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Awesome educators: Churchill teacher Rob Dunn has taught during the pandemic as a pineapple and Chewbacca

‘I really think it’s important that they have fun and learn at the same time,’ he said

With the COVID-19 pandemic shuttering schools this spring, educators have been thrown into an unfamiliar role — trying to teach their students at a distance.

We wanted to throw a spotlight on Greater Sudbury educators who have gone above and beyond the call of duty for their students in these unusual times, and perhaps shown a bit of creativity as they engage their students.

Sudbury.com asked readers for their nominations for local educators who fit this bill, and we received a nomination for Rob Dunn, who teaches Grade 4 at Churchill Public School.

Thanks to the marvels of modern technology, Dunn has kept things light for his students during the pandemic by appearing digitally as everything from a pineapple to Star Wars characters in the videos he posts to the Google platform.

Parent Shannon King said in her nomination she thinks ”it really takes the pressure off of the kids and gives a lighthearted feel to the whole COVID-19/distancing learning.”

Dunn, who sports a shaved head, said he enjoyed appearing as a pineapple because the stem made it look like he had hair again.

He also had an entire “Star Wars” week in early May in honour of Star Wars Day (May 4) where he appeared as various Star Wars characters, including Chewbacca and Darth Vadar.

Dunn said he was a big Star Wars fan growing up in the 1970s and 1980s, and thanks to modern iterations of the franchise, many of his students are also fans.

He has also hosted his lessons from a digital beach (that was during the early May snowstorm) and from the pyramids of Egypt when he was teaching an ancient civilizations class.

Dunn said his students seem to be having fun with these sillier elements to his lessons.

“They’ll chime in about it, and say ‘that was really funny today,’” he said.

While he wants to give his students a sense of structure to their day through schoolwork, Dunn said he’s mostly concerned about their health and well-being during the pandemic. 

He said he tells them not to stress if they’ve missed a day or two of work due to personal circumstances.

“I want them to be in a place where they can feel comfortable, whether that’s online or in the classroom,” Dunn said. “I really think it’s important that they have fun and learn at the same time.”

As for being nominated to be featured in the Sudbury.com awesome educator series. Dunn said he’s incredibly humbled. “I just feel like I’m doing my job, and part of that is just making sure the kids are happy,” he said.

Do you know of an educator who has gone above and beyond for their students as learning moved mostly online during the pandemic? Send your nominations to [email protected].

Be sure to include their first and last name and where they work so we can get in touch with them.

Please note these educators could teach anything from daycare or kindergarten, to grade school, to high school, to college or university. 


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