Celebrating Excellence in Education: Ellen Thompson
Ellen Thompson, is a B.Ed. program alum and Manitoba teacher with over 27 years of experience. Recently received the Faculty of Education Alumni Association’s Excellence in Teaching Awards for Senior Years Teachers.
Ellen holds a Bachelor of Education degree from 1996 and a passion for teaching mathematics. Since then, she has dedicated her career to nurture a love for mathematics among her students. Ellen has numerous achievements throughout her career, including co-authoring her first textbook and being the youngest-ever recipient of the MAMT Murray McPherson Award for outstanding contribution to mathematics education. Ellen is always seeking out something new to learn, showing her dedication to professional development through her participation in various educational initiatives and her role as a mentor to young math teachers.
The award was created to recognize the important work of teachers in Manitoba. For Ellen, the award helps to acknowledge the challenges of teachers, “it is so rewarding for the University of Manitoba to recognize teachers for our contributions to the profession.”
Receiving the Excellence in Teaching Award “helps to validate the daily choices I make in my classroom,” explains Ellen. It reaffirms the significance of her role as an educator and instills confidence in her teaching methods and approaches.
Ellen Thompson
Advice for Future Teachers
Drawing from her professional journey, Ellen offers advice to future teachers and current students: “Pace yourself. Not every lesson needs to be perfect or amazing. Building connections with your students will always be more important than planning the perfect lesson.”
Ellen reflects on the rewarding nature of teaching despite its inherent challenges: “Teaching is hard work, but when you look back over an entire career, the rewards out weight the hard times. The relationships you form will last a lifetime.”
Ellen Thompson’s professional journey continues to inspire and innovate in the field of mathematics education, and is always willing to share resources and ideas or be a sounding board.