Playtime has always been a special time for Alison Novak, an educator at Renfrew Education Services, a non-profit society for children with special needs.
Renfrew Educational Services has five campuses in the City of Calgary, and Novak, who possesses a background in social work and psychology, says working with the school is an education for her as well.
“I’ve learned an enormous amount. I think they’ve brought more to my life than I probably have to theirs.”
Erin McWhirter works as a teacher alongside Novak and she says she’s an inspiration to work with.
“She’s always calm under pressure and has a laugh to share with things, so that’s sort of inspiring. We work in a place where it can be like loud and stressful. She always has a good sense of humour and always makes us laugh.”
Novak says it’s easy to love a job that lets you play with kids because she can watch their continual development while she works with them.
“Our kids are so small so they’re coming to us at, like, two and a half and so the successes and what not that happen throughout the year, it’s amazing. You know it’s an amazing gift to be a part of that.”
McWhirter says Novak also possesses a gift to bring even the most introverted child out of their shell.
“She’s a very extroverted person and is so outgoing. She has these ways of getting in and sneaking in and getting their attention.”
For all she does to help special needs children come out into the open and develop their social skills, Alison Novak is our Inspired Albertan for this week.
