Blog Posts

I think it is important for a Superintendent to try and stay connected to what is happening across the district and the broader community. While there are never enough hours in the week, I do my best to make regular rounds and to take in community events. And wherever possible, I like to share the good things I see.

I have been in my role as Associate Superintendent of HR for almost four months. While I am becoming more familiar with our district and our culture, I recognize that I am still at the beginning of my journey.  I am grateful for your patience and your warm welcome as I continue to get to know you and our work. 

There are no guarantees in life, but wherever you want to go or can imagine going, education is probably the best way there. How does a child in Kindergarten one day become an architect? How does a grade nine student become an arthroscopic surgeon or an agriculturist? How does one become an electrician or a chef? You guessed it - education. This is why I often describe education as the bridge to anywhere.

We are excited to be launching an employee engagement survey in October. The survey will be part of a broader employee engagement program. We aim to inspire everyone to be part of an ongoing conversation about how we work together to make this a great place to learn and work. Those conversations will inform priorities and actions.  

With my last blog post as superintendent (I still have a few more to write in my retirement), I would like to close with gratitude and appreciation for the many people with whom I have travelled this thirty-six-year path. I mentioned in my last post that it was because of the inspiration and encouragement of teachers, and one in particular, why I chose to become an educator. The journey to finding and fulfilling my purpose, particularly in leadership, has been filled with meandering adventures and learning. What resonates most with me are the people who have been on the journey with me.

The Abbotsford School District celebrated the 2023 retirees with a heartwarming retirement dinner held on June 7, 2023, at the Clarion Hotel. The event marked an opportunity to recognize the significant contributions and unwavering dedication of the retiring Superintendent, Operations Management, Administrators, Teachers, and Support staff who have devoted their careers to shaping young minds. 

With all the recent retirement festivities I have had cause of late to reflect on my journey in the education system.  One of the frequent questions I have been asked is why I decide to become a teacher “all those years ago.”  I have had occasion over the years to mention it on World Teacher Day, but for me, the decision had everything to do with my school experiences, and a challenge extended to me by a very special human being.

In previous posts, I have shared my perspectives on the spectre of systemic racism in education, particularly in relation to Indigenous Peoples. I highlighted two interrelated constructs related to this issue: epistemic racism (the idea that there is only one form of true knowledge) and the related “racism of low expectations” highlighted in the 2016 Auditor General’s Report.

The ABC (Above & Beyond Champions) Recognition Program was established in 2021 to celebrate our people and culture and recognize employees in four areas: Continuous Improvement/Innovation, Leadership Excellence, Supporting Student Success, and Team Achievement.