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Teacher of the Week: Tannia Ditchburn
She builds confidence through drama, and wins a few awards, too
Alycia Ambroziak
The Gazette
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Ditchburn with some of her students at St. Thomas
Teacher of the Week is a new weekly feature spotlighting a local educator.
Name: Tannia Ditchburn
School: St. Thomas High School in Pointe Claire
Grades: 9 to 11
Experience: 11 years
Extracurricular activities: School-wide annual play, student council, student leadership conferences, YMCA Youth Exchange Program, Europe and Stratford trips
Hobbies: Travelling
Most recently read book: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Tannia Ditchburn credits her success as a drama and leadership teacher to what she terms the tremendous school spirit at St. Thomas High, community support and, of course, her students.
“It’s a reflection on the whole school,” said Ditchburn who also volunteers at the Pointe Claire school as a student activity adviser.
Ditchburn, who teachers drama to Grade 9 and 10 students and Grade 11 leadership, began at the school teaching English, history, economics, geography and mass media.
“But I always had a passion for theatre and, because there were no drama classes and improv at the school, I started running extracurricular theatre groups,” she said.
That proved to be so popular that in 1998, the principal asked Ditchburn if she would be interested in teaching drama as part of the curriculum.
She jumped at the chance and last year, the St. Thomas improv classes placed first and second in Quebec at the Quebec Regional Improv Tournament.
“Improv is extremely fun to coach. The kids are really motivated,” she said.
Ditchburn said that for many of her 210 students, her classes are their first introduction to drama.
“It’s a confidence-builder, which also teachers social skills,” she said. “You can see the students grow.”
As for her leadership class, Ditchburn noted that Barack Obama’s recent election win in his run for U.S. president was a big topic at a recent class.
“It was interesting to see how the kids tuned in on (Obama’s) sincerity,” she said.
As if her work as drama and leadership teacher weren’t enough to keep her busy, Ditchburn also volunteers at the school as student activity adviser and helps organize events like the Terry Fox Walk, which raised $72,000 at the school this year.
“We are the No. 1 high school in Quebec. I am extremely proud of that,” she said.
Ditchburn said organizing events like that is a lot of work but added, “It’s worth it to know you’ve made a difference. And I have 30 kids working on this project.
“I am more of a guide,” she said. “My involvement is to see these kids learn by doing. It’s inspiring.”