First-year teacher Hana Viktorin recognized with Edwin Parr Award
In a classroom at Centennial High School, students in the Communication, Sensory and Social Interaction (CSSI) program learn, play and connect in ways that reflect who they are as individuals. There are dance breaks, science experiments, games of tag and quiet moments when the class pauses together before moving on to the next activity.
For their teacher, Hana Viktorin, those everyday moments are at the heart of her work.
“One of the things that has become clear to me as I continue to grow in my teaching career, and that has become a major cornerstone of my philosophy, is to create a welcoming environment for any student that I work with so that they can achieve success in their own way,” Hana said.
Viktorin is in her first year of teaching and has been recognized as the Calgary Board of Education’s recipient of the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) Edwin Parr Teacher Award, which honours outstanding first-year teachers across the province.
She teaches in the CSSI program at Centennial High School, which supports students with complex needs. Many students in the program are non-verbal and require individualized approaches to communication and learning.
Centennial High School Principal Joe Sturgeon said Hana’s students connected with her immediately.
“Our CSSI students are fantastic judges of character, and on Day 1, they embraced their teacher. They absolutely adore Hana,” he said.
Principal Sturgeon said Hana’s commitment to students has been evident since her time as a student teacher at Centennial. He mentioned that from her first introduction to the school community, staff noticed her kindness and work ethic - especially her willingness to quietly step forward to support students and school activities.
“When we needed a CSSI teacher, we were curious if Hana would be interested,” he said. “Her practicum focus was in our Leadership and Physical Education programs, but we knew she was a lifelong learner. We were confident in her willingness to roll up her sleeves and get to work.”
In the months since joining Centennial High School, Principal Sturgeon said Hana has helped strengthen connections between CSSI students and the broader school community, creating opportunities for students to participate in physical activity and interact with peers and staff across the school.
“Hana is not one to seek the spotlight,” he said. “Still, humble as she is, her positive energy, joie de vivre, and tireless commitment and dedication to students are simply undeniable.”
Hana’s path to teaching began long before her first classroom.
She remembers spending summers as a child playing school with her siblings and friends. Years later, volunteering at her younger sister’s school helped confirm what had quietly been a calling all along.
“It was on a field trip, where we walked from her school through the community, all the way through Fish Creek Park, and ended with a hot dog roast, that her homeroom teacher asked me if I’d ever considered going into education,” Hana said. “This conversation started me on the path to seriously consider going into education as a career choice.”
For Hana, the most meaningful part of the work is learning alongside her students each day.
“This first year of teaching has been incredible,” she said. “Every day I learn something new, and I get to share that with the students and the staff I work alongside.”
Each of ASBA’s four metro school boards selects one recipient of the Edwin Parr Teaching Award. There also are zone recipients from each ASBA zone in addition to the metro school board recipients. This year up to eleven recipients will be recognized at a provincial level by ASBA at its Fall General Meeting.
Trustees praised Hana’s leadership and commitment when unanimously approving the nomination at the March 3, 2026 public board meeting.
The Calgary Board of Education would also like to recognize other outstanding first year teachers who were nominated for this award:
- Davis Leong, HD Cartwright School
- Ethan Topolnisky, Ethel M. Johnson School
- Isabelle Carter, Ron Southern School
- Kyle Joseph, Chaparral School
- Rawan Saadi, Alex Munro School
- Wesley Cole, Pineridge School
- Kya Rawlings, Scenic Acres School
Each nominee is making a meaningful difference for students in their classrooms and school communities. Their stories reflect the dedication and care first-year teachers bring to schools across the Calgary Board of Education.