Jim and Marian Andrews raised three children in La Ronge including Gabe, Mike and Nathan. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

accomplishment

‘Best career in the world’: Andrews retires from teaching after 35 years

Jul 10, 2020 | 3:29 PM

Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, retired educator Marian Andrews dedicated her career to the residents of northern Saskatchewan.

“I think teaching is the best career in the world and I wouldn’t have changed anything in my life career-wise,” she said. “It’s fun, you can be creative, you can do different things and I found the education system was really flexible.”

Before moving to Western Canada, Andrews graduated from high school in Hamilton and attended McMaster University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts of degree. She married her husband Jim Andrews in 1975 and afterwards the couple lived in the Northwest Territories for more than four years. They then spent a number of years working in several northern Saskatchewan communities before landing in Timber Bay in 1984.

As her husband worked as a teacher, Andrews served as a substitute teacher before finally deciding to pursue an education degree at the Northern Teacher Education Program in La Ronge. Her first teaching position was at the Lac La Ronge Indian Band’s Senator Myles Venne School, where she taught and served as vice-principal for four years.

“I was there until 1999, then I transferred over to Gordon Denny Community School for a while, then I got my job at the Churchill Community High School Learning Centre,” Andrews said. “I was at Churchill for more than 20 years either at the Learning Centre or as a career guidance counsellor.”

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Andrews said the years she spent teaching at the Learning Centre were the highlight of her career. The goal was to assist students who were struggling with attendance and it included four main components including academics, culture, health and wellness, and parental involvement. Andrews mentioned it incorporated land-based learning, learning from Elders and the integration of subject areas into events like canoe trips.

The learning was also supported by many resource workers, who would come into the classroom and lend their expertise. The program also included yearly trips to Jasper, Alta., and activities like cross-country skiing.

“That was the best. I have so many fond memories of the students,” she said. “I keep in touch with a few of them to this day. It was a really dynamic program and it was brand new.”

After her time teaching at the Learning Centre, Andrews taught psychology and career exploration at Churchill, as well as served as the career guidance counsellor. Her job was to speak with students about their future goals away from school and assist them with course selection based on their interests.

Having spent about 35 years in the educational field, Andrews believes changes have to be made and it needs to be determined what’s working and what’s not. She said much of how a student performs depends on their teacher, noting a good relationship between the two is key.

“Students will do well with someone who is kind, accepting and appreciative of what their background is,” Andrews said. “Enjoy the kids for who they are and have fun.”

During her retirement, Andrews expects to do more of what she enjoys like hiking, canoeing, travelling, camping, reading and spending time with her grandchildren. On a personal note, she also hopes to see more former students like Tristen Durocher, who is taking a stand for what he believes in.

Durocher, along with Christopher Merasty, are currently walking to Regina where Durocher plans on beginning a hunger strike on arrival due to the provincial government inaction on suicide prevention.

“During my time as a teacher, I have seen way too many young people die by either self-inflicted suicide or slow deaths with drug and alcohol addiction [or] mental health problems,” Andrews said. “It just warms my heart to know there is someone out there doing something about it.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno