Peterborough Petes Name Winner of Overtime Teacher Program

After a three-day voting period, Grade 7 and 8 teacher Marc-Andre Brisson of James Strath Public School has been declared the Peterborough Petes Overtime Teacher program winner on Tuesday.

Brisson was the first of four to receive his nomination on May 28. Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Petes.

Voting began on Saturday through Monday for the four finalists including Amanda McIness, Daniel Murphy, Joanne Haacke and eventual winner Marc-Andre Brisson.

Brisson was nominated for his unique ability in developing personal connections with all his students. Whether discussing hockey or current news, he is celebrated for fostering an open dialogue with his students and ensuring that everyone is comfortable in the classroom.

For winning the honour, Brisson earns a Petes’ prize package that includes a Zoom call for his class with Rob Wilson, Petes head coach and goaltenders Tye Austin and Michael Simpson for their students.

All four finalists will receive two tickets each to the Petes home opener in the fall.

Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Petes.

“Having been nominated by a student to be the Overtime Teacher means a great deal to me,” said Brisson. “Students are extremely busy these days with online learning and for Cameron to take the time out of his day to complete the nomination process, it means a lot. I am so proud of the students in my class, and all the students at James Strath and their perseverance through this tough school year.”

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Four Finalists For Petes Overtime Teacher Program Finalized For Voting

One of four outstanding teachers will be declared the winner of the Peterborough Petes Overtime Teacher program in a vote announced Wednesday.

Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Petes.

Voting opens on the Petes website this Saturday at 8:00 am until Monday at 8:00 pm to crown the ultimate Overtime Teacher. Fans can vote as many times as they want for their favourite educator as each vote counts towards the end result.

The four finalists are Marc Andre Brisson, Amanda McIness, Daniel Murphy and Joanne Haacke. 

Receiving the first nomination of the four, Brisson received his honour on May 28. Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Petes.

Marc Andre Brisson- The Grade 7 and 8 teacher at James Strath Public School was nominated for his unique ability for making personal connections with all his students. Whether it is talking about hockey, or what is going on in the news, he is celebrated for fostering an open dialogue with his students and ensuring that everyone is comfortable in the classroom.

McInnes received her nomination on June 4. Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Petes.

Amanda McInnes- McIness works at St. Catherine C.E.S., teaching Grades 7 and 8. The elementary school teacher is recognized for her ongoing work in supporting students at the Peterborough Regional Science Fair (PRSF), and Canada Wide Science fair (CWSF). This year at the CWSF, two of McIness’ students took home the top prizes. 

Murphy received his nomination on June 11. Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Petes.

Daniel Murphy- Murphy, an Educational Assistant at Highland Heights Public School, works with students in Grades 2-4. In his fifth year as an educator, Murphy’s positivity and dedication to his students throughout the COVID-19 pandemic impressed everyone around him. He is continuously celebrated for facing each new challenge with optimism and for prioritizing his students' needs.

The final teacher, Haacke received her nomination on June 15. Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Petes.

Joanne Haacke- Haacke teaches Grades 3-5 at James Strath Public School. Haacke is being honoured for her amazing work both in and out of the classroom. Not only is she extremely dedicated to her job as an educator, but she also serves as an assistant coach and is a chair on the board of directors for the Kawartha Komets.

The winning teacher will receive a Petes prize package that includes a Zoom call for their class with Petes Head Coach Rob Wilson and goaltenders Tye Austin and Michael Simpson. They will also receive two tickets to the Petes’ home opener for the upcoming 2021/2022 season.

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An End Of Year Love Note To Peterborough Teachers

Time and time again, we hear about awesome things local teachers do for their students. Teachers are unsung heroes.

Teachers have a profound influence on the lives of students. They are everything to students, and a great resource and sounding board for parents and administrators.

Teachers are the lifeblood of schools.

Great Idea: Peterborough teacher Wendy Thompson's wordie bookmark/freezie bundle year end gift to her students was a hit: Kind words that were written by classmates about each other (the more people to write the same word, the bigger the word is)

A great teacher can change a child's life—whether it's empowering them to make a choice in a career direction, be a nicer person, and inspire them to go out and change the world locally or globally.

Oftentimes, it's as simple as inspiring a child to have hope and stay positive, no matter what adversity that child is facing in their lives.

It's about saying, "Keep their chin up. I'm here for you."

Peterborough teacher Wendy Thompson's year end gift to students

Teachers are teachers but they are also caregivers, social workers, listeners, friends, confidants, motivators, mental health advocates.

Have a great summer teachers. You deserve it.

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