Jasper’s schools are once again bustling with the energy of a new school year. This September, École Desrochers and the Jasper Junior/Senior High School each welcomed a few new teachers. By way of introduction, the Fitzhugh caught up with each of the new recruits last week to find out a little bit about them and how they found themselves in our mountain town. Here’s what we found out.
Eric Bouchard: Jasper Junior/Senior High School
Trading scorching temperatures and sand for the mountains, Eric Bouchard was speechless for a moment when asked what he thought about Jasper so far.
“That’s all I have to say,” he said, while pointing to the mountains. “It’s beautiful.”
After spending the past two years working at a provincially accredited international school in Doha, Qatar, Bouchard could barely contain his excitement about his new job.
“The students are fantastic, the staff is absolutely amazing, the facilities are world class and I’m really, really happy to be here,” he said.
“My family is here with me as well, so I’m really excited to join the community.”
Prior to working in the Middle East, Bouchard taught in Edmonton for several years. This will be his 15th year of teaching.
In Jasper, he will be teaching French immersion students math and science, as well as one English science course. He will also be joining the school's administration as vice principal.
Marie-Eve Bissonnette: École Desrochers
Over the past 10 years, Marie-Eve Bissonnette has called many towns home so it was only a matter of time before she ended up in Jasper.
Married to a Parks Canada employee, Bissonnette has spent the better part of the last decade following her partner around Canada, picking up teaching jobs along the way.
“We made a decision he would apply for jobs and I would tag along because being a teacher makes me flexible and French immersion is a big asset,” said Bissonnette, who has been a teacher for nearly 10 years.
Prior to moving to Jasper, she spent six years teaching in Inuvik, N.W.T., where she taught French, math and social studies.
Before working in the north, she taught in Nova Scotia for two years and spent the first three years of her career teaching in Montreal, not far from where she was born and raised.
Since moving to Jasper a year and a half ago, she has picked up work as a substitute teacher at École Desrochers and recently completed a short-term contract with Jasper Junior/Senior High School.
Eager to keep her in the community, École Desrochers offered her a year-long contract to replace Jocelyn Nadeau, a Grade 11-12 teacher at the school, who is taking a year off.
“It’s my first job in a Francophone school,” said Bissonnette, adding she’s really enjoyed working in her first language.
Bissonette will teach math, science, social studies, physical education and foods to students in Grade 7 through 10.
Christina Gerhardt: Jasper Junior/Senior High School
It wasn’t hard to guess who was the high school’s new music/drama teacher during the school’s annual activity day—she was the one wearing a paper mask over her glasses.
Christina Gerhardt, a recent graduate from the University of Saskatchewan, knows she has some big shoes to fill after the departure of Jonathan Thornton, the school’s previous music and drama teacher, but said she is up for the challenge.
“I am really looking forward to getting people outside of the school involved and we’ve got some great kids this year, so I’m really excited to get some new kids in there too.”
Although she is new to the high school, Jasper has become a second home for her after spending four seasons working for Totem Ski Shop as a summer student.
“I love it here and that’s why I wanted to come back and teach here,” she said.
“Teaching music in Jasper has been a dream of mine since I first came to work for the summer in 2010. The opportunity to not only live in this amazing place but to teach something I am so passionate about is surreal,” she wrote in a short biography on the school’s website.
Besides teaching both junior and senior band, Gerhardt will also be teaching guitar, drama and an English course.
When she’s not in the classroom, she enjoys taking photos, kayaking, playing softball, snowshoeing around Maligne Lake, blogging, playing piano and learning how to ski.
Dan Brady: Jasper Junior/Senior High School
Dan Brady is excited to start the next chapter of his career.
Born and raised in Red Deer, Alta., Brady has lived and worked in Alberta his entire life and spent the past six years teaching at Hunting Hills High School in Red Deer.
“I’ve been to Jasper many, many times, so when I saw this job pop up it was too good to pass up,” he said.
Despite coming from a school with more than 1,400 students, he said he has adjusted quickly to his new role teaching Grade 8, 9, 10 and 12 students social studies and English.
He credits his quick adjustment to the students and staff at the school.
“It’s been a really welcoming school and a welcoming community,” said Brady. “It’s just been getting better and better everyday.”
Beyond work, he said he hopes to take advantage of the mountains and get some hiking in before the snow flies.
“It’s a beautiful town and I’m excited to be here.”
Stephanie Marleau: École Desrochers
After teaching primary school and kindergarten in Quebec for the past 15 years, Stephanie Marleau was ready for a change.
As luck would have it, École Desrochers was looking for a new preschool teacher and she fit the bill.
Unsure if the move would be right for her, she first signed a six-month contract in January before committing to another year-long contract in September.
“I am really happy with my decision to come back,” said Marleau. “I love the mountains, outdoor activities and I wanted to improve my English, so this was perfect.”
When she arrived in January, the school was desperate to find a teacher to take over Les Petits Cailloux, a French immersion program offered to three and four years old.
According to Marleau, the program was suspended last year after the teacher in charge had to return to Quebec.
“They couldn’t find a French teacher, so when I arrived they were very, very happy,” she said.
After finishing up the school year in June, Marleau returned to Quebec to pick up her car and drove it back through the United States, visiting Toronto, Chicago, Seattle and Vancouver along the way.
In addition to taking over Les Petits Cailloux, she will also teach art and music to students in Grade 7, 8 and 9.
Paul Clarke
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