Award winning education

The Okanagan Mission (OKM) Secondary music room may appear like the average classroom, but a closer look reveals so much more.

It’s all about the students.

Apart from the hanging instruments, the walls display dozens of group pictures of the adventures the pupils have had over the years.

That's thanks in part to one teacher going the extra mile at OKM, Megan Frederick, a Grade 9 to 12 music director and a 2021 Prime Minister’s Award (PMA) for Teaching Excellence winner.

The award is given to teachers who have excelled in their practices, recognizing leadership and commitment to help the next generation of Canadians gain the knowledge and skills they need for future success.

“It’s extremely humbling and amazing. I feel very lucky to do what I do every day, and I feel very lucky and inspired by the teachers that I work with on a daily basis,” Frederick told Kelowna10.

“It’s the best job in the world. It’s the connections we build with our students.”

From attending music festivals, to organizing virtual song performances in the community, Frederick has developed a close bond with her students.

“We work with these students in many, many courses over many, many years. Instead of just having them one or two times within their high school life, we teach them from grade nine all the way to grade 12."

Above and beyond music, Frederick works to teach the students about giving back and connecting to the community in times of need.

Over the years, she and her students have performed at long term care homes and Kelowna General Hospital during the holidays.

“Using our music to bring joy to other people is such an important thing to teach students.”

Beyond that, Frederick takes pride in watching the students build confidence, moving from shy individuals to performing on stage for hundreds of people.

“Just seeing them develop and grow as human beings is such an amazing experience to have,” Frederick said.

She said high school can be hard for some students to find their home, and music can become that place.

“They live in this room, and they become so close,” Frederick said.

“Especially when you're doing trips, and festivals, and all these extra curricular activities that are involved in it. That sense of belonging to a family is amazing.”

Two other Okanagan teachers received acknowledgement from the PMA, in the certificate of achievement category; James Strachan, a Graded 11 and 12 physics and engineering teacher at Kelowna Secondary School, and Chantelle Colthorp, an early childhood educator at Awasisak Achakos Head Start for children aged three to five.