Many Okotoks residents may remember the name Drew Hoover from the good old days at the Foothills Composite High School. 

Now he's known as Mr. Hoover, and he is now making memories with current students at Senator Riley Middle School in High River.

The Foothills School Division has recently nominated Hoover for the Edwin Parr Teacher Award which is presented annually by the Alberta School Boards Association.

The award recognizes the greatest first-year teachers from each of the ASBA zones.

Not only is Hoover being recognized by the division, he is also a favorite among his students. 

Something Hoover says can actually be easy to accomplish, if you put it in the effort to get to know them.

"I get to know them on a professional, but also on a personal level, and because of that relationship piece with the students they give you so much more." Hoover adds, "I'm a people person and especially the kids at this school - they need relationships, they need people that want to know them, and care about them and care to get to know them.

Teaching greatness is in Hoover's blood, he grew up around teachers since his grandparents, sister and uncle all had a teaching degree.

Hoover says, the focus in education right now is student centred.

"Informed practices, but it starts with knowing who is in your classroom; How do they learn, how do they acquire knowledge.  If you know who are they as people, you can use that to essentially help develop them, in terms of their citizenship and being the best type of people they can be."

Hoover says he's loves his job and the fact he's teaching and giving back to the Foothills where he grew up.

"I'm from here and that is massively rewarding, to give back to the community."

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