The ATA News , January 13, 2026 ❚ 9
TEACHERS’ PETS ROCKING Red for Ed
Norton & Luna (sheepadoodles) Coming home to wagging tails and warm snuggles gets me through the tough days. Laura Corbett, Grade 3 teacher, St. Charles School
Num formal name Penumbra Soot Gremlin Conner (lionhead rabbit) Num is the Reading Rabbit at school. He comes with me three days a week, and children who work with me get to read to him. Num teaches everyone what bunny body language (mostly sass) looks like and he has great listening ears. Jody Hancock-Conner, literacy lead, École Westlock Elementary
Billie Jean aka Billie (mini goldendoodle) Billie helps me keep healthy by walking almost every day. She helps me keep my head above water by providing love and comfort every single day. She is the one that forces me to get out of bed when times are hard. She supports our cause, and she came with me to rallies. She is special to me because I’ve had her since she was 10 weeks old, and she has crossed the country by car with me as well as accompanied me on many adventures and hikes. She is my best friend, the first thing I see when I get home from work, and I can’t get enough of her smile. Our love is unconditional and forever. Sandy Le Meur, junior high humanities French Immersion teacher, St. John XXIII School
Sam & Frodo (short-haired tabbies) Sam and Frodo are brothers who were adopted from a shelter, and let me tell you, they are the biggest love bugs you’ll ever meet. As soon as I come home, they greet me with meows until they are picked up and properly hugged. Sam’s speciality is playing catch and Frodo’s is eating his brother’s food. Each day for our bell work in art, they are the prompt. For example, the prompt may be “draw your bed” and on the board the cats will be curled up in their own bed. I think my students look forward to the new prompt of the day displaying Sam and Frodo living their best “hobbit” lives. They are my anchor at the end of a long day and are the definition of unconditional love. Kameko Ballantyne, high school art teacher, Eagle Butte High School
El Chapo (Sicilian minidonkey) When I get home, I make a point to connect with him each day and he grounds me because he’s just happy to hang out—he doesn’t ask for me to throw a ball or let him in/out. The neat thing about donkeys is that you can “feel” when they bond with you, and this makes me think a bit more deeply about connections I make with students and staff.
Lorelei Gertz-Cummins, Knowledge and Employability, English and art, Bonnyville Centralized High School
Blu (German Shepherd mix with Staffordshire, rottie and boxer) Blu is special because he supported me at the rallies during the strike and helps me cope with stress of the day. He listens to how my days go and he makes sure that I’m getting my walks in. He is my confidante and my support! Monica Chung, vice-principal, St. Joan of Arc School
Bernie (short-haired tabby cat) He helps in my professional duties by serving as an inspiration and life coach to my students through his Instagram account (@ berniewhiskers). Amanda Closson, English teacher, Westwood High School
Panda (border collie mix) He is very smart, active and loyal to a fault. He helps me de-stress before and after work with outdoor adventures. Jill Jewitt, kindergarten teacher, Hillside Community School, Grande Prairie
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online