Grade 2 teacher Rachelle Warchola is Palliser School Division’s Edwin Parr nominee for 2024/2025

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Kristine Jean
Sunny South News

The Palliser School Division board of trustees have announced this year’s Edwin Parr Teacher Award nominee is Rachelle Warchola.

A Grade 2 teacher at Jennie Emery Elementary School in Coaldale, Warchola has quickly established herself as a dedicated and innovative educator. Teaching for less than a year, she has used her skills and instincts in the classroom to achieve remarkable success with her students, which she attributes to her focus on hands-on and experiential learning.

School principal, Chris Spanos praised Warchola for her dedication and hard work.  

“It is evident that her students feel a strong sense of connection and belonging,” said Spanos. “Rachelle has demonstrated to be a dedicated and committed educator who presents as a skilled teacher well into her career.”

Warchola designs activities encouraging movement, such as literacy-based scavenger hunts, which help her students stay engaged and focused. Additionally, she has found great success using math manipulatives, further enhancing her students’ learning experiences. She focuses on her students’ natural curiosity and incorporates it into her lesson planning to create meaningful and interactive learning opportunities.

Participating in intramural activities and attending student events such as dance, choir, and sports, her impact extends beyond academics and helps foster a sense of community.  

Warchola noted the positive feedback she received this year from parent-teacher interviews.  

“Parents were telling me stories about how their kids were coming home excited about what they were learning and expanding on that learning with their families,” said Warchola. 

She has invited other teachers into her classroom to observe her lessons and provide feedback, demonstrating her commitment to growth and professional development.

Warchola fosters an inclusive classroom environment where students feel valued and supported. She encourages discussions about students’ interests, traditions, and family activities, reinforcing appreciation for differences and exclusivity. She also integrates mindfulness, movement, and brain breaks throughout the school day to promote positive peer interactions and help students reset for upcoming learning tasks.

Originally from Whitecourt, Alta., Warchola and her fiancé now call southern Alberta home. She enjoys exploring the coulees, reading, and spending time with her two cats.