Shalen Fox, pictured here in front of JPII Collegiate, has been recognized for his work building community, both inside and outside the school’s walls. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Local teacher recognized

JPII’s Shalen Fox receives Lumen Christi Staff Award

May 12, 2021 | 1:21 PM

Local educator, Shalen Fox has been named this year’s recipient of the Lumen Christi Staff Award for 2021.

Fox, who has been the graduation coach at John Paul II Collegiate (JPII) for the last seven years, and also teaches Grade 11 and 12 Entrepreneurship, called it an honour to be recognized for the prestigious award recognizing his many years of service to the school division and community.

“I really appreciate it, it’s great,” Fox said. “There’s a lot of good happening in our school and in our community, and I’m just happy to be a part of it, and helping to bring some of these different ideas [to light] that benefit our school and the community.”

Whether starting a new program celebrating recent indigenous graduates (left), coaching school sports teams (top right), or helping raise awareness for missing and murdered indigenous women (bottom right); Shalen Fox is very active in the JPII school community. (battlefordsNOW file photos)

Fox, who is from North Battleford originally and attended JPII Collegiate during his high school years, said it was a teacher he had in his youth that inspired him to strive for a career in education; something he hopes to be able to do for the next generation.

BDO Debt Solutions

Deck the Halls Without Breaking the Bank: Tips for a Budget-Friendly Holiday

15h ago

strong reputation

North Battleford wins gold in provincial volleyball championship

16h ago

POSTAL STRIKE IMPACT

Chamber reaction: Postal strike in rural Sask. sparks concerns for businesses and holiday shipping

17h ago

“My Phys Ed. Teacher Mr. Wandler was – I would say – my biggest influence, and I always knew I wanted to come back to JPII and give back to the community that so many staff and coaches had done for me when I was younger,” Fox said. “So it was kind of to pay it forward, and I hope to inspire this generation to pay it forward too.”

In addition to his teaching duties, Fox has also been very involved in a number of extracurricular activities around the school, coaching school sports teams including soccer, volleyball, and basketball. He also has helped to organize a number of celebratory or special awareness event days at JPII, including orange shirt day and ribbon shirt/skirt day, among others.

Fox’s role model graduation wall was a new addition to the school lobby this year, highlighting recent Indigenous graduates and their success stories. Similarly, he is also currently working on another special project to highlight current students graduating from the high school this year.

Outside of school hours Fox also coaches a U-13 club-basketball team within the school division for Grades 6 and 7 students on his weekends, five months of the year when sports are permitted to run.

Co-principal at JPII, Tracie Harty said Fox’s recognition is well-deserved for all he does for the school and those around him.

“When we found out he had won the award, we were very proud,” Harty said. “Shalen does everything for the right reasons. He does it for the students, for the staff, and whatever he does throughout the day is for the good of our John Paul II community and our Battlefords community, so we really appreciate it.”

The Lumen Christi Staff Award is presented by the board of education to someone in the Catholic faith community who has had a positive impact in the schools. To read the JPII Collegiate announcement, click here.

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1