Maryam Moayeri

Year: 2006 – Province: British Columbia

Certificate of Excellence Recipient

School: West Vancouver Secondary School
1750 Mathers Avenue
West Vancouver, British Columbia
V7V 2G7

Principal: Thomas Longridge
School Telephone: 604-981-1100
School Fax: 604-981-1101
Grades/Subjects Taught: Grades 8-12, English, Social Studies, Phys. Ed.

Teaching Approach:

• Teaches communication skills by drawing on the interactive learning potential of computers and other communications technologies.
• Feedback is offered in an innovative manner. Without embarrassing individual students, she reads excellent and not-so-excellent work aloud in her classroom so other students can provide advice and constructive criticism.
• Promotes student achievement, often encouraging her students to enter contests and competitions. She offers assistance and coaching to all students who request it.
• Integrates several disciplines together seamlessly. She demands that her students approach learning from all angles. Teaches important lessons about tolerance and understanding.
• Hands-on learning is essential in her classroom. Field trips are often incorporated into her curriculum. Reconstruction of the classroom is used to recreate settings like a newspaper headquarters.
• Committed to improving her teaching methods as well as the methods of colleagues.

Outstanding Achievements:

• The local, national and international community has recognized over 200 of Ms. Moayeri's students for their outstanding achievements. For three years straight, her classes won the Vancouver Sun "Create a Classroom Newspaper Contest." They beat over 450 other entrants to win a cash prize and an appearance in the newspaper.
• One year, four of her classes allied and prepared an entry for Canada Book Week Contest. Their successful collaboration placed J.N. Burnett Secondary 2nd in the country and won the school a library of Canadian literature. Three of her students beat 11,000 other students to win individual awards as well. Students placed 2nd and 3rd respectively in the book cover portion of the competition, and another placed 3rd in the essay portion.
• For a class assignment, four of her students invented prosthesis to assist throat cancer victims with communication. Their innovation placed them first in the prestigious "Exploravision" regional competition. They won digital cameras, a computer for the school, and a photo of their team in USA Today.
• Mrs. Moayeri's coached Tracy Hinder in the Scripps Howard Spelling Bee during its first year in Canada. Tracy won the competition at the school, district, and regional level. She won a trip to Washington D.C. and Ottawa where she placed 5th in Canada. She met Prime Minister Paul Martin, was interviewed on television, and was featured on the cover of the Vancouver Sun.

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