​Two educators from Saint Mary's Academy in Edmundston are among the recent recipients of Innovation in Education Awards.

Principal Julie Page-Michaud and teacher Aaron McLaughlin received their awards during a ceremony hosted by Brilliant Labs at CCNB Edmundston on Jan. 14. The awards recognized the creative lab projects and initiatives undertaken with their students and the commitment shown to supporting innovation at school. 

Brilliant Labs is a not-for-profit, hands-on technology and experiential learning platform based in Atlantic Canada. Throughout schools in ASD-W, Brilliant Labs supports the integration of creativity, innovation, coding, and an entrepreneurial spirit within classrooms and educational curricula.

Jeff Wilson, spokesperson for Brilliant Labs, congratulated Page-Michaud and McLaughlin noting: "they are receiving this recognition for their tireless efforts in bringing innovation and creativity to the students of Saint Mary's Academy thorugh maker-centred learning."

Innovation in education encourages teachers and students to explore, research and use all the tools to uncover something new. It involves a different way of looking at problems and solving them.  Innovation improves education because it compels students to use a higher level of thinking to solve problems and it prepares students for a digital and innovation-based economy.

Shown in the photo below are (left to right) award winners Danis Michaud, Learning Centre for Haut-Madawaska de Claire; Saint Mary's Academy Principal Julie Page-Michaud and teacher Aaron McLaughlin from ASD-W, Julie Corriveau, Saint-Jacques School, and France Bosse from Carrefour de la Jeunesse.