TEXT SIZE: A A A A

Renfrew County resource teacher receives provincial honour for excellence in Catholic education

Tony Cosentino, Religious Education and Family Life Resource Teacher for the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board (RCCDSB), has been honoured with the Archbishop Philip Pocock Award for outstanding contributions in the field of Catholic Religious Education.

Cosentino received the provincial honour at a special ceremony in Toronto on May 13.

“This is an award I share with my peers, who have helped me become the teacher that I am today,” he says. “Part of them is in this award as well.”

Michele Arbour, Director of Education for the RCCDSB, says Cosentino’s collaborative approach and authentic dedication to Catholic Education make him an ideal recipient of the distinction.

“Tony has written materials that have been used throughout North America,” Arbour says. “He inspires all of us in Renfrew County with his calm, steady Catholic presence.  His humility and strong faith have inspired many.

The Archbishop Philip Pocock Award is presented on an annual basis to recognize a Catholic school Religious Educator who demonstrates excellence in their care and commitment to engaging and supporting student learning in Religious Education and faith formation. Other criteria for the award include knowledge and demonstration of best practices in Religious Education and faith formation, innovations in the practice of Religious Education and faith formation, ongoing contributions beyond the classroom, leadership in initiating and sustaining new opportunities in Catholic education, and continuous updating and improving of personal practice as a Religious Educator.

While he appreciates the recognition, Cosentino says his focus is on making a difference through his day-to-day work.

“Seeds are being planted, that’s what’s most important to me,” he says. “I’d like to see the faith of every student and staff member involved with our Catholic school system come alive.”

Cosentino has been working with the RCCDSB since 1996. From 1996 to 1999 he served as Pastoral Animator for the Catholic school board at Madawaska Valley District High School. In 1999 he assumed his current position as Religious Education and Family Life Resource Teacher.
He has worked on a wide range of projects over the years, including co-writing “A Place of Honour”, a Catholic educator’s resource for working with students at risk, and developing an RCCDSB website with a multitude of resources for Religious Education and Family Life programs, as well as adult faith development materials and school prayers for all occasions and circumstances.

Cosentino was a member of the development team for the Eastern Ontario Catholic Curriculum Cooperative’s Curriculum Support for Catholic Schools, and he led the writing team that recently developed “Our Language, Our Story”, a Catholic character development resource for Catholic schools that has been launched at the provincial level.

- 30 -

May 17, 2010

For further information, please contact:
Michele Arbour, Director of Education
Renfrew County Catholic District School Board
499 Pembroke Street West
Pembroke, ON  K8A 5P1
Phone:  613-735-1031 or 1-800-267-019l