2016

Awards have been presented to the most outstanding Teachers in Latvia

Appreciating the valuable work done by teachers in educating the young generations, JSC "Latvia's State Forests" (LVM) has the honour to congratulate the most outstanding biology teachers in Latvia. Promoting expertise and innovations, the "Excellence Award" was presented to Airita Ešenvalde, who each and every day is able to carry away the Priekule Secondary School students into the wide world of biology, helping each student achieve their best results.

The most progressive science teachers in Latvia presented their professional skills in the "Excellence Award" finals that took place on 17 February in Mārupe Secondary School. Applying creative teaching techniques and the benefits of the modern technologies, biology teachers held a class on the structure of the skin and its functions to the 8th and 9th grade students.

"You, the teachers, are the ones who shape the future of our country. What our next generations will be like depends on our teachers. This is a never-ending process," said Kārlis Šadursiks, the Minister for Education and Science, inviting the best teachers to share their experience and passion also with their colleagues, working in the same field.

Altogether five teachers competed in the finals: Airita Ešenvalde representing Priekule Secondary School, Anita Rozenblate from Riga State Gymnasium No. 3, Anna Duļbinska from Grobiņa Gymnasium, Evita Valdberga from Pļaviņas County Gymnasium, Sandra Silava from Nereta Jānis Jaunsudrabiņš Secondary School.

Already for the fifth year the "Excellence Award" is awarded for the teacher's work in the classroom, and not depending on the results achieved by the students in examinations and competitions, or the number of years worked, or based on some formal documents. And therefore all the finalists came together to meet in person. They held a class, exchanged ideas on classroom work and analysed different situations. The teachers who should take part in the competition were chosen by school students, parents, school management and colleagues.

In the awards ceremony all the participants were congratulated by Ināra Mūrniece, the Speaker of the Saeima, Kārlis Šadurskis, the Minister for Education and Science, Ina Druviete, the Vice-rector of the Humanities and Educational Sciences at the University of Latvia, Dace Namsone, the Head of the Centre for Science and Math Education at the University of Latvia, and the award patrons who presented the awards of 1400 euros to the winners.

JSC "Latvia's State Forests" highly appreciates the work done by teachers; therefore each year the company organises professional development courses for teachers. Within the framework of these courses company's experts share their experiences and tell the participants about the processes taking place in the forest, about sustainable forest management, which is ensured in the areas managed by LVM, as well as offer ideas for learning outside the usual school premises - in nature. The company also invites teachers and their students to take part in the Forest Days events, where they are offered an opportunity to go on educational forest excursions, as well as do some practical work in the forest, for example, take part in the forest clean-ups.