‘Invaluable’ educator and librarian named Pita Pit’s Teacher of the Month

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A grade one teacher and librarian has been named December’s Pita Pit Teacher of the Month. 

Tamara Hollman, who teaches at Anne Roberts Young Elementary, has been a teacher for over 24 years. 

Hollman told Energeticcity.ca: “It’s been wonderful. I get to hang around with the happiest population of kids and they make me feel young every day.”

Hollman shared that she wanted to be a teacher ever since she was a kid. 

“I used to line up my teddy bears and teach them school. Back then, I thought the fun part would be marking, but I was wrong,” said Hollman, adding that her daughter, who is also a teacher, surprised herself. 

Hollman said: “I’m not sure that was her first decision, but it was just something to do that she knew that she’d love.” 

Coming up with surprises for the kids is what Hollman considers to be a highlight of her career. 

She said: “I like hosting a North Pole breakfast this time of year and feeding them breakfast and doing unexpected happy things that bring them joy.” 

Hollman felt Covid was a really challenging time for her as a teacher.

“I think Covid was really tricky to teach through because just being restricted and not near people, but also trying to teach six-year-olds online.

“I had lovely parents that were really supportive, so I think it’s the families that made all the difference during that time,” said Hollman, adding outside of her classroom, she loves going to Crossfit and spending time with her children and grandchildren. 

As a librarian, Hollman gets to be with all of the kids. She said: “I get to see all the kids. And I wanted to get the kids to love reading through my love of reading and my excitement for new books and new genres. 

“It’s really neat that I get to contact every student and just share something that I love with them.”

Hollman holds a recycled-book sale in June every year.

“Every year I get the books donated to our school from all over the community, age-appropriate books, and then I sell them back to the kids for $1 so they can have new books to read through the summer,” she said. 

She uses money raised in the sale to do school-wide meal, usually a spaghetti lunch. 

Hollman’s nomination said: “Her warmth, creativity and commitment make her an invaluable part of the school community.” 

Congratulations to Tamara Hollman, December’s Pita Pit Teacher of the Month.

The monthly event is part of Moose Media and Pita Pit Canada’s mission to honour teachers in the community. Each month, the winner receives a $100 gift card and is highlighted in an article on Energeticcity.ca.

Read about previous winners of Pita Pit’s Teacher of the Month here.

Anyone looking to nominate a teacher who deserves recognition can do so here.