Vote everyday until Feb. 29 to support Maria Nickel
A Stonewall teacher needs your online votes to help win $10,000 for environmentally sustainable programs for her school.
Maria Nickel teaches Grade 7 and 8 STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, math) at Ecole Stonewall Centennial School. She’s currently in the Top 20 in North America in the Most Valuable Teacher Program, and she’s vying for the top spot.
It all began when Nickel received an email from the Winnipeg Jets Everfi North team to let her know they have a great online STEM program for her students to try out.
Everfi is an American company that specializes in education technology innovation. Everfi’s Future Goals program uses hockey to explore STEM topics at school.
Nickel learned that lots of schools in Manitoba were participating in the program, and she agreed to give it a try.
“Students work through challenge lesson modules online in either STEM or math. I signed up for both, so the students work through these concepts relating to hockey,” she said.
“Students connect key science, math, engineering and technology concepts to the game of hockey by getting digital lessons in the NHL Future Goals program.”
For example, they learned the fun science fact that when the puck drops, it’s actually kinetic energy in action.
When they enrolled in the program, participating teachers also had the chance to enter a contest.
“A form was given to all teachers in the Winnipeg Jets Everfi North program to fill out and send in for the contest where you were asked to talk about your teaching years, what you do in STEM education, what you love about teaching and any awards or accomplishments you have,” she said.
“I won for the Winnipeg Jets Teacher of the Month for January, so the Winnipeg Jets sent me a framed autographed picture of my fave player Josh Morrissey for being selected for the month of January.”
From there, Nickel’s contest entry form was forwarded to the NHL Most Valuable Teacher Top 20 in North America contest.
“I qualified for the month of February, which means if I get the most votes online on the NHL contest site, I get an autographed jersey and $10,000 for environmentally sustainable programs in our school,” she said.
Throughout the month of February, students and parents can vote once each day for Maria Nickel by visiting NHL.com/MVT.
“Let’s do this and help out my students. I love my students dearly and want them to have the skills and tools to be successful learners and be amazing,” she said.
“It would mean great deal that we got enough votes to get funds for increased learning opportunities for our students, which is what I care about — giving kids the opportunity to fill their learning toolbox.”
The direct link to vote daily for Maria Nickel is https://futuregoals.nhl.com/most-valuable-teacher-program/. All you have to do to vote is click on her headshot photo. From there, your vote will be automatically tabulated.
