Natasha Cochran Earns Teaching Excellence Award in Saskatchewan

A rural Saskatchewan educator has received Canada's Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence for her work at Willow Park Colony School near Tessier, where Natasha Cochran serves as both teacher and principal. According to cjme.com, she was recognized among 60 educators across Canada for innovative teaching methods, student achievement and education leadership.

According to cjme.com, Cochran teaches students from kindergarten through Grade 9 in a multi-grade classroom at a Hutterite colony school. Her students include learners developing English as an additional language, and her approach uses collaboration between different ages to build independence and confidence.

The award recognition cited Cochran's ability to turn varied classroom needs into learning opportunities. According to cjme.com, younger students focus on literacy and language foundations, while older students complete research projects, problem-solving activities and leadership tasks.

Cochran has connected lessons with practical experiences through projects involving a classroom market, baking activities linked to science concepts and identifying crops grown in the colony, according to cjme.com. She also incorporates technology skills, including online research, internet safety and creative digital projects despite limited resources.

According to cjme.com, Cochran's students have earned recognition in division-wide and provincial competitions, including art awards and Saskatchewan Hutterian Educators Association contests. Students have also contributed to annual writing publications, with some receiving recognition in international competitions.

Her leadership extends beyond her classroom through support for student achievement across her school division, mentoring teacher candidates and contributing to professional learning opportunities for educators, according to cjme.com.

Parents of students at Willow Park Colony School described Cochran's influence on their children's confidence and learning in a testimonial included with the award recognition.

"Natasha was like a second parent to our kids. She believed in them and their abilities, and that made them believe in themselves," said parents of her students.

The testimonial also highlighted how Cochran encouraged persistence and confidence among students through her teaching and support.

"She taught them to keep trying, trust themselves, and take pride in perseverance," said parents of her students.

According to cjme.com, the Prime Minister's Awards for teaching were established in 1994 and recognize educators through a national multi-stage evaluation process involving more than 100 volunteer evaluators. Cochran received the Teaching Excellence Award at the Excellence level in 2026.