Divine Infant teacher ‘shocked’ by Golden Apple Award

Representatives from Majic 100 and Alterna Savings, led by on-air personality Bill Parker, made a surprise visit to the Chatelaine Village elementary school to present teacher Gregg McGlynn with the Golden Apple Award and a cheque for $500 to support a school venture of McGlynn’s choosing.

“I had no idea about this, to tell you the truth,” said a stunned McGlynn, who didn’t have time to think about what the money would go towards. “I’m shocked.”

The Avalon resident has taught at all levels in the past five years at Divine Infant, including the kindergarten group most recently.

“Every teacher on this staff deserves a Golden Apple,” McGlynn added. “I learn from them – I feel like the rookie on staff. I look at the other teachers and the amazing jobs they do, and I’m kind of embarrassed.”

McGlynn was nominated for the award by Sharon and John Mele, whose children – Bruno and Dylan – are in junior and senior kindergarten.

“He’s affected these two so much,” Sharon said. “They love coming to school and that’s because of the teacher.”

Sharon noted McGlynn is the only male teacher at the school, and that his presence is opening up new ideas for his young pupils.

“When you ask kids what they want to be when they grow up, a lot of times the girls say, ‘A teacher,’” she explains. “Now, you get boys saying, ‘I want to be a teacher too.’”

For Sharon, what really pushed McGlynn over the top to deserve a Golden Apple Award, which recognizes a teacher who has made a difference, was when he and the head custodian said they’d dye their hair blond if the school of 120 kids managed to bring in over 700 canned goods for a December food drive. They wound up collecting over 1,000.

“At the Christmas pageant, here he was with blond hair,” Sharon smiles. “It shows you’re really dedicated to your school if you’re willing to dye your black hair blond around Christmastime.”

That’s just one example of what makes McGlynn a special teacher, says principal Pat Morden-Lahey, noting he also participates in all kinds of extra-curricular activities and acts as the school’s athletic rep.

“We’re very proud of Gregg and his work,” Morden-Lahey says, noting an extra $500 is a big deal given the school’s smaller size and budget. “Gregg goes in there to help the kids, and the community, to create some fun in the school.”

Besides stealing ideas for crafts from the teacher of his own kindergarten-aged child, McGlynn says the keys to being a successful kindergarten teacher are to be patient and to remember what it was like being four and five years old.

“I try to think of my own struggles when I was that age,” McGlynn explains. “You’ve got to keep in mind that not every kid is going to learn it the first time – I know I didn’t.”