2023 PRPS Edwin Parr Nominee

You could say a love for teaching is in her blood. From an early age, Katelyn Rozdeba remembers visiting schools as a child with her parents, who were both teachers. As they would get caught up on their work, she and her sisters would go into the classroom and take turns being the teacher at the front of the class. This passion for teaching continued into her teenage years when she taught swimming lessons and coached club basketball in her spare time.

“Many of my role models are teachers, and it made me want to be like them. My dad Dave Rozdeba, my mom Tammy Rozdeba, and my longtime basketball coach Rob Grisonich.”

In her first year of teaching, Katelyn's assignment is a very unique position at Eagle Butte High School. In addition to teaching social studies and information processing, she is the Dave Rozdeba South Alberta Flight Academy program co-teacher. The program is the only one of its kind in Canada where students entering high school can earn high school credits and obtain their private pilot license upon graduation.

“The flight academy is especially special to me as it is named after my dad, a longtime teacher and administrator with Prairie Rose Public Schools. In addition to teaching, he had a passion for aviation and flight, and I get to carry on that work and legacy as part of my job. The flight academy program teaches students a broad range of aviation skills. These include ground school, drone training, survival camp, building an airplane, and how to fly a plane.”

"Katelyn possesses many exceptional skills that show her level of commitment and dedication to her craft," says Eagle Butte High School principal Rocheal Howes. “As a first-year teacher, she spends a lot of time collaborating with other teachers to build her professional capacity. She is always asking questions to ensure she understands the full picture. Katelyn has also stepped up to help coach the senior girls' basketball program. She truly has a passion for teaching and genuine care for her students, which shows.”

“It makes me feel good when I see the light bulb go off with my students when they achieve success. I try really hard to develop good relationships with my students and be involved, even outside of work hours, such as by attending their sporting events. You can tell they really appreciate that commitment.”

For Katelyn, it's a dream job and one that she feels very fortunate to have. 

"I got very lucky for my first job, and other people outside this school tell me that too. I have an amazing staff that makes me feel welcomed daily and encourages me to do things knowing they have my back. Working with three things I love; social studies, flight and basketball. It makes me feel like this is not just a job but an opportunity I get to be a part of every day." 

The Edwin Parr Teacher Award is presented annually by the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) to six exceptional first-year teachers from across the province of Alberta. Each spring, Alberta school divisions nominate and recognize one outstanding teacher who will represent them at the zone awards ceremony. The Prairie Rose Public Schools’ board of trustees would like to congratulate Katelyn and wish her luck at the Zone 6 awards event in May.