By JEREMY APPEL on April 12, 2019.
jappel@medicinehatnews.com@MHNJeremyAppel
Travis Rapuano, a Grade 9 teacher at Alexandra Middle School, is the Medicine Hat Public School Division’s Edwin Parr Award nominee.
The province-wide award is given to a first-year teacher who demonstrates excellence in their methodologies, awareness of student learning styles, community involvement and interpersonal skills with students.
Rapuano, 25, originally wanted to be a firefighter, but his passion for community service eventually led him in the direction of teaching, which he studied for a semester at Medicine Hat College before going to the University of Lethbridge.
“I have a few friends who are firefighters and, obviously, you save people’s lives, just physically – you get them out of danger – but teaching, I think you can still save people’s lives in tons of different ways,” said Rapuano.
He said some of his students deal with major family issues at home that he tries to assist them with.
“Coming here is an escape for them,” Rapuano said. “Sometimes just having somebody to talk to is really helpful.”
He also tries to get students who aren’t interested in school engaged in the education process, providing emotional support as necessary.
“From what I hear from teachers who have been around for a long time, that emotional component gets more prevalent as the years go on,” said Rapuano. “I think students are becoming more open with us about their mental health issues or whatever else they’re going through.”
Rapuano often consults with his colleagues – particularly those who also teach Grade 9 – to learn more about their approaches to education.
“To receive this nomination is not only an acknowledgement to me, but to all the staff at Alexandra Middle School who have lifted me up along the way,” he said. “Everybody’s just trying to lift each other up, which I think is a really awesome community to be in.”
Each school board nominates one teacher and then from those nominees each of Alberta’s six regional zones selects one finalist to be recognized at the Alberta School Boards Association’s November conference in Edmonton.
Rapuano was nominated by Alexandria’s principal, Keri Gust, says she selected him because he is adored by both his students and co-workers.
Gust called Rapuano an “awesome male mentor,” who makes his students enjoy being in a school setting, in addition to his own willingness to learn.
“He’s quite comfortable accessing expertise from experienced teachers, as well as working elbow-to-elbow with people who would have his similar level of experience,” she said. “That collaboration is key.”