The 2018 Horizon School Division Excellence in Teaching Award recipient this year was Matthew Tan.

Tan is a 7th-grade homeroom math and ELA teacher, along with being the grade 5, 6, and 7 Phys Ed instructor at Watrous Elementary School. Tan has also coached multiple sports, as a part of the extracurricular programs for the students, ranging in everything from football to badminton. He says his two favorites to coach were 'soccer and basketball, having played both throughout his years in school, including being a member of the Saskatchewan Huskies soccer team.'

Tan was nominated by fellow colleagues at Watrous Elementary and was "humbled and excited" when he was able to read the reference letters that were involved in the nomination process by students and co-workers.

When asked about his teaching methods, Tan said, "I am known to be very interactive, I like to have fun and bring neat activities to the class. I like to know my students and focus on their individual needs."

The Excellence in Teaching Award is given out every year to a teacher who distinguishes themselves through their teaching, model the beliefs and ideals of the profession, and raises the status of the teaching profession.