Teachers have their own extracurricular activities. Some volunteer. Some write books. Others produce podcasts, create art or make music. Here are some endeavours undertaken by your colleagues “out there.”
Books
The Good Heart
Ben Galeski, a teacher at St. Joseph’s Collegiate, has published his second novel. His newest book, The Good Heart, tells the story of young Joseph Benson, who leaves his ranch home and family in southern Alberta to enlist with the Canadian Expeditionary Force to fight in the First World War. In the trenches in France, Joseph and his comrades are exposed to the horrors of one of the ugliest, most brutal wars ever fought. Through it all, he has only his faith and his inner strength of character to sustain him.
BEN GALESKI
St. Joseph’s Collegiate, Brooks
Justin Press, justinpress.ca
Reggie the Ranger Endangered Species Series
Recently retired teacher Brian Makaruk has published Mystery of the Missing Kako Eggs and Mystery of the Madagascar Fire, two books in his Reggie the Ranger Endangered Species Series. These children’s books feature a red panda, Reggie the Ranger, who is committed to protecting the world’s forests and their inhabitants. Part of a larger set of books by Makaruk that highlight endangered species or
habitats around the world, Reggie the Ranger’s stories contain facts and vocabulary words to help children learn about endangered species and unique habitats all over the world.
BRIAN MAKARUK
Retired teacher, The Northern Lights School Division
Oxford Book Writers/Independently published
www.redpandabookstore.com
Presentations
National Conference on Science Education
High school science teacher Tyler Buchan travelled to Denver to present at the National Science Teaching Association’s annual conference, the National Conference on Science Education. Buchan gave two presentations during the conference, one on formative assessment techniques and one on laboratory skills performance assessments. Buchan was happy to see his sessions very well attended, to engage in conversations with teachers from around the USA and to be able to share some of what he does in his classroom.
TYLER BUCHAN
Salisbury Composite High School, Sherwood Park
X @BuchanTyler
World Aviation Training Summit
In 2024, aviation, chemistry and physics teacher Dana Marshall, who earned her commercial pilot’s license earlier this year, presented at the 2024 World Aviation Training Summit in Orlando. At the summit, Marshall shared the story of the South Alberta Flight Academy (SAFA). Based out of Eagle Butte High School and headed up by Marshall, SAFA (in partnership with Super T Aviation) is Canada’s only flight training program contained within a high school. Marshall presents frequently on the program, how it started and where it is headed next.
DANA MARSHALL
Eagle Butte High School, Dunmore
X @southalbertaflight
What’s new with you? If you’d like to make a submission for publication in Who’s Out There?, email a summary (50–75 words) to associate editor Lindsay Yakimyshyn at lindsay.yakimyshyn@ata.ab.ca.
