“Kira is fiercely passionate about education and has this sort of balance with her students; while she was no doubt our teacher, we always felt that we could come to her with any personal matters that needed addressing. Middle school is tough. Sometimes you feel alone or like the homework is impossible, but she always instilled this connectedness. Her class changed my entire mindset about academia and helped me realize the common notion that knowledge is power. ”
— Eden Murray 3rd year Economics major, Yale University
“Kira created an environment for me to excel in school while also succeeding in sport. She uses real life scenarios to teach to new concepts, which kept me engaged, as well as effectively teaching me ideas. It was clear that she takes a full circle approach in her teaching and understands that her students have obligations outside of the classroom as well as inside” ”
— Jake Bean, Calgary Hitmen
“Kira is a strong female role model that inspired me both inside the classroom and out. She helped me work through my frustration and helped me to understand in a way no other teacher had been able to achieve. She knew the potential I had in her class and continued to push me beyond my limits. As an athlete, Kira made me realize how important academics were, not just for good grades to get into university, but for me to learn and grow as a person. ”
— Quinn Fieldstone
“Kira instilled in me a passion and a curiosity for social sciences and current events. This curiosity stays with me today and contributes to my ever-evolving personality, beliefs and education. She has been an important mentor in my life and has always made time to advise me on balancing health, collegiate hockey and strenuous studies. ”
— Stefanie Poland, Masters of Bioengineering student at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
“Kira is a passionate and experienced educator who has a great deal of experience working with student-athletes. She understands the demands placed on student-athletes in today’s world and is able to provide solid mentorship and guidance in her role as an academic consultant. Kira always has her client’s best interests at heart, and she works tirelessly to ensure that they are able to achieve success academically and athletically. She would be an asset to any student-athlete wishing to excel in all areas of their life!”
— Julie Murray, Personal & Leadership Development | Graphic Recorder | Facilitator | Mindfulness Advocate | Slow Crusader
“All the students who have had the pleasure of working with Kira will all say that she is a teacher they will never forget. Not only is she a fantastic teacher, who will challenge you to be your best while guiding you through the struggles of being an elite student athlete, but she is also one of the most genuine and caring people I have ever met. She truly cares about the wellbeing of each and every person she works with and thus works extremely hard to ensure her students are reaching both their academic and athletic goals. Her passion and dedication is something I will take with me through all my future endeavours. ”
— Kirsten Chamberlin, Bachelor of Science, major in Psychology at the University of Alberta
“As a young, aspiring tennis player Kira played a very important part in my development as both a student and an athlete. By working with her directly I learned how to properly balance my academic and athletic commitments to the best of my ability. Thanks to Kira’s dedication and support throughout high school, I was able to achieve my life-long goal of earning a scholarship to play Division I NCAA tennis in the United States at a top tier university. ”
— Alex Berdnikoff, James Madison University
“Kira remains to be one of the most memorable and influential educators that I have had over the course of my schooling. As a highly-competitive student athlete with an extremely demanding schedule, she worked with myself and my parents to accommodate my academics alongside my athletics. Kira ensured that I could juggle both my intense academic and athletic schedule by tailoring the content in a way that I could understand and comprehend it best. She asked the right questions, prodded at the right weaknesses, and helped ensure my academic success. I recommend anyone to her from a student-athlete perspective and truly believe she has a thorough understanding of how we best learn, both in and away from the game. ”
— Spencer Gunning, BComm ’17 - Finance, University of Calgary
““Kira Spence is the primitive reason I am now in my sophomore year of university, succeeding both academically and athletically, on my way to becoming an educator myself. Throughout my entire academic career she was the most influential role model I had the privilege of learning from. The thing that makes her unique among others is her genuine care and compassion for her students. Even after my years of being in her classroom had passed, she continued to make an effort to stay in my life and be a resource for future endeavours. I would not be who or where I am without her presence in my life. I owe my success to her ability to pull out my potential in a way I didn’t know possible. I hope the be half the person she is one day.” ”
— Emily Power, StFX University
“My son was taught Grade 7 & 8 Social Studies by Ms. Spence and when asked what he thought of her, his answers came in 5 words: Awesome, Energetic, Committed, Caring, Passionate. Really what more could a parent want for their child than to have an educator like Kira Spence?”
— Shelley Keane, parent
“I had Kira for grade nine Social Studies, and it was definitely one of the most memorable classes of my academic career. Kira went above and beyond to make herself available to her students. As a competitive dancer, I would often miss class for competitions or performances. Knowing that she understood my athletic commitments and was willing to provide extra help when I needed it, helped me successfully balance my academic and athletic responsibilities. ”
— Alison Wilson
“Personally, Kira has helped me learn how and what it means to be a student athlete. She educated me on how to set priorities and pursue the work that needs to be executed to reach my goals. She has held me accountable towards my character and work ethic and encouraged me when I needed to be encouraged. Kira has been one of the most impactful individuals in my life, and I would not be the young woman and inspired athlete I am today without her. Apart from inspiring, she has made my dreams achievable. ”
— Amanda Zeglen
“Kira was definitely a pivotal point in my education. I learned what it meant to keep an open mind and always find a different perspective. These sound like simple qualities, however Kira was able to teach me the importance of critical thinking in an unbiased means, which was truly an important step in my education. Kira is an awesome educator and excellent support for those who need it.”
— Mick Leahy
“Kira taught me at a crucial age in my educational development. She taught me how to critically analyze sources and to seek out additional ones to discover the truth. I truly believe that the values Kira instilled in me during my Junior High years made me a better person, and have shaped me into the person I am today. She may not be my teacher anymore, however; she remains a mentor in my life. ”
— Emma Pincott, Bachelor of Communication - Information Design student at Mount Royal University
“Both our son and daughter had the privilege of having Kira for a teacher over the course of 3 years. What sets her apart from all other teachers is her ability to make her students “think”. Constantly challenging them academically and expecting their personal best while supporting them as they pursue their passion in hockey and dance. She has a gift of being able to make a connection with her students and becoming not only an academic teacher but a life coach to them. Both of our children are better students and athletes because of her influence on them and for that, we will always be grateful to Ms. Spence and I would not hesitate to recommend her to any parent for their child. ”
— J. Raptis, Parent
“I would miss large periods of school due to travelling for soccer, but Spence always made sure to set aside time for me and other players who needed extra help. She was also the first teacher to try to teach students how to study, which is a tool some students do not figure out until university. With Kira, I found that I grew as a student and as a person because she constantly challenged us, and my public speaking skills improved drastically as I became more confident. I can honestly say that Spence is one of the best teachers and mentors I have had the pleasure of having. ”
— Nicola Dominicovich, graduating university in April 2017 with a degree in Pre-Health Biology and a minor in Kinesiology
“Kira isn’t just a teacher - she’s more than that - she’s a friend. She was someone who I felt comfortable sharing things with. It didn’t matter what it was about, it could’ve been my personal life or school related. Spence is by far the best teacher I’ve had throughout my schooling years. She actually made it fun to sit through class and it was always something to look forward to everyday. I think it’s amazing how she has an actual relationship with her students and she genuinely cares. Kira is a rock for her students, and an anchor to anyone who needs guidance, advice or any type of motivation to keep going when they’re at a low point. ”
— Isabella Marsden
“Up until my experience with Kira, I had always struggled with debating and public speaking. However, she made me realize that I actually have a passion and a talent for public speaking, and she taught me how to debate with confidence. I’ve graduated from high school, but I still apply these skills in different areas of my life each day. She’s the type of teacher whose lessons will benefit you throughout your whole life. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. ”
— Kailee Fawcett
“Kira is one of the most memorable teachers I have had thus far in my academic life. It is very clear that her talent for educating is driven by passion. As a student-athlete, juggling school is often very tough. Kira knows how to accommodate student training, or those who attend out of town competitions, tournaments etc. She puts thought and care into every single concept, as well as every single student. I feel very lucky to have had a role model like that. Her skills as an educator have stuck with me throughout junior high, high school and now into university. It is impossible not to love her. If every educator in this world was like Kira, then I don’t know a single person who would ever want to stop learning. ”
— Rachel Lowe, Kinesiology student at University of Calgary
“I am so truly grateful for Kira Spence. My daughter absolutely loved her and her teaching style. Christa always came home with positive things to say about Kira. She told me that more than any other teacher she had, Ms. Spence had prepared her for high school and more independent learning. She also made things easy to understand.”
— Nola Peacock, Intuitive Family Coach & Nola Peacock, Consultant, Bestselling Author, Inspirational Speaker
“The best part of my day was walking into Social Studies and seeing Spence light up as she taught us the in’s and out’s of the government and the the stock market. She truly has a passion for teaching and a zest for life that is contagious to all those that step through her doors. She knows the students on an individual basis and tailored the class experience to fit those needs, even though most of us students didn’t realize it at first. The effort she put in with each of us was tremendous. Kira is an educator of the highest pedigree and was the most influential teacher I ever had, her passion for teaching and learning puts her in the upper echelon of educators. ”
— Max Wutzke, Salmon Arm Silverbacks
“Kira is the most engaging teacher I have ever had. She continually sparks interest and ignites curiosity in her students. I was constantly on the road as a competitive athlete, and she taught me how to manage both my academic and my athletic career. Without her, I would not be the varsity athlete I am today. ”
— Ty Marks, Finance, McGill University
“Kira is the ideal teacher for any student athlete and is missed very much in the hallways of her old school. All her students admire her greatly not only for the evident passion she has for what she is teaching, but also for her unwavering commitment to her students and her career as a teacher. Kira put her own time aside to help students with balancing their athletic careers with our school work. All of her students are extremely grateful to her. Not only is she an amazing teacher to all, she is an incredible role model that I, among others, look up to. ”
— Emily Mikulcik
““Kira played an intrinsic role in my educational career, placing confidence in myself to pursue a degree in science this upcoming fall. She brought the best out of me not only in the classroom, but also in the human aspects of schooling. Giving her devoted, personal time to my learning, “Spence” has given me the tools to be an intelligent leader in society. ”
— Cody Campbell, Kimberley Dynamiters
“The first year I had Mrs. Spence was my first year at a new school. I was lucky enough to have her as my homeroom teacher. Spence has always been so welcoming and real with her students. She treated us as equals and I quickly became less scared of being the new kid because I knew she always had my back. Spence is an incredibly supportive teacher who helps build your confidence while teaching you the content. She played a big role in my success inside and outside of school. She’s someone who can help you balance all the demands in your life while giving you the confidence to take them on. ”
— Maddi Russell-Cowie
“Kira was an incredibly influential mentor in my education. As a former high intensity athlete with a hectic schedule, her style of teaching was engaging and effective. Her charisma, wit, and real-life application to education kept my learning interesting and relevant and helped balance my sport and academic career. ”
— Lorraine Lorenzo
““Ms. Spence is by far one of the best and most helpful teachers I have had in my education so far. She genuinely cares for each of her students’ success and is willing to put in extra time and effort to help them succeed. Her various methods of instruction and her thorough review of the subject made a huge impact on my achievements in her classes – and also helped me discover new interests. Ms. Spence was able to help me manage my assignments, even with a hectic hockey schedule, and I still use the skills I learnt at that time with my education now. She is a reliable and fun source for help with many aspects of academic essentials.” ”
— Alyx Chorney
“Spence is a great teacher and is very supportive of her students. She pushes them to perform to their potential and provides them with the tools to be successful. She helped me become successful academically and helped me become a better person. ”
— Joshua Lund
“Kira has made a huge impact in my life, both academically and from an athletic standpoint. She has an immense amount of drive and passion, which immediately rubbed off on me and all her other students. She has played a huge part in my development as a student-athlete who balances school and soccer. Kira displays such enthusiasm towards her subjects and I still remember and use every single one of her tips and tricks to this day. She always encourages her students’ personal and professional growth, on and off the field. ”
— Louka Marcoux
“Mrs. Spence is the most caring, and helpful teacher I have ever had. Throughout Junior High she always helped me find a balance in my busy dance schedule and school course load. She offered insightful advice and perspectives to various social and familial situations. Spence would always go the extra mile to see her students succeed - in academics, athletics, and socially. She is highly regarded and respected. Each student appreciated her optimism, wisdom and non-judgmental environment. To say the least; Mrs. Spence is the best at what she does. Her energy and determination to help youths find success is something she evidently takes pride in. ”
