Via Dajana Fabjanovich and her Friday 5 Q and A initiative to introduce public school educators to one another throughout the district weekly newsletter this year.
Watch the out take (after the final credits) for a little giggle.
I will be including this in my About Me section, but as I enjoy seeing videos of my cyber friends to capture their character in a semi-live form, I know those of you who have not met me yet will emjoy this, too. Dajana made me look good. We had a lot of fun doing this, and I won’t tell you what she left out, but I should ask her for those clips for a few more out take giggles!
Background on the Edmonton Public Schools Friday 5
Communicators created the “Friday 5” video series in September 2009 to help the Alberta school district’s 7,500 employees feel more connected to one another. Communicator Dajana Fabjanovich says learning about her colleagues each week connects her to their shared mission. “It’s hard to know everyone,” she says. “I work in the hub of administration, and it’s neat to be able to do a ‘Friday 5’ on a teacher, because I feel more connected to the important work that we’re all doing, which is helping students.” The two- to three-minute videos are featured on the intranet every Friday, along with five employee Q&As. The videos are touted in a weekly news e-mail and posted on SchoolTube for employees’ friends and family to enjoy.
The five questions and answers provided with this video follow:
What words do you live by?
- Make it Happen (and, “Just how good is it?”)
What makes a person fearless
BELIEVE is the most powerful word in the English language.
- Failure: lots of it.
- Perseverance: lots of it.
- Confidence and Self Love: grow within as a result of the first two
- (and, of course, cooking, eating and learning about food and culture)
The number one item to do on my bucket list is.
There are three number one items.
- One is to go to Egypt and see Giza and go through the Valley of the Kings and all sites; and then further into Africa and stay in a village and be guided through the jungle; I just want to be immersed in the culture there. (and, of course, eat and learn about the food!!)
- The second is to go to Machu Picchu and breathe in the air standing in that sacred place, learn about these Ancient Civilizations, then travel into the Amazon (and, of course, eat and learn about the food!!)
- The third is to bake a bloody French Macaron with predictable success every time I attempt the recipe!
My philosophies:
1. Everybody’s BEST idea can always be made better by some body else.
2. If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.
3. Love is an action involved in making those you LOVE (and TEACH) better people; always evaluate every action by asking, “Is this edifying, or destructive?”.
4. (and, of course, COOK, eat, and learn about cultures through food!!)
Best gift I’ve received:
My husband: he is funny, and intelligent, and macho with an incredible ability to communicate with the sensitivity necessary to allow me to feel understood (yes, that is truly how good he is), and read my mind; he is also the most amazing sous chef (and I call him Chef Sous) in the world considering he does not even enjoy cooking. He just shares my life with me as I share mine with him. Humor is the glue of our relationship. It is not the foundation, but we laugh, and hard, every day. About all of the stupid stuff and then it becomes as trivial as it all really is. Then we take some time to verbalize (yes, out loud) appreciation for what we have achieved, accomplished and learned together. And apart. Yup, I am one very fortunate, “well seasoned” educator.
Tags: education
How nice Valerie! I got a chance to meet you today!
I think I would have LOVED you as a teacher! You must have been “teacher of the year” many times!
I used to teach but had zero passion for it and you do!!! Awesome;
Also do you know you have an amazing smile? wow!
Too bad you’re not teaching t at my son’s junior high school (Avalon). i’m sure you’d be one of his favorite teachers!! I love your passion for children and for teaching, it really comes through in your video. I agree that kids’ relationship with food these days is not from the source. Encouraging them and their families to cook more often at home is one step towards a healthier life and society.
Keep up the great work!
You have a very sweet voice
) And you take Beaver with you everywhere!!! LOL
You were so fun to work with Valerie! I think the Friday 5 video will give your readers a glimpse into who you truly are as an educator and foodie.
Happy noshing & teaching!
Yay for being on the Friday 5! I love that you have such a curiosity to learn about other cultures and their food. I totally agree with the comment above that you have a very sweet and friendly voice, such a gift to have as a teacher. Your students must warm up to you very quickly on the first day of school. You seem very passionate not only about teaching but also about learning as well. I would have loved to have you as a teacher! Your answer to the best gift you’ve ever received was so sweet. I admire couples who respect and lean on each other like that. You are a very inspiring person Valerie. Any school and student would be lucky to have you as a teacher! Keep up the great work!
This was great! Good idea to put it on your blog so we can all see it.
You’re INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You’re such a passionate woman, terribly genuine and sincere, and you just exude happiness from the way that you talk about teaching. I LOVE YOU!!! You make me want to go back to grade school again
Or, at least, consider teaching as a career. You truly truly look so happy in doing what you love — and I want to be just like that. 
“Friday 5″ sounds like a GREAT initiative. Seriously. I think our Biology department here at the University of Waterloo wants to do something like that. I’ll make sure they give credit to the Education System in Alberta.
Rock on, wonderful lady!
xo Aletheia
If you’re interested in Peru food, you should look at this if you haven’t already. http://bruleeblog.wordpress.co.....ano-salsa/
Valerie – well done on your feature – you speak with so much passion and love for what you do and for food – people like you can make a wonderful impact in so many young people’s lives. We need more teachers like you – I do hope that your video inspires more teachers.
Hey Valerie, I loved watching this video. You are such a sweet woman. And I really feel that the point you made about people not knowing about food and being so many generations away from the farm is an interesting way to justify the lack of knowledge that is so prevalent about diet, nutrition, and even the environment.
The Edmonton school district is lucky to have these programs with passionate people like you involved. Now if only we could get some of that here in Florida!
Awesome — so nice to see you ‘live’. It helps add more character to your other posts!
I did a 26 mile 3 day hike, but there are much shorter ones. The views on the hike are spectacular and as breathtaking of the site itself. I plan on taking one of these days, as she hasn’t seen it yet!
BTW — If you do macchu picchu, I recommend doing some hind of hike to get there vs taking a bus
–Andy
Nice to meet you! What a great idea, and a good way to connect. I meet a lot of people as a supply teacher, but sometimes never see them again. I’d love to see you teach-I think it would be very inspiring. And then we could cook something!
p.s. Thanks for the birthday wishes:)
Nice profile piece. congrats!
great vid, how beautiful you are..I loved meeting you in such a great way, I can really see your love for teaching, your video was filled with such genuine love for your kids and their future.
sweetlife
ps, I cut my little cakes with a small biscuit cutter, I also slightly froze them for easier cutting.
What a terrific feature and a great way for us to learn more about you!
Hey Valerie, I loved watching this video. You are such a sweet woman. And I really feel that the point you made about people not knowing about food and being so many generations away from the farm is an interesting way to justify the lack of knowledge that is so prevalent about diet, nutrition, and even the environment.
The Edmonton school district is lucky to have these programs with passionate people like you involved. Now if only we could get some of that here in Florida!