Blog Posts

Earlier this school year, leaders in our organization had the opportunity to learn from renowned psychiatrist, Dr. Shimi Kang on the subject of mental health and wellbeing.

“Now let us begin. Now let us re-dedicate ourselves to the long and bitter, but beautiful, struggle for a new world.” -- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The Above and Beyond Champions (ABC) Recognition Program is in its first year. The program recognizes our very talented and dedicated teachers, support staff, managers, and administrators throughout the district who make a difference every day and acknowledges contributions to our strategic goals, organizational values, and the culture of our schools and departments.

Nominations for recognition awards are submitted by peers and leaders in June, based on the following four categories:  

It has been my practice for the last few Januarys to make predictions about possible changes in the K-12 sector. This practice goes back as far as 2015 when I highlighted the top ten issues facing our education system and some things to watch for as we sought to transform it.

Pat Kennaley is a true difference maker. Her passion for the outdoors influences her teaching and inspires students and staff. Pat wholeheartedly believes that being in nature is essential for a complete understanding of self.  She regularly takes her grade 4/5 class to a local forest where kids sit in the trees and do their sketching or drawing.  She also takes them at critical times of the year to see when certain foliage is growing so she can teach the kids firsthand. They can experience learning in a way that a classroom can not replicate.

Many of you will know that I am a big football fan, (and an especially big Raider fan). The inspiration for my post this week does not come from Raider Nation, but from the Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith. If you follow the Seahawks, you will know that their Super Bowl winning quarterback, Russel Wilson was traded away and that most pundits thought that with back-up quarterback Smith at the helm, the team would be lucky to win half of their games this year.

At Abbotsford Senior Secondary School, our Career Aide, Stephanie Doan, has made a difference since 1991. Stephanie advises all of our students in Grades 9 - 12 to help them navigate high school and plan their next steps after high school.  Students appreciate her vast amount of knowledge about post-secondary pathways and her willingness to do whatever it takes to assist students on their journey. Mrs. Doan greets every student who enters the counselling center by name and takes the time to find out how their day is going.

I had the pleasure this week of meeting with around fifty of Yale Secondary’s Leadership 12 students. They are an amazing and diverse group of go-getters who help to make their school and community better through service. In addition to the work they do, they are also curious about leadership and routinely invite leaders from various parts of the community to talk about their roles and perspectives on leadership. This week I was the invited guest. Among the things they wanted to learn more about were my background, how I became superintendent, as well as the joys and challenges of the job.

We have chosen to highlight Ms. Chandra Antone, one of our Indigenous Support Workers at Godson elementary school. Ms. Antone is new to Godson this year and has overseen a smooth transition of embedding Indigenous culture throughout the day. Ms. Antone has developed a strong cultural curriculum and is regularly seen throughout the day engaging with classes by drumming, singing, arts and crafts, and storytelling. Additionally, Ms. Antone leads the school daily through the traditional Halq’eméylem welcome. Ms.

Technology is a positive, enabling force for parent engagement, student engagement, educator effectiveness, operational efficiency, student safety, and student achievement. The school district's Information Technology department oversees the innovative and ethical use of technology by providing digital environments that meet the evolving needs of our students and staff.