June 14, 2012                                                                                         

DSBN Staff Receives Top Honours from Premier  

The Premier of Ontario is tipping his cap to one of the DSBN’s longest serving and most respected leaders for his lifetime of commitment to students in Niagara. Kevin Graham has been named a recipient of the 2012 Premier’s Awards for Teaching Excellence in the Excellence in Leadership category. Each year, this prestigious award is presented to just two educators from school boards across Ontario. 

Kevin has been a fixture at the DSBN for over a quarter-century. “During that time, his name has become synonymous with excellence in technological education,” says Kevin Maves, Chair of the DSBN Board of Trustees. “Countless students have benefited from his commitment to student success. This award is well deserved recognition for a career spent dedicated to students in Niagara.” 

Over the past 25 years, Kevin has served as a secondary school teacher, the DSBN’s Technology Consultant and he currently works as the Board’s Special Initiatives Facilitator where he concentrates his efforts on developing the Walker Living Campus. “A project of this size and scope requires a great deal of leadership and perseverance. Kevin has been a true champion for this project, both within the Board and the community. Through his continued efforts, I am confident this project will become a reality for students in Niagara,” says Warren Hoshizaki, DSBN Director of Education.  

In addition to leading by example, Kevin also mentors and guides a team of six professionals, while overseeing more than 130 technology teachers at the Board. “Kevin sets the bar high and he encourages those he works with to go outside their comfort zone, giving us the confidence we need to accomplish what we thought was impossible,” says Colleen Fast, Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSM) Facilitator.  

Amongst the long list of accomplishments Kevin and his team have achieved, the DSBN International (DSBNi) home build program, the Ambassadors of Conservation of Energy (ACE) SHSM program and the DSBN Technological Skills challenges, all stand out as powerful examples of how Kevin’s leadership has directly benefitted students at the District School Board of Niagara.  

Kevin received his award at a special Premier’s Award gala event in Toronto on June 12.