Tony Sansom has been expanding young minds and shaping youth for a decade, and now he’s being recognized for it.
Sansom was nominated by Julie Eves for the Post Foods Search for Goodness Teachers Edition Contest.
He taught both of Eves’ children in kindergarten and was told by Eves that she was going to nominate him.
“I’m very appreciative of this and I’m very honoured, it’s very touching” Sansom said.
If he wins, he will take home a $10,000 total prize, $5,000 is given to the nominee’s school (Lakewood Elementary) and the other $5,000 would be for Sansom.
Sansom said if he won he would want all the stakeholders, including teachers and the parent advisory committee (PAC), involved in deciding what to do with the money.
“The PAC puts in a lot of effort into helping teachers and students,” he said.
Sansom has been a kindergarten teacher at Lakewood Elementary in Langford for eight years and uses the enjoyment students have in his classroom as a measuring stick to his personal success.
“The best part is seeing the children enjoying learning and feeling comfortable, emotionally, socially and academically,” Sansom said.
“For me, in kindergarten, it’s the first experience and to me it’s crucial to start it off on the right foot.”
He said he adapts his teaching style to fit students and tries to make everything intertesting and relevant.
“I go to school every day and make sure the children feel good about themselves,” he said
“Every day I try to make sure I do better each day than the day before.”
In his first two years as a teacher, Sansom worked several contract jobs at various schools in the Sooke School District and at Sooke Elementary.
Ten finalists will be selected by online voting, and then the winner will be determined by finalist submission.
To vote for Sansom, go to bit.ly/2OnOtrJ. Voting closes Aug. 27 at 9 a.m.
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lindsey.horsting@gold