk to Carly she is beaming about her students’ accomplishments and growth. She is especially skilled at assisting students who need a little bit more love and care and always makes each child feel special at school.

Carly is an amazing teacher and colleague to have. Holy Family is lucky to have her.”

Robert was nominated by a colleague, who said:

“As our custodian, he goes far beyond the expectations of his role. No matter the situation or the time of day, he never says no and always answers our calls for help with a positive attitude. Whether it’s setting up for an event, handling an unexpected mess, or stepping in during a busy moment, he responds quickly and willingly.

What truly sets him apart is the way he connects with our students. He knows them by name, greets them with a smile, and treats everyone with kindness and respect. His friendly presence helps create a welcoming and supportive school environment.

Our building runs more smoothly because of him, and our community is stronger thanks to his dedication and heart.”

Joelle is a Guidance Counsellor at St. Stephen CSS in Bowmanville.

Joelle was nominated by a colleague, who said:

“Joelle is more than a guidance counsellor; she is a bridge-builder. Through a rare combination of emotional intelligence and strategic community outreach, she fully understands what it means to support the “whole student.” Whether she is navigating a university or college application crisis with a student or helping to coordinating a parent engagement event, like our pathway evening, Joelle operates with a level of dedication that elevates the entire St. Stephen school community.

Joelle’s success in guidance lies in her ability to foster genuine connections and she possesses an innate ability to make students feel heard, safe, and valued. She is also a critical member of St. Stephen’s greater student success team; Joelle brings a solution-oriented lens to every meeting so that we can develop actionable, personalized pathways to get students back on track. Her guidance helps to ensure that students don’t fall through the cracks.

One of the initiatives that Joelle has run lead on “Workforce Wednesdays”. By bringing local community partners into the St. Stephen, she has helped to build bridges between what is out there in the “real world” and what students experience on the daily at school. This initiative, particularly with aquatics department run through the municipality of Clarington, has helped students land jobs as both swim instructors and lifeguards.

Joelle builds fostering relationships with both students and staff members, is a school leader, and embodies the spirit of the Everyday Hero award and I think that she is well deserving of the recognition.”