The students of Innisfail Jr./Sr. High School are receiving a world-class biology education.
Just ask any of Narsh Ramrattan's students at the school, or any of Ramrattan's teaching staff who nominated him twice for the coveted North American Biology Teachers Association award, once in 2012 and again in 2013.
In 2012, his nomination was not successful, but in 2013, he was recognized with the NABT Award for Western Canada. He received the award last November.
ìI was surprised when I was notified that I was nominated again for the award,î said Ramrattan, who is vice-principal of the school. ìThe NABT is a North American group of biology teachers who share teaching resources, ideas and current research with each other.î
The current membership of the NABT includes thousands of teachers, 40 of whom are from Alberta, with a total membership of 150 from across Canada.
Carol Kroeker, an NABT board member from Ambrose University College in Calgary who serves as a regional representative, noted that while the group is North American in scope, its aim is to make better biology teachers across the board.
Ramrattan, a longtime Alberta teacher, has been heavily involved with science education across the province.
ìThis is not my first time belonging to a biology teachers association,î added Ramrattan. ìWhen I taught in northern Alberta at Peace River High, and was part of the provincial biology exam team, we had formed a loose association, a cohort so to speak, to share teaching ideas.
ìPart of our job was to both write provincial exam questions, and then to mark them,î he added. ìWhen the province ended written responses, we all kept in touch. To this day, some of us still do.î
Ramrattan noted that the award is a cumulative recognition for work in science education, and his work on provincial examinations, his leadership and presentations to school boards and science conferences were a big part of his nomination.
He went on to say that while at Peace River High School his class was flagged for exceptional provincial exam achievement and audited by the Department of Education.
He was proud of that notice.
ìTeaching changes from year to year, and class to class,î said Ramrattan. ìEvery student learns differently, and throughout my teaching career I have been privileged to work with lifetime learners, not lifetime teachers. We help each other, and the result is continuous change.
ìMy co-workers in the Chinook's Edge School Division Number 73, throughout Alberta schools, and fellow members in the NABT are all passionate about teaching,î he added. ìThat is why we do what we do, to help our students achieve and learn. Within my circle of influence, there is such a diversity of knowledge on every topic that we have specialists who know more than doctors. Their knowledge makes us all stronger as they share what they know with us.î
Ramrattan received his award from Lindsay Thurber Composite High School teacher Kim Burley, another NABT member, in November.
ìI had taken my biology class to Red Deer to listen to Burley, an excellent teacher,î added Ramrattan. ìAnd she presented the award to me in front of her class, and my school kids. I received a standing ovation. That was very satisfying to me, a moment I will not likely ever forget.î
He said that while receiving the award is rewarding, his goal still remains to improve the performance of his students, grade wise, and improve his teaching skills.
That is said to be the heart of a teacher.
