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Mo Price
 Elmo
Cuthbert Price was born in Melfort, Saskatchewan. He attended elementary
and high school there and received his high school diploma from the
Melfort High School in 1945.
After
completing a year
at Teachers College in 1945-46, Mo spent many summers at the Universities
of Saskatchewan and Alberta
taking summer school classes. In 1957-58, he was granted sabbatical leave
to attend the
University of Alberta. He
received his Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of Alberta
in 1959. In 1969-70, Mo attended the University of Oregon where he earned
the Master of
Education Degree majoring in curriculum and instruction.
Mo accepted his
first teaching assignment in the Omand rural school in the Kinistino
School Unit in 1946-47. In 1948, he married Thelma McPhee, his high school
sweetheart. Mo and Thelma had three children, Robert, Mo-Anne, and Diane.
Mo joined the staff of the
Lloydminster Public School District in 1947. He served continuously for
a period of 35
years.
In
1948, Mo was appointed Vice-Principal in the elementary school system. In
1959, he was appointed Supervising Principal,
a position which he held
until 1966 when he was appointed to the position of Assistant
Superintendent. In 1968, Mo was appointed to the position of
Superintendent and from 1974 to 1982 capably filled the role of Director
of Education.
Throughout
his career, Mo has taken
an active and leading role in professional
organizations. Locally, he served as president of the Lloydminster
Teachers Association. He was a member of the salary negotiating committee
and served as S.T.F. councillor. Provincially, Mo served on the Joint
committee of Internship, which was established by the
University of Regina in 1968,
representing the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation. He also served
on the S.T.F. Ad Hoc
Committee on Teacher Aides and Paraprofessionals. He took an active part
in professional organizations such as CASA and SASDE having served on the
executives of these organizations. He served three years on the STFD
Advisory Committee on Teacher Education and Certification.
As
well as
demonstrating a keen interest in professional organizations, Mo found time
to become very actively involved in community matters. A keen sportsman,
he actively participated in fastball, intermediate hockey, tennis, curling
and golf. He served on the executive of the Lloydminster Golf Club in the
capacity of president and games captain. He organized and operated a
school minor hockey system and later when this was taken over by the
community served as Vice President of the Lloydminster Minor Hockey
Association. In response to a community need, Mo organized the Kinsmen
Learn to Swim Program, serving as chief instructor for several years. Mo
served several terms on the Lloydminster Recreation Board. He was chairman
of the North-East Alberta Winter Games which was hosted by the City of
Lloydminster in 1974.
Mo was also
active in the Boy Scout movement. He was a member of the Boy Scout
Committee which successfully comp1eted the building of a new Scout Hall,
as well as serving on the executive of the Three Rivers Boy Scout District
Council. Mo served on the Anglican Church Vestry and the Anglican Church
Hall Building Committee.
In
1976, in
recognition of his many contributions to sports and recreation in the
community, Mo was inducted into the L1oydminster Kinsmen Sports Hall of
Fame.
While
in the capacity of Director of Education, Mo played
a leading role in
initiating new programs in the
Lloydminster school system. A few
of the many innovations which took place under Mo's tenure
as Director of Education
were:
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the implementation of universal K-12 parent-teacher conferences.
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the development
and implementation of a comprehensive
outdoor education program.
-
the organization
of a school band program encompassing Grades 6-12.
-
the
establishment of a Work-Experience program for older students who were
having difficulty in coping in the regular academic program.
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the implementation of an effective parent volunteer program.
-
the introduction of school based budgeting.
Other developments worthy of
note during Mo's tenure as Director of Education include: the employment
of a full-time
speech therapist, the introduction of kindergarten, introduction of
computer 1iteracy programs, and, most importantly, the construction of
several schools to keep pace with the growth of
Lloydminster. He was instrumental
in the building of the Lloydminster Public School Division administration
office.
Mo was also
active in the area of Adult Education serving as Co-ordinator of
Off-campus Classes for the University of Saskatchewan from 1968 to 1974.
Mo will be remembered for his
excellent administrative capabilities, his keen interest and sense of fair
play in his associations with students, his firmness of conviction, his
ready sense of humour, and his unselfish dedication
to the cause of
education.
Mo Price earned the respect and
esteem of students, teachers, parents and peers during his distinguished
career as an
educator and through his countless contributions in minor sports.
[Photo
of Reunion of Mo Price students - June 5, 2004]
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