​At the 2023 JUNO Awards ceremony in Edmonton on March 13, SJASD musical maven Jewel Cassselman was revealed as the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award.

The Lakewood School music educator is the first elementary teacher to win the award. There have been 18 Award recipients to date since 2005.

Besides taking home an iconic JUNO statue and a personal cash prize, her win also includes a MusiCounts Band Aid Program grant for Lakewood School that will be used to purchase music resources and equipment for the school.

In a press statement, Jewel said she was honoured and elated to receive the award. “Thank you to my family and my students who inspire me to teach every day, and to all my colleagues and administrators who share my believe in the importance of music education for elementary aged students."

In 2013, Jewel applied for a MusiCounts Band Aid Program grant and used the funds to purchase Orff instruments for Lakewood School.

Jewel has been nominated four times for the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award. This is her first win. She plans to retire at the end of the 2022–23 school year.

The Award is made possible through the generous support of CST Foundation. MusiCounts is Canada's music education charity associated with CARAS and the JUNO Awards.

Congratulations Jewel and Lakewood School!