EMSB honors three teachers at Merton School ceremony

On the occasion of English Montreal School Board Teacher Recognition Day, three  teachers were  presented with special awards at Merton Elementary School in Côte Saint-Luc.

The EMSB launched this ceremony more than a decade ago to coincide with National Teachers Day in the United States and recognize this profession towards the end of the academic year. May 7 was the actual day of celebration.

There were many nominations from parents for the awards.  Zoey Bennett from Bâton Rouge Grillhouse and Bar, known for its famous ribs and exceptional steaks at locations across the country, presented $100 gift cards to  Pascale Lallouz, a Kindergarten teacher at Merton; Michael Dorais-Bunn, a physical education and health teacher at Marymount Academy International in NDG; and  Elias Tanbe, a computer graphics teacher at Wagar Adult Education Centre in Côte Saint-Luc. The ceremony will be featured on CityNews Montreal, a partner for this endeavor since the very beginning.

Pascale Lallouz.
For over three decades Pascale Nizri Lallouz  has devoted herself to teaching, with the past 28 pent shaping young minds in kindergarten at Merton Elementary School in Côte Saint-Luc. Remarkably, she still teaches in the same classroom, Room 3, a space has become a second home for her and a foundational stepping stone for hundreds of children beginning their educational journey.

Prior to joining the Merton family, Ms. Lallouz began her career at Royal Vale Elementary School, teaching Grade 6 for one year. She then moved onto Edinburgh School for four years, teaching Grade 2 for the first two years before finally settling into kindergarten.

Born in Morocco and raised in Montreal, Ms. Lallouz is herself a product of the EMSB system, having attended Elizabeth Ballantyne Elementary and Wagar High School. Her personal story comes full circle: from being a shy kindergartner who didn’t speak English to becoming the type of loving, empathetic teacher who gives her own students that same sense of safety and joy she remembers so vividly.

"Kindergarten is my happy place," says Ms. Lallouz, reflecting on her love for teaching. ‘’I especially love singing and dancing with my students, and watching them grow, learn, and shine."

Principal Rosana Caplan once remarked to Lallouz that “Her classroom is a wonderland for young students, with her being devoted to every aspect of their well-being.”

Ms. Lallouz’s teaching philosophy is deeply rooted in her family's legacy of education. Her mother, Denise Nizri, a retired EMSB French teacher, was her greatest inspiration. The two even had the rare privilege of teaching side by side at Edinburgh School, sharing not only a vocation but countless cherished memories.

“I grew up watching my mother teach, visiting her classroom, and helping with her plays,” added Ms. Lallouz. “She has always been my role model and continues to be my greatest inspiration.  One of the most meaningful moments of my career was getting to teach alongside my mom while we were both at Edinburgh School. It was incredibly special to have her as a colleague. To this day, I meet parents of my students who had her as their Grade 6 teacher. My mom and I continue to share stories and our deep passion for education.”

Ms. Lallouz’s husband also dedicated his life to education, recently retiring after 37 years as a French teacher in the CSDM (now CSSDM).

In the classroom, Ms. Lallouz embraces a balance of structured learning and play. Her days begin with heartfelt greetings and circle time, followed by hands-on learning, creative exploration, and social-emotional development. Whether through math games, phonological awareness activities, or building blocks, every moment in her classroom is infused with intention and love. Yet, she acknowledges the challenges of meeting the diverse emotional and behavioral needs of her students. "It takes patience, flexibility, and a lot of heart," she says. "But I truly believe that anything is possible—especially in kindergarten."

Ms. Lallouz’s story is a testament to the power of passion, persistence, and presence. She has not only taught generations of students but has also mentored countless families, many of whom remember her not just as a teacher but as a partner in their child’s earliest school years.

As the EMSB community comes together to honor Mme. Pascale, as she is affectionately known, it celebrates more than just years of service—it celebrates a legacy of compassion, creativity, and commitment that will resonate for years to come.

“[I will never forget] my very first day teaching kindergarten. I was both nervous and excited, and I remember looking at those little faces and realizing how lucky I was to be part of their first school experience,” added Ms. Lallouz. “Over the years, I’ve grown so much—not just as a teacher, but as a person. I’ve come to understand that this is truly my calling. This is exactly where I’m meant to be. I feel incredibly lucky and honored to spend my days with kindergarten children, and I truly can’t imagine doing anything else.”

Michael Dorais-Bunn
Mr. Dorais-Bunn started teaching, unofficially, at the age of 18 for a company called Science Frontiers.  They went to schools, daycares, and summer camps and ran science and nature classes with folks aged three to 99.  He began working in education at the age of 27 when he ran the Joining Forces Project at the former  Father MacDonald High School in St. Laurent, moving on to St. Pius X in Ahuntsic, John Grant High School in Côte Saint-Luc and then Marymount   in 2003-2004.

Why did he become a teacher?   “Honestly,  I fell into it,” says Mr. Dorais-Bunn. “I intended to be a lawyer, and when that didn't work, I was a bit adrift.  However, having worked in education with Science Frontiers for about seven years at that point, I felt I could bring a disciplined and fun style to education that would allow for student growth and development.  Thankfully, fate knew better about what my career should have been than I did.

As for what he likes best about his job, Mr. Dorais says that hands down it is the students.  “They keep me alive and wanting to come to Marymount every single day,” he says. “ They are why I arrive early and leave late; they keep me young at heart   and bring joy to my life.”

Mr. Dorais-Bunn lauds Marymount for being blessed to have a ton of students involved in leadership, sports and much more.  “Since I am involved in most of these things, I arrive early and stay late,”  he says. “The kids have needs, and it is up to us to help fulfill those needs, be they emotional, intellectual or physical.  I have a pack of kids in the gym area every single lunch and we provide a fantastic and fun area for the incredibly positive energy they bring.  So, I usually get to work around 8:30 am if I do not have tutorials and teach three classes per day    I  have Leadership after school on Mondays, basketball after school on Wednesday, badminton after school on Thursday, and archery after school on Friday.   My wife made me promise to come home after school on Tuesdays, and I try to do that, although I have been known to cheat and stay for some volleyball with colleague Richard Ouwendyk's team.   I happily choose these days because of my kids.”

 As a parent of two children at Marymount and a member of  the Governing Board, Naomi Balardelle  nominated Mr.  Dorais. “He is a constant and reliable presence for all students  and he sets a high bar for sportsmanship, leadership and commitment to our school,” she says.

Elias Tanbe
Mr. Tanbe began teaching in 2013 while living in Algiers, focusing on   Art Theory to first-year Fine Arts students at the university level and simultaneously at a private School of Art and Design. He launched his EMSB career at the EMSB in March 2017 as a computer graphics teacher at Rosemount Technology Centre and continued in the same role at the Shadd Health and Business Centre. For the past four years, he has been working full-time as a Socio-vocational Integration teacher at Wagar Adult Education Centre.

Born in Lebanon, Mr. Tanbe studied at the American University there. “I’ve always had a passion for travel and discovery, which led me to live in North Africa and Europe before settling in Montreal eight years ago,” he says. “Nothing motivates me more than learning something new. Whether it’s theoretical or practical, simple, or complex, if it’s unfamiliar, I’m intrigued. I’ve always wanted to share that same passion with others, and I believe the classroom is the perfect space to do that.”

Mr. Tanbe says that one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching is seeing students’ expressions when a complicated topic  like web development, is broken down clearly. “When their faces light up with understanding, and you can tell they want to learn more, that’s the best feeling in the world,” he says. “That moment of connection is what it’s all about: transferring passion.”

Mr. Tanbe works  primarily  with a group of 18 to 20 neurodiverse students in computer graphics. “I arrive early because my students do too; they’re just as excited to begin the day as I am,” he says. “ I’ve developed unique routines for each day of the week and foster an individualized learning environment where students work at their own pace. Still, we often engage in collaborative projects that reflect the teamwork required in real-world job settings. My approach is humanistic: I’ve created an office-like classroom space where students feel comfortable to explore, create, and learn. I guide rather than instruct, focusing heavily on student-centered learning. We end each day with group self-reflection, during which students share what went well and what they aim to improve tomorrow.

“My biggest challenge is aligning students’ strengths with their personal goals, the objectives of the program, and creating a truly inclusive environment where they can grow and lead fulfilling, autonomous lives. The number of variables is high, which makes differentiation in my program especially demanding. Another significant challenge is helping students build self-esteem, something that takes time, careful planning, and sensitivity, but is absolutely essential to their development. In addition one of my personal challenges stems from my own philosophy: I always feel that I haven’t delivered my best yet. This mindset pushes me to constantly reflect and improve—I wake up every day driven by the desire to do more, to give more, and to become a better educator for my students.”

Wendy Singer, Managing Editor of Inspirations Newspaper, nominated Mr. Tanbe. “We partnered with Elias four years ago to create a collaborative internship program between Inspirations and Wagar's Computer Graphics program,” she said, speaking on behalf of the publication which focuses on special needs and mental health. “We have welcomed two sets of interns for six months each year for the past four years. In a real-time work setting, they practice graphic design and become proficient in web updating. 

“Elias is an excellent teacher. We can tell by what the students already know when they begin their internships and the creative projects and assignments that they tell us about. But more so, the students really respect and trust him and to me, it seems that he is not only a teacher;  he is also their mentor and guide.

Watch this report on CityNews Montreal: https://vimeo.com/1082352313

About the English Montreal School Board
With a youth and adult sector population of more than 35,000 students, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is the largest English public school board in Quebec. Established on July 1, 1998, when the province created new boards along linguistic lines, the EMSB network consists of 73 schools and centres. For more details, visit the EMSB website at www.emsb.qc.ca