McDowell Foundation Award Recipients

Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan

2011 McDowell Foundation Award for
Contributions to Educational Research

Much has been said about the power of the collective, and teachers know well the benefits of a strong unified group of individuals working for a common purpose. In retirement teachers maintain this sense of commitment and dedication to the teaching profession. It is because of their ongoing and significant financial and public relations support for the McDowell Foundation that we are proud, for the first time to honour a group, the Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan, as the 2011 recipient of the McDowell Foundation Award.

Since the formation of the STS in October 1973, the STS has had a rich and well documented history of supporting teachers in their working lives. Made up of 43 chapters, the STS has also been, from the early beginnings of the Foundation, and remains to this day, a strong and vital friend to the McDowell Foundation for Research into Teaching. The roots of this commitment to the Foundation come from a commitment to the man for whom the Foundation is named.

I believe that the commitment by STS to the McDowell Foundation is the result of the leadership that Dr. Stirling McDowell provided to teachers and the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation. He was a high profile leader in all aspects of Saskatchewan life and had a profound impact on teaching and learning in Saskatchewan, Canada and internationally. He was well known to thousands of teachers as an articulate, insightful spokesperson for teachers and for education. He is largely responsible for the collaborative approach to education in Saskatchewan that is currently under attack.

Fred Herron, Executive Secretary, Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan

So when the McDowell Foundation was due to celebrate its 20th Anniversary, it seemed natural for the STS to encourage its members and chapters to increase their already generous donations for 2011. In addition the STS initiated resolutions at the Annual Meeting of Council for a formal celebration to be held and is also paying tribute to Dr. McDowell in the next issue of the Outreach, the STS’s provincial newsletter.

The STS’s longstanding commitment to the McDowell Foundation was evident from the early beginnings of the Foundation. A superannuated teacher served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation, and the STS was a member of the Advisory Board.

This commitment has remained constant through the years. In fact, as part of the 10-year celebration of the McDowell Foundation, superannuated teachers had these comments to make about the importance of the Foundation:

Even if you’re no longer in the classroom, supporting the Foundation is the chance to be involved in something that is creating a legacy.

Beryl Robinson, Superannuate

The action-oriented research the Foundation supports relates to teaching and learning. It creates the kind of results teachers can use. The McDowell Foundation gives teachers the resources . . . the money and especially the time . . . to achieve their common objectives.

Terry McKague, Superannuate

The STS’s commitment to the Foundation has been about supporting and honouring the lifework of Dr. McDowell, a man who “provided valuable leadership with a sound sense of history and a mind fearless in the breaking of new ground,” (Maxine Stinka, STS Councillor, Outreach) to improve the lives of teachers.

For their support of the McDowell Foundation, we honour the Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan as the 2011 recipient of the McDowell Foundation Award.

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