Pita Pit Teacher of the Month: Gillian Haugen-Koechl

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Charlie Lake Elementary School’s Gillian Haugen-Koechl was delighted to hear she had been selected as Pita Pit’s Teacher of the Month in November after receiving multiple nominations. 

Koechl is receiving the honour during her first year of teaching at the school, having previously attended as a student. 

Her family has a long history of teaching, with her mother, father, and grandmother all being teachers. 

She is also the third person in her family to teach at the elementary school, joining her mother and grandmother.

“It’s pretty amazing. My grandma actually taught here, and then my mom taught here for 30 years. So I’m the third generation to be at the school,” said Koechl.

Koechl says teaching is an amazing career that makes a big impact on people’s lives. 

“Even the hard days are worth it.”

One of the individuals who nominated Koechl describes her as “patient, kind, loving, and hard-working”

Koechl says the words are “really sweet” and “mean a lot.”

When asked about the best part of being a teacher, Koechi said it was hearing comments about how much her students enjoy coming to her class.

“That just means a lot and seeing how much they can grow in the year,” said Koechi.

Koechl is also a self-described artist who enjoys teaching art classes the most. 

“You get students that really feel like they’re not good at art, and everyone finds a connection somehow. It’s just nice to see kids grow to see themselves as artists by the end of the year.”

Congratulations to Gillian Haugen-Koechl for being named November’s Pita Pit Teacher of the Month. Anyone looking to nominate a teacher who deserves recognition can go to Energeticcity.ca.