Although every teacher’s goal is to help students succeed, some make an impact that lasts a lifetime. The teacher of distinction award honors these individuals that have dedicated their lives to making a difference. This year’s award recipient values helping students persevere through hardships in order to reach their full potential.

A teacher that represented the best of the best was selected from each school and a committee  chose a district winner from the given candidates.

Ty Van Valkenburg, more fondly known as “Coach V,” by the Windsor Community, proudly earned the award after 12 years of teaching, with six of those being at Windsor. He spends his days in the weight room as a strength and conditioning coach, helping athletes and gym-goers reach new heights.

Van Valkenburg was completely caught off guard by the award. Over 250 students took part in the first surprise party in the Commons, as well as being attended by his close family, friends, and old football coaches. At that time, he was announced as the teacher of distinction for the high school. Later, on the school’s professional development day on April 6, Van Valkenburg was announced as the Windsor C-1 District Teacher of the Year. 

Van Valkenburg said, “It was a great surprise, and it’s hard to express how much it meant to me that all these special people in my life were there for that moment.”

Being selected as the Teacher of Distinction has become one of his proudest moments as a teacher, but this wasn’t always his life plan. His journey to becoming a coach himself helped him grow to be the teacher he is today. Through college he didn’t have a strength and conditioning coach, and his love of training had taught him how important that was as an athlete. He began making his own programs and teaching himself exercises in order to continue growing as an athlete. 

“I don’t want others to have the same experience I did. I wish I had someone during my college years who could show me how to train correctly and help me maximize my performance. Now, I can be that person, not just for myself but for my student-athletes. I’m honored to have the privilege to provide this service to all the young people in my charge,” said Van Valkenburg.

He believes that this award is a sign of how far the Strength and Conditioning program has come at Windsor. In order for a school to be the best it can be, all areas of the school have to put in the work. And although the program is not a core class, it is enriching the education of all students who participate. Strength and conditioning class teaches students to handle adversity and overcome obstacles. Van Valkenburg is known for his life lessons he throws into every workout. He’s proud of how far every student that has been through his program has come and how they use what they learned in every aspect of their lives, even outside of sports.

Even in celebration, he took the opportunity to brag about his students.

He said, “I respect every student I work with who commits themselves to training and embraces the sacrifices of being a student-athlete. This award is as much my students’ as it is mine.”