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Honorary membership recognizes impeccable career
Puzzlement.
In his honorary membership award acceptance speech, Dr. Ernie Clintberg said he was puzzled as to why he was receiving the award. However, to everyone attending the Annual Representative Assembly it was clear as day why Clintberg was deserving of the Alberta Teachers’ Association’s highest award.
Robert Twerdoclib’s introduction of Clintberg highlighted the impeccable career, character and skill set of the former teacher, administrator, local president and ATA executive staff member. It also underscored the investment Clintberg made in his students, staff and colleagues.
The paths of Twerdoclib and Clintberg intersected a number of times over the course of their lives and careers. Both were employed by Parkland School Division, both were president of their local and, before Clintberg retired in 2011, both sat on Provincial Executive Council—Twerdoclib as district representative for Central North and Clintberg as ATA associate executive secretary. Twerdoclib shared memories of their many years together, but in particular he spoke admirably of Clintberg as the principal who first hired him.
"My clearest memory of my first principal was Ernie’s stringent rule that I was hired as a teacher first and not as a volunteer or extracurricular sponsor. … He stated clearly my focus was to be relationships with my students, lesson planning and my developing practice," Twerdoclib reminisced. That Twerdoclib went on to be an Edwin Parr Award nominee that year and received a provincial Excellence in Teaching Award the following year was "a testament to the principal who knew that beginning teachers are hired to be supported and encouraged to be the best of educators first." Twerdoclib’s sentiment about his early teaching awards was further testament to Clintberg’s influence on teachers and public education in Alberta.
When Clintberg took the stage to receive his award, he shared the credit in genuine Clintberg fashion with everyone who at one time or another had occupied a position at his side during his 56 years as student, teacher, principal–teacher, parent with children in the trust of teachers, and employee of the ATA. His list was long, but telling of a proud teacher who understands from every perspective the importance of investing in public education. His list also featured some special mentions. Among those was Mr. Sukamar Nayar, Clintberg’s principal when he was a student in high school. He phoned "Mr. Nayar" to tell him that he, too, shared in the honour. The reason? Because "Mr. Nayar" believed in Clintberg before he had even thought of believing in himself.
ATA President Carol Henderson, ATA Executive Secretary Gordon Thomas, retired ATA Associate Executive Secretary Earl Hjelter and ATA Past President Frank Bruseker were mentioned by Clintberg as people he felt especially privileged to have worked with during his last 10 years with the Association.
Clintberg gave his family special recognition: posthumously to his parents for their distinctive influences on his character and life; sincerely to his brothers and their wives for their unconditional support; lovingly to his children for their immeasurable help; and adoringly to his wife, Linda, who, he said, deserved a "crowning mention" for all her love, faith and encouragement.
"All share in my honorary membership because they taught me and/or shouldered the work with me through this journey of education," concluded Clintberg.
And all are better for it. Puzzle solved, Dr. Clintberg?
