|
Jennifer Gruno, winner of the Maxwell
Cameron Medal in Education at
the secondary school level, proudly
calls herself “a Sooke girl.” And while
many of her peers are heading off to
work in city schools, she would like
nothing better than to get a teaching
job in the Sooke school district in
the fall.
“It’s beautiful here with a culture
all its own,” says Gruno, who allows
that it’s tough for some young people
growing up away from city amenities. “I understand where they’re coming
from, but I loved growing up here.
I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors,
hiking, spending time at the beach
and camping.”
Gruno was part of the original
class that launched Edward Milne
Secondary when it opened in 1996,
and her experiences at the school led to her decision to become a teacher. “I had amazing teachers and by Grade
11, I knew I wanted to inspire others
with a passion for lifelong learning,”
she says.
A soccer player and sports enthusiast
all her life, Gruno opted for a
major in physical education with a
minor in English. During her studies,
Gruno coached senior girls’ basketball
at Edward Milne and organizes
a summer three-on-three basketball
tournament in the community.
“Getting people involved in sport
is vital for our society [which is] facing
obesity, health and fitness issues. I’m
trying to be a role model, especially
for women,” says Gruno, who spends
summer Saturday nights in Sooke
Basin playing kayak polo—a wild
water sport that involves kayak body
contact and plenty of spills.
Gruno enjoys teaching older
students and has no qualms about
walking into a class of Grade 11/12s,
but her first practicum back at Edward
Milne gave her pause. “It was great
being back at my old school but it felt
really weird going into the staff room
for the first time.”
|
