Teachers and staff shape lives in ways that go far beyond the classroom. While we often picture them delivering lessons, grading assignments, or guiding students through curriculum, their impact extends into the hallways, onto the playing fields, and into the broader community. This Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, we’re celebrating educators who go the extra mile—those who inspire through mentorship, foster a love of learning, and create lasting connections with students and families. The stories and shout-outs below come straight from the people who see their dedication firsthand.
To every teacher and staff member making a difference—thank you!
Maria Perozzi, EMSB
Miss Maria goes above and beyond to ensure that her students succeed. She is kind, nurturing, and really cares about her students. She excels at keeping the parents informed of what our children are learning. Miss Maria is always readily available to discuss any concerns I have.
Justin Chartrand, ETSB
Mr. Justin is a great teacher! He cares for his students and appreciates our child for exactly who he is.
Patrick Lapointe, CQSB
Patrick Lapointe is a great French tutor. My son is a teenager & very embarrassed that he is having such difficulty learning French. He is in secondary 3. But is in a very modified French program.
Patrick encourages & doesn’t make my son feel judged. That make my son comfortable with Patrick. And is actually learning a bit more because of that.
Thank you Mr. Patrick Lapointe for making my son feel comfortable, even though he is really behind. You are truly helping!
Joseph Lamantia, EMSB
En tant que parent, je tenais à vous exprimer toute ma gratitude pour l’attention et le dévouement que vous avez montrés envers Lina tout au long de l’année. Votre bienveillance et votre capacité à susciter l’intérêt ont été précieuses pour son développement scolaire et personnel. Vous avez su créer un environnement dans lequel elle a pu grandir et s’épanouir.
Merci infiniment pour votre travail et pour l’impact positif que vous avez eu.
Chelsea Gagnon, LEARN Tutoring
Thank you so much for always giving generous praise to a child who lacks confidence.
Colleen Cowan, WQSB
She is a very kind and affectionate teacher. She is very good at guiding children to develop their own abilities.
Jason Cormier, ESSB
Merci, Jason Cormier, d’être la raison pour laquelle ma fille a hâte d’aller à l’école tous les jours.
Je suis incroyablement reconnaissante, Votre capacité à rendre l’apprentissage agréable et engageant a transformé la façon dont ma fille perçois l’éducation.
Merci de ne pas seulement transmettre des connaissances, mais aussi de nourrir un amour pour la matière qui restera à jamais gravé dans sa mémoire.
Mme. Louise Outland and her student Shanaya.
Louise Outland Potvin, EMSB
For Madame Louise,
You are one of the best teachers Shanaya has. Thank you so much for making learning fun. She loves you so much and always looks forward to attend your classes.
She was so happy to meet you in Westmount High, her happiness knew no bound!
Thank you so much Madame.
We are lucky to have you.
Johanne Crego, LEARN Tutoring
“My daughter has difficulties learning and Johanne is the only teacher so far that is able to capture her attention completely for the entire 30 minute sessions! Yasmeen looks forward to every session with her and she retains the lessons!!! Johanne is magical as far as I am concerned! Thank you Johanne, you truly are exceptional!!!”
“My daughter has been receiving French tutoring from Johanne Crego since last season. She has inspired my daughter’s interest in French. I am so lucky to have met her. Thank you so much.”
Andre-Anne Cloutier-Le Scelleur, EMSB
Starting high school as an English-speaking student in a French immersion program felt like stepping into a world I wasn’t prepared for. Every French evaluation brought a wave of anxiety—I wasn’t just learning a new language; I was being tested in it. The pressure was overwhelming, and I often felt like I was falling behind.
But then, there was Madame Cloutier.
She saw my struggle before I could even put it into words. Instead of letting me drown in self-doubt, she found ways to help me practice, patiently guiding me through lessons in ways that made sense. She went above and beyond, allowing me to take tests in smaller groups where I could focus without the weight of the classroom’s pressure. On days when time ran out, she stayed late after school, giving me the extra minutes I needed to finish—never making me feel like a burden, but rather, like someone worth investing in.
She didn’t just teach French; she taught me confidence. She checked in on me regularly, offering encouragement when I needed it most. Through her unwavering support, I stopped seeing French as something to fear and started seeing it as something I could conquer.
By the time I finished Secondary 2, I was no longer just an English-speaking student trying to get by—I was a student who could succeed in French. And it was all because Madame Cloutier refused to let me believe otherwise.
Hardeep Bola, LEARN Tutoring
My son has ADHD & dyslexia. He is very bright & really does enjoy science. However, he needs a certain type of teacher who is straight to the point. And has a certain energy while teaching. Hardeep Bola is that tutor for him. So much so that he personally request for Hardeep to be his science tutor. After every tutoring session, he comes up & tells me all about what he has learned. Thank you Mr. Hardeep Bola for helping my son truly learn & absorb !
Hind Alatassi, EMSB
She is very nice and kind. Makes science lessons fun. We are so happy to have her. Thank you so much. We appreciate this program greatly.
Sarah Kane, WQSB
I would like to thank you for your support and encouragement. She is very kind and patient. We love having her. Thank you.
Olivia Daka, LEARN Tutoring
She’s very patient and is a good French teacher.
Arianne Asly-Verdon, EMSB
I love my music teacher: Mme Arianne, she has taught me music since pre-K. Because of her, I love music more and more every day. When I’m in her class, I feel special. She listens to what I have to say and makes me feel like I’m interesting.
Mme Arianne is always kind and generous with her time. I look forward to her classes every week.
If you missed out on the opportunity to send a shout-out to an appreciated staff member of your local school, feel free to add yours in the comments now.
