04/19/2026
On behalf of Gonzaga Middle School, we congratulate three of members of our teaching team who were honoured at the Manitoba Excellence in Education Awards at the Manitoba Legislature last Friday. We are proud to congratulate Karla Grobb, Doug Hemmerling and Laurie-Anne Regula on being named the 2025/2026 recipients of the prestigious Premier's Award for Excellence in Education!
As our Intervention Specialist, Karla Grobb has been instrumental in addressing barriers to student learning while building trust and respect with students, reflected in their requests for her presence in their lives; not only by the grade 6-8 students who want to 'go work with Ms. Grobb' but with graduates who are navigating personal and academic concerns in high school.
In collaboration with the whole Student and Graduate Support team, as our Student and Graduate Support Director, Doug Hemmerling, has helped to ensure continuity of care and support for our students and graduates through his blend of mentorship, case management, advocacy, and networking across multiple high schools, school divisions, agencies, and community partners. His efforts have helped so many graduates stay connected with Gonzaga's mission and community, stay engaged in school and ultimately earn their high school diplomas.
As a classroom teacher, Laurie-Anne Regula has been with Gonzaga
throughout its entire ten-year history, and this has put her in an honoured position of trust as she has positive relationships with all students who have attended the school. Having cultivated a relational space where academic vulnerability is safe, students know they can seek her out for tutoring and help rooted in dignity, respect, and growth with many graduates coming back regularly for tutoring time she generously volunteers after school.
We celebrate these educators, and those of the whole Gonzaga Middle school team who demonstrate a special kind of excellence: the daily, relational, trauma-informed heart work that heals through evidence-based interventions that stabilize learning, and the relentless hard work of long days, evening tutoring, summer hours, home visits, and networked advocacy that keeps students and graduates on track. All of their efforts are truly helping to change lives and fulfill potential!
Congratulations Karla, Doug and Laurie-Anne!
