The Saskatoon Public Schools teacher who spearheaded the creation of the unique iGen intergenerational classroom at Sherbrooke Community Centre has received national recognition.

Keri Albert, lead teacher of the iGen program, received a Me to We Award in the educator category during the We Day Family event held in October 2016 in Toronto.

The Me to We Awards, presented annually by Canadian Living magazine and Me to We, recognize individuals who are making extraordinary impacts in our world. Albert led the development of the iGen program for Grade 6 students and helped create the partnership between the school division and Sherbrooke in order to make the program a success.

Albert conceived the idea of the iGen classroom while studying alternative education models as part of her master of education program. She worked with Saskatoon Public Schools and Sherbrooke to develop a program that would create connections between students and Elders and launched it in the fall of 2014.

"I became more and more passionate about the ways we can all live and work and learn together," Albert told Canadian Living magazine. "The children learn to have friendships with people of all ages and all abilities (and the elders) say the kids bring them energy. They bring variety and spontaneity into their lives, and give them new and exciting things to think about."

Now in its third school year of operation, the iGen program attracts students from throughout the city who spend most of their school day learning from and with the Elders who reside at Sherbrooke Community Centre. The goal of the iGen program is to create a life-changing intergenerational learning experience where relationships are fostered, kindness, critical thinking and life-long learning are encouraged, and future community leaders are empowered.

Elders share life experiences and wisdom and receive the opportunity to work with students as mentors and teachers, while students bring new energy and ideas to share with people living in the Sherbrooke community. There is a mutual sharing of values and the two generations serve and support one another during the learning process.

"They're awake to things they didn't notice before," Albert says of her students. "They have patience for people who communicate in different ways."

Sherbrooke Community Centre is a vibrant and caring home where people requiring specialized care reside. The care and service provided is based on the Eden Alternative philosophy, an Elder-directed approach in which residents direct their own lives and staff support them in their choices.

Read more about Albert's Me to We Award and the unique learning opportunity provided by the iGen program on the Canadian Living website.

Information about the iGen program is available at saskatoonpublicschools.ca/igen or sherbrookecommunitycentre.ca.