Manon St-Hilaire - Ste-Thérèse-de-L'Enfant-Jésus

Year: 2017 – Province: Quebec

Transcript—Manon St-Hilaire Video

Manon St-Hilaire speaks to camera, with the Parliament buildings as a backdrop behind her]

[Photos of Manon and her students are displayed on screen throughout her interview]
[Upbeat music plays softly in the background]

My name is Manon St-Hilaire,

[Text on screen: Manon St-Hilaire, Quebec]
and I live in Saint-Jérôme in Quebec's Laurentian region. I teach at Sainte-Thérèse-de-l'Enfant-Jésus school.

What interests me about this work is that when you're a teacher, you have the privilege of being able to shape people—to work so that people develop shared values. So what I like is to create a community each year. And every year, it's a different community, a different team, because each group is different. But it's wonderful every time.

In my presentation, the thing I find most important is that for me, the main focus is to start with knowledge and end up with understanding.

[Video footage of Manon receiving her award from Justin Trudeau is intercut]

And with this understanding, when we understand – when my students have understood a concept and have understood something new, what I find wonderful is that we translate that understanding and that knowledge into action.

 

So the best advice that I could give new teachers would be to place a lot of importance on the students, on being caring toward them. Because as soon as students feel they're important, they'll give more, they'll surprise us, and they'll surpass expectations. In the end, it's about having high expectations for the students. It's about believing that this person can go very far.

It's important to recognize teachers. We do amazing work, but it's often hidden in the background. For me, celebrating the success of teachers and their students is a great thing. So go for it!

I'm able to do this thanks to the generosity of my colleague. So do it, and let's celebrate our successes together.

I was at Rideau Hall two years ago, but I couldn't give my speech because I cried through the whole thing. When I talk about my students, I cry. My dear students, thank you for being in my life. I love you!

Student: I just wanted to say keep it up, because without you, I would never have become the student I am today. Being in your class is the best thing that could have happened to me in high school!

[Canada wordmark]

[Music ends]

Certificate of Excellence Recipient

Manon St-Hilaire

Ste-Thérèse-de-L'Enfant-Jésus
700 9e rue
St-Jérôme, Quebec  J7Z 2Z5

Principal: Denise Larocque
School telephone: 450-438-8828
School email: N/A
School website: www.stetheresedelenfantjesus.com

Subjects and grades taught: 6th grade

Learning to know, knowing to understand, and understanding to act… Manon St-Hilaire has chosen to make civic engagement and educational projects the cornerstone of her professional activities. Thanks to her, her students have made a remarkable difference at their school, in their community, and even at the National Assembly.

Teaching approach

Dedication, creativity and integrity are the three words that best describe Ms. St-Hilaire. She fosters a climate of trust in her classroom that promotes discussion and that facilitates comprehension by using a concrete educational approach where students can learn through stimulating, real-world situations.

Outstanding achievements

  • Ms. St-Hilaire's entire class filed a brief at the public hearings on Quebec's energy future and a few spokespeople presented it publicly to the two commissioners.
  • Following a successful presentation on water management given by a few of her students to the town council, the municipality of St-Jérôme was so impressed that they suggested that the class hold a public workshop on responsible water consumption.
  • Two of Ms. St-Hilaire's students won first prize and third prize at the Concours de Twittérature (poetry contest on Twitter), open to the Americas' Francophone community.

Rave reviews

"Every fall, this remarkable teacher is given a new group of students and, without fail, her determination and her energy inspires them to excel, to feel good in her classroom, and to perform better academically."

St-Jérôme MP

"Manon St-Hilaire motivates her students and instils wonderful qualities in order to help them become responsible and open-minded citizens."

Colleague