‘I learn more from students than they learn from me,’ says Pita Pit’s Teacher of the Month

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A Fort St. John teacher who specializes in working with visually impaired students has been named Pita Pit’s Teacher of the Month for March.

Trista Triska has been teaching since 2000, when she received her teaching degree in Regina, Saskatchewan and started her career as an elementary school and learning assistance teacher.

In 2005, Triska moved to Red Deer, Alberta, before coming to Fort St. John in 2014. 

Then, in 2021, Triska became the teacher for students with visual impairments with School District 60 (SD60). 

Triska’s nomination letter says she goes “above and beyond” for both her colleagues and the students she works with. It also says Triska never takes any credit for the work she’s done.

 “If anyone deserves to be recognized, it’s her,” the letter read. 

In addition to her primary role, Triska has recently completed a practicum at the W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind in Ontario. 

Following that practicum, Triska now holds a secondary role with SD60 as an orientation and mobility specialist.   

“My second role, that I just did my practicum in, is the orientation of mobility,” Triska said. “That’s how you navigate your school environment, learning to use a white cane, getting out and learning how to ride the city bus and learning how to analyze traffic so you can cross the street safely.” 

When asked about her reaction to being named Teacher of the Month, Triska gave credit to the students she works with.

“I feel really honoured,” Triska said. “I learn more from the students than they learn from me. Really we learn from each other. I feel really blessed to be in this position as a teacher.”

Triska said she hopes her nomination as Teacher of the Month helps spread awareness about students with visual impairments. 

“The biggest thing for me to be nominated is to get more knowledge out there that there’s somebody who can help students with visibility impairments,” Triska said. 

Triska is a single mom of three, which has led her to learn lots of new things, she said. 

“I’ve learned how to kayak and snowboard, all the things that my boys like to do, and that’s really fun,” said Triska. 

Triska’s teaching career has brought her all over western Canada, including Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. 

When Triska isn’t spending time with her sons, she enjoys walking with her two dogs, a boxer and a mastiff boxer. 

Congrats to Trista Triska, March’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 up to a $100 gift card and is highlighted in an article on Energeticcity.ca.

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