William E. Hay Composite High School earned national recognition from the Canadian Educational Association.
The school received honourable mention for the Ken Spencer Award, which recognizes innovation in teaching and learning.
Max Cook of the national association visited the Stettler school to present a plaque and a $1,000 cheque.
William E. Hay was one of 16 schools in Alberta that had freedom from the “Carnegie Unit.”
The Carnegie Unit mandated that every student sit in front of a teacher for 125 hours to receive five credits. The underlying assumption of the Carnegie Unit, in place in Alberta since 1906, was that each student learns the same and learns at the same rate.
William E. Hay staff believe that mandate is outdated.
“The Carnegie Unit is an industrial-aged structure,” said vice-principal Myranda Shepherd.
“It was implemented during a time when education was about putting students through as system as quickly as possible. The Carnegie Unit standardizes students. To us, students should be in an environment that nurtures their potential and understands their uniqueness.
“Our staff is one of the hardest-working and most innovative group of professionals that you will find in Alberta, and that is why they were deserving of this recognition from the Canadian Educational Association.”
During the past four years of the high school flexibility enhancement pilot project, staff created innovative programs meant to enhance education and learning for students — from flex time, teacher advisor, project week, math enhancement to their extended learning opportunities.
“Extended Learning Opportunities are a great example of innovative programming at our school,” said principal Norbert Baharally.
“We know that much of what students learn happens outside the walls of the classrooms, and we want students to have an opportunity to use school time to take what they are passionate about and learn from it.
“In an ELO, students create their own program, create a timeline, partners with a community member and then work through their program.”
This is the last year of the High School Flexibility Enhancement pilot project.
The government has extended the project for the 16 schools and has opened the project to other schools in Alberta.
More than 113 high schools in Alberta said they want to be involved.
“This is exciting news,” Shepherd said. “We could never have imagined this much support for high school redesign in Alberta. We are thrilled this is taking hold.”
She said that during the past four years, the school has had many opportunities to share its journey and experiences with other staff members throughout Alberta.
“This week alone, we have had visits from Lindsay Thurber, Beaverlodge and Three Hills Composite High School,” Shepherd said last week, which was Education Week provincially.