The nominees for this year’s Inspiring Success Award of Distinction include Leduc Composite High School (LCHS) Second Languages Department Head, Bobbi Hjertaas.
Bobbi Hjertaas is extremely passionate about French Language education, both as an individual and as a professional. She has been an integral part in promoting and growing the French Immersion Program in the Black Gold School Division, particularly in Leduc.
In her capacity as Department Head for the LCHS Second Languages, Bobbi has impacted student culture positively, not only for the French Immersion students but for all students. Every year, Bobbi is involved in planning the Second Languages Week at LCHS in March, in which the Quebecois tradition of Carnival is highlighted, as well as Spanish cultural activities. All students at the school can participate in this weeklong event, which includes La Tire (Maple syrup on ice), French & Spanish trivia, piñatas, photos with Bonhomme Carnaval, and much more. In order to promote travel and language immersion, Bobbi is currently planning a France-Spain trip for Spring Break 2024, available to all students at LCHS.
“When I first transferred to LCHS to teach in the French Immersion program, Bobbi immediately reached out to me via email and was extremely welcoming. She gave me a personal tour of the school and shared all her resources with me,” said one of the nominators, Monica Polanica. “Bobbi goes above and beyond to support me in my position and has even given up prep time to help me in my classroom. I have never felt that I cannot go to her for support, whether regarding course content, parents, students, or anything else I may need help with.”
Another passion of Bobbi’s is coaching and working with our young athletes. A major sport that Bobbi has been a part of for many years is volleyball, but she has also assisted in track and field, badminton, and rugby. Bobbi continues to give up multiple evenings and weekends to help student-athletes excel by being a part of volleyball tournaments around the province, as well as running school tournaments and camps for younger athletes in the spring and summer.
On top of being a leader to her colleagues, Bobbi is also a large part of the coaching community within our district and has become a well-respected leader in Edmonton Metro Athletics due to her commitment to LCHS sports. She has sought to build positive relationships with students outside of the classroom through multiple sports which allows these student-athletes to have a strong female leader in their lives. Her role as a leader in sports at LCHS creates an everlasting impression on these young athletes, many of whom still speak highly of her impact today.