​​​​作为教育工作者，Safiya El Ferro扮演多重角色：盟友、倡导者、导师、教练和冠军 —— 更不用说她是约翰·G·迪芬贝克高中的一年级教师了。

在她任教的第一年里，El Ferro通过众多举措帮助她的学生和同事创造了一个更加包容的校园环境。

今年早些时候，她协助穆斯林学生成功争取在学校内设立一间祈祷室。她与系统的性取向和性别认同（SOGI）团队合作，为LGBTQ+学生创造尊重的场所。并且，她还根据真相和和解委员会的号召，组织虚拟会议，让社会学学生了解住宿学校的影响，与长者和知识传承者对话。

鉴于她在幼儿教育方面的卓越表现，对学生的承诺以及对卡尔加里教育委员会的服务，El Ferro被提名为2022年著名的Edwin Parr教师奖董事会候选人。

荣誉在3月8日的公开董事会议上正式颁发。

Tori Healing，区域2的教育主管说：“Safiya El Ferro体现了卡尔加里教育委员会的价值观，特别是CBE CARES的工作。通过许多例子可见，她是每个学生的榜样。”这是对抗种族主义和促进公正和反种族主义的合作（CARES）的承诺，致力于嵌入包容性实践。

El Ferro对社会学表现出了激情，并将这一激情带到了各个地方，无论是渥太华的国会山，还是卡尔加里的Riverside School，甚至是虚拟空间中的在线教学。

无论她去哪里，似乎总有一个地方是El Ferro的最终目的地：约翰·G·迪芬贝克高中。

除了是迪芬贝克高中的一年级教师外，El Ferro还是该学校的校友。

作为迪芬贝克的学生，她在学业上表现出色，在排球和曲棍球方面取得了成绩，并在参加“年轻加拿大人论坛”时与特鲁多总理相识

她回到那里，负责教学实习的教练工作。

约翰·G·迪芬贝克高中的校长Michael Bester说：“Safiya El Ferro是一位不知疲倦的工作者和杰出的榜样。她的同事们注意到，她为他人树立了榜样，她是每个家长为自己孩子送去的理想教师。在我们学校里拥有如此多的教学经验的新教师的成长，真是太特别了。”

El Ferro从卡尔加里大学获得政治学学士学位和中学社会研究专业的教育学学士学位。作为学生，她的成绩优秀，并且作为在线导师，她还自愿参与卡尔加里Wee Reads项目。

在短暂在Riverside School任教之后，El Ferro于2021年回到了她的母校，教授全球政治学、社会研究和职业与生活管理课程。

Edwin Parr教师奖由阿尔伯塔省学校董事协会（ASBA）于1964年设立，旨在表彰初级教师的杰出教学表现。如果El Ferro被选为区域获奖者，她将与来自阿尔伯塔省各地的其他五位区域获奖者一同在ASBA的会议上获得表彰。

从左到右：理事Nancy Close，Dana Downey，Marilyn Denn​is，Edwin Parr提名人Safiya El Farro，Laura Hack（主席），理事​​Susan Vukadinovic，Patricia Bolger和Charlene May。

​​​​​As an educator, Safiya El Ferro wears many hats: ally, advocate, mentor, coach, and champion — not to mention first-year teacher at John G. Diefenbaker High School​.​

In only her first year on the job, El Ferro has helped her students and colleagues create a more inclusive school environment through a dizzying number of initiatives.

Earlier this year, she helped Muslim students successfully advocate for a prayer room within the school. She worked with the system’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Team to create respectful places for LGBTQ+ students. In keeping with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action, she also set up virtual meetings with Elders and Knowledge Keepers to help Social Studies students understand the impacts of residential schools.

In recognition of her excellence in early years teaching, her commitment to students and her service to the Calgary Board of Education, El Ferro was named the 2022 Board of Trustees’ nominee for the prestigious Edwin Parr Teacher Award.

The honour was officially conferred at a public Board meeting on March 8.

“Safiya El Ferro exemplifies the values of the CBE, and in particular the work of CBE CARES,” said Tori Healing, Education Director in Area 2 in reference to the Collaboration for Anti-Racism and Equity Supports (CARES) commitment to embedding inclusive practices that advance equity and anti-racism. “It is evident through many examples that she is a role model for each and every one of her students.”

El Ferro has demonstrated a passion for social studies and that passion has followed her everywhere, from Parliament Hill in Ottawa to Riverside School in Calgary, to virtual teaching in cyberspace.

Wherever she goes, there seems to be one place where El Ferro always ends up: John G. Diefenbaker High School.

In addition to being a first-year teacher at Diefenbaker today, El Ferro is also an alumna of the school.

As a Diefenbaker student, she excelled in her studies, played volleyball and field hockey, and met Prime Minister Trudeau when she travelled to Ottawa for the Forum for Young Canadians. 

She returned to coach volleyball there throughout her university studies and it’s where she completed two teaching practicum experiences.

“Safiya El Ferro is a tireless worker and exceptional role model. Her colleagues remark on the fact that she sets the example for others and she’s the sort of teacher every parent would want for their own children,” said Michael Bester, Principal, John G. Diefenbaker High School. “It’s truly special to have a new teacher with so much pedagogical experiences in our school and to see her continue her growth here as an educator.”

El Ferro graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Education specializing in secondary Social Studies. In addition to boasting a sterling Grade Point Average (GPA) as a student, she also volunteered with Calgary Wee Reads as an online tutor.

After a short assignment at Riverside School, El Ferro returned to her high school alma mater in 2021 to teach Global Politics, Social Studies and Career and Life Management (C.A.L.M.). She is recognized for owning a strong body of knowledge within her subject area while still being able to bring subject matter to life for students. 

The Edwin Parr Teacher award was created by the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) in 1964 to recognize outstanding teaching performance by a beginning teacher. If El Ferro is selected as the zone winner, she will be recognized along with five other zone winners from across Alberta at an ASBA meeting this fall.

L-R: Trustees Nancy Close, Dana Downey, Marilyn Denn​is, Edwin Parr Nominee Safiya El Farro, Laura Hack (Chair), Trustees ​Susan Vukadinovic, Patricia Bolger, and Charlene May.​