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“Ms. Poirier…I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, and the organization you represent, for the time, energy and expertise that you have devoted to [The Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence]…Thank you for taking part in the Prime Minister’s Awards selection process and for your commitment to excellence in education in Canada.”

“[Tiffany,] your uncompromising dedication to teaching inspires our students and helps them to succeed.  You are model of excellence whose high standards inspire your colleagues, parents, and your students…Thank you for your contribution to education in Canada.  You are a source of pride and inspiration for educators across the country.”

“…it is clear that you are passionate about your role as a facilitator of learning.  Engaging your students in inquiry-based, hands-on learning will empower them to explore their own big questions for lifelong learning.  British Columbia is fortunate to have teachers like you working with our students.  Again, congratulations Tiffany on your well-deserved honour, and, on behalf of all BC teachers, thank you for your hard work and commitment.”

“[Tiffany,] our province is fortunate to have teachers like you who will help British Columbia continue to prosper and grow.  Thank you for your commitment to enriching the lives of students in British Columbia.”

“Ms. Poirier, on behalf of Surrey City Council, it is my distinct pleasure to extend special congratulations upon receiving the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. The students entering your classroom each year will jointly share in this award, having the opportunity to shape their futures by way of your guidance and education philosophy.”

“Tiffany Poirier is an extraordinary teacher whose passion, creativity, and commitment to her work are unparalleled. She practices the current focus in gifted education, that of ‘gift creation,’ through her efforts to find every child’s unique abilities and foster those abilities in innovative, caring ways. Her encouragement of deep thought and reflective questioning and her own joy in learning encourage her students to reach for the stars.”

“Poirier brings passion to any conversation, especially one touching on teaching… She has flashing eyes, a clever sense of humour, and a rapid-fire patter that no doubt enraptures even unruly classrooms.”

“Tiffany Poirier is an exemplary teacher, researcher, writer, and educational leader. When I supervised Tiffany’s Master of Education capstone project, I was constantly amazed by her creative and energetic scholarship. Tiffany is consistently creative, critical, interrogative, articulate, independent, thoughtful, and diligent. Her research and writing are characterized by carefully planned goals, meticulous attention to details, and engaging discussion of educational implications. In all her teaching and writing, Tiffany sings with the voices of enthusiasm and commitment and hope.”

“Boy, I wish I had a teacher like [Tiffany] in grade four or five—might have helped me pass arithmetic as well as understand philosophy!”

“Tiffany Poirier takes inquiring minds beyond the classroom in just the ways that prepare her students for engagement in the world they do and will encounter in the rest of their lives. All innovations start in the mind, and building curious minds is what Tiffany’s teaching is all about.”

“Q is for Question is a marvellous resource for those interested in leading philosophical discussions with children. Presenting a wide range of philosophical issues in charming and witty rhymes, it is sure to delight children and their elders as well as spark debates about the most elemental matters. Tiffany Poirier is to be congratulated for her wonderful achievement!”

“I am thrilled about [The Teaching Coats] project, and honored to have some words that I wrote associated with it! These ‘Teaching Coats’ are a marvelous artistic translation of some ancient wisdom: I’m quite certain I’m going to have to make one for myself!…Tiffany’s students are lucky to have her.”

Boy, I wish I had a teacher like [Tiffany] in grade four or five—might have helped me pass arithmetic as well as understand philosophy!