She never knew the woman whose memory played a role in her education. But in coming months Melissa Zachary will be all but immersed in Ann Bartlett’s world – right down to being set up near the same classroom where the famous Grade 2 teacher left her own indelible, caring footprint.
Born in Edmonton, Zachary spent most of her life in Slave Lake. She attended Kindergarten at C.J. Schurter elementary school where Ann Bartlett’s name was synonymous with the ‘I Care’ mantra of the school.
But Melissa moved to St. Mary of the Lake Roman Catholic Separate School in Grade 1, and stayed there until Grade 5. That’s when she moved to classrooms at E. G. Wahlstrom School for the next two years.
From there she moved on to Roland Michener Secondary for her high school years. That’s where she quickly got to know Harry Bartlett, principal – and Ann Bartlett’s son. He’s the same man who would one day present her with the Ann Bartlett Memorial Scholarship.
Melissa says she knew from a very young age that she would some day be a teacher. So it was almost a given that she would apply for the scholarship offered to education students as she prepared for university.
“I knew she was a prominent figure in the education (circles) of our town, and I heard nothing but good things about her and C.J Schurter.
“It was an honour to receive the scholarship.”
Melissa completed her education degree at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. And she was excited when she garnered a student teacher position at Schurter.
And as luck would have it, administrators assigned her to the Grade 2 classroom – Bartlett’s former domain.
There, she plied her new trade under the watchful eye of teacher and mentor Dawn Lawrence from February to May of this year.
But it’s the ‘I Care’ school, and Melissa soon learned that she had more than one helper in her Grade 2 classroom.
“The staff was so supporting, and (teachers and administrators) are a real team.
“They all took me under their wing. It’s a wonderful place to work, especially for a first year teacher.”
Just as quickly, Melissa realized that she’d found her own personal teachers’ Mecca, or as she puts it, “the best school I could get accepted at.
“I’m blessed and honoured to be working there.”
Not only that, but when Melissa was completing her time as a student teacher, it was under the watchful eye of none other than her former principal – Harry Bartlett.
“Harry was my university facilitator, and met with me every week. He watched me teach and gave me feedback.
“He has so much knowledge, and I knew he’d be great to work with. I learned a lot from him, and he was so very supportive – in my corner all the time.
“He had a tremendous amount of faith in me, and that was so important.”
Just like mom
For his part, Harry says in the nine weeks he was evaluating Melissa he couldn’t help but notice many similarities between this young teacher and his mother.
“Some of the things that jumped out were her enthusiasm for teaching, and I’m sure she’ll carry that forward.
“She’s very much a hard worker, well prepared and thorough…I know how hard my mom worked and it showed in the classroom.
“Her love for the kids is the same too, and I believe Melissa has that excellence about her. I think we’re looking toward a very positive future when we see kids like this coming back to Slave Lake.”
Harry says Melissa was the sixth recipient of the Ann Bartlett Memorial scholarship, and the first to return to High Prairie School Division and C.J. Schurter.
Coming home for her first teaching job is a dream come true for Melissa.
“This is where everything is for me,” she says, “and a huge part of the reason why I wanted to come back.
“It’s going to be a monumental year, definitely a challenge. But I’m up for that challenge and what ever comes my way.”
How can she be so confident? Simple, says Melissa.
“My confidence comes from being in a supportive family – a great family – and knowing that I’m going to be working in such a supportive environment as C.J. Schurter.
“I know they’ll help me. I love teaching and know that this is what I was meant to do.”
Melissa has been going to the school off and on all summer to set up her classroom. And she’s excitedly counting the days until the first bell of her first year.
It’s her “first time on the other side of the desk,” she says. It’s scary at times, but because of the valuable lessons that she learned from her role model, mentor and “fantastic influence”, Dawn Lawrence, Melissa believes she’s ready for what her very first Grade 2 crop of students will throw her way.

Copyright © 2000 The Lakeside Leader. All Rights Reserved.
No part may be reproduced without written permission.

View our Privacy Statement.
Send website suggestions to the Webmaster