FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 April 17, 2019

HAMILTON, ON – Niagara-area teachers Laurie Blue and Brenda Boks have won a 2019 John Rozema Teaching Excellence Award. Blue won in the Humanities and Fine Arts category, while Boks takes home the award in the Special Education category.

Blue teaches at Niagara Christian Collegiate in Fort Erie. Known for rigorous classes where students’ first work is never accepted as their final work, Blue also teaches students that art is not just a personal expression; it can also change societies and cultures.

Boks is Director of Student Support Services at Beacon Christian School in St. Catharines. She led efforts to turn Beacon into a model of inclusiveness for students with special needs. The school now excels at providing physical access to students with mobility challenges, accessing health supports for students, and delivering additional literacy and numeracy support.

“Laurie Blue’s work in the classroom and out of it exemplifies what a teacher’s commitment to art looks like,” says Ray Pennings, Executive Vice President of think tank Cardus. “Brenda Boks efforts remind us that independent Christian schools have an enviable vision of inclusiveness for all.”

Also winning Rozema Awards this year are:

• Harry Blyleven at Hamilton District Christian High School in the STEM Teaching category
• Rachael Weening at Toronto District Christian High School in the Global Perspective category

Rozema Award winners will be honoured at the 2019 Edvance Christian Schools Association conference on October 24.

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MEDIA INQUIRIES
 Daniel Proussalidis
 Cardus – Director of Communications
 613-241-4500 x508
 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

About the Award

The John Rozema Teaching Excellence Award recognises excellence as an ongoing investment into the life of a Christian school community and a positive public contribution to the common good. Open to all independent Christian schools in Ontario, the award is presented in partnership with the Christian School Foundation and EduDeo Ministries.