Year: 2017 – Province: British Columbia
Certificate of Achievement Recipient
École Kwayhquitlum Middle School
3280 Flint Street
Port Coquitlam, British Columbia V3B 4J2
Principal: Laurie Ebenal
School telephone: 604-942-1835
School email: office@sd43.bc.ca
School website: www.sd43.bc.ca/school/kwayhquitlum
Subjects and grades taught: Grade 6-8, Technology
Skateboard ramp building and custom long boards: in a classroom filled with the sounds of humming machines, active minds and hands at work, Greg Skerratt shows students what a career in trades could look like, but also how to be a better citizen of society.
Teaching approach
Skerratt's approach is to work with his students to encourage creative thought and invention through scaffolding activities that recognize and value creative innovation. Students are supported to pursue their individual passions through inquiry-based projects that connect them to the world beyond the classroom.
Outstanding achievements
- Skerratt is a lead teacher with the District's Sphero Coding project – a robot controlled and programmed through an iPad app. Students and colleagues have been introduced to block coding through innovative lesson designs and scaffolding activities that recognize creativity.
- Skerratt developed digital citizenship materials for his students and delivers adaptable units on protecting personal information and privacy, online advertising techniques, evaluating online information cyberbullying and what to do when encountering uncomfortable, dangerous or illegal activity online.
- Long before it was common practice, Skerratt implemented a Zero Waste program at the school that included composting, reducing paper waste, the development of a school garden and the creation of a student-led team that encouraged green education.
Rave reviews
Both my sons made gumball machines in Mr. Skerratt's class. They loved that project. It was challenging but creative and fun as well. Our whole family looked forward to what they would do next in Mr. Skerratt's class and their projects espoused conversations about techniques, problem-solving, future careers and more."
"Every child, regardless of their learning needs, was engaged. I [a student] with a learning disability and who normally struggles with simple instructions, proudly showing me how he was able to program his Sphero to move, do turns and spin."