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Best Teacher (Secondary) : Javan Bexson

Oct 23, 2017 | 8:26 PM

For Javan Bexson, teaching goes way beyond the classroom. He spends hours of time outside of school as a coach, prepping lessons and supporting individual students when they need help.

“Javan is selfless. Even if its something he isn’t directly involved in, he will participate. He is just a good role model to the kids,” said St. Mary Principal Mark Phaneuf.

Javan, who graduated from St. Mary high school attended the University of Regina where he obtained his teaching certificate. He spent four years in Big River before returning to his old school in 2014 where he currently teaches Grade 9 English and coaches football, badminton and track and field. He was voted best secondary teacher in paNOW’s Best of the Best Awards for 2017.

 “It is an honour to be recognized by the community as someone who is doing a good job,” said Bexson. “I enjoy working with youth to help them prepare for their next steps in life.”

Phaneuf said St. Mary high school is built on student engagement and ensuring kids have opportunities in and out of class. He said Bexson uses those opportunities to get to know the students better.

“The Papal Nuncio – the Pope’s personal representative to Canada made a trip here in 2015 and best summarized what Javan does. He said if you teach Peter mathematics, you need to know two things. You need to know mathematics and you need to know Peter,” said Phaneuf. “I’m proud of what Javan does because he doesn’t just teach the curriculum…he teaches the kids themselves and he knows those kids well and connects with them.”

Besides coaching, Bexson said he tries to engage with students outside of the classroom by going above and beyond in the community. He’ll make an effort to attend hockey games of student players or theatrical productions.

“If the kids see you’re a part of it, they respect what you do for them outside of the classroom,” he said. “As a result, the relationship is then enhanced inside the classroom.”

In addition to offering the students a successful education, Bexson is an example of passion and inspiration in a very noble profession.

Check out the School run website and Catholic School division website.