After 32 years in the classroom, Nancy Ellsworth honoured for her hard work

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BY GILEAN WATTS
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

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After 29 years of teaching at Salisbury's JMA Armstrong, former students and current colleagues agree that Nancy Ellsworth deserves an award.

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The Daily Gleaner/James West pho

Bell Aliant Regional Manager Ron Forsythe poses for a photo with Nancy Ellswoth of JMA Armstrong High in Salisbury. Ellsworth received the Bell Aliant Award at the NBTA awards banquet held at the Ramada Hotel in Fredericton recently.

That's why dozens nominated her for the Bell Aliant Award, given to teachers who go out of their way to support students in and out of the classroom.

"Teaching for me is a reward in itself," Ellsworth said. "I don't like to be pointed out as somebody that's special."

Ellsworth, who accepted this year's Bell Aliant Award recently in Fredericton, retires this year after 32 years of teaching. She taught in Port Elgin for her first three years and spent the remaining 29 years at JMA Armstrong.

A math and science teacher, Ellsworth says teaching hasn't been her No. 1 priority over the past three decades.

"Learning and understanding the kids is my main focus," she said. "Teaching is secondary to that. Getting together with them outside the classroom and getting to know them on a one-on-one level, finding out what they do and don't like."

Ellsworth has gotten to know her students through her involvement in prom organization, student council, and several sports functions -- and as parents.

"What's funny about it is that parents, when they were young, they would be a hellion in the classroom. But they're the ones today that are nagging their kids, saying, 'You've got to do your homework,' so I always say to them that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

Teaching two generations of students has taught her a lot about kids and society, and while society hasn't stayed the same, the kids have.

"A lot of times people will say to me, 'Oh I don't know how you handle these kids today in the classroom, they're so bad,'" she said. "But having taught for over 30 years, I know kids haven't changed. And 99 per cent of the kids in the school system today are great kids."

Ellsworth says she makes a point of making every student feel valued. "I've always respected the kids and I've always gotten respect from them," she said. "I always look for the positive in a kid because I think all kids have something to offer to society."