Embracing the Journey: Reflections from the New Associate Superintendent of HR

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. 

The greatest takeaway from my first stretch in this role is that the employees of Abbotsford School District are incredible. The dedication and passion of our employees in creating a nurturing environment in which our students can learn and thrive, is beyond measure. I have been overwhelmed by my admiration for everyone I have had the privilege to meet in my travels to various schools and district sites. I love hearing your stories and observing you in your workspaces.  

Working in education is not simply "a job" it is truly a calling, and I am honoured to have the opportunity to contribute to making Abbotsford School District a place of belonging, engagement, and support so that our employees and students can continue to grow and thrive. I recognize how challenging it must be to work in education in today’s world. Our role in HR is to provide you with the support and tools you need to succeed in your roles while keeping you safe and healthy.

As I look ahead to the remainder of the 2023/24 school year, I will be working with the HR Team to continue delivering and developing HR programs to meet our goals in the 2020-2024 Strategic Plan. In particular, over the next few months, our focus will be on reviewing and refining initiatives that support:

• enhancing leadership excellence
• improving organization health

This process will include analyzing the feedback you provided in our Employee Engagement Survey as well as working with our Union partners, employee and manager groups, and other stakeholders.  Stay tuned for updates later this year.

In the meantime, I look forward to continuing to connect with you!

PATRICIA LA FRAMBOISE-LO, ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT
Human Resources Department