I have always been involved with the BCPVPA – through professional learning, through committees, through opportunities to connect and contribute – as I value high engagement. When I put my name forward to run for the Board of Directors, it was an opportunity for me to continue that engagement in a deeper way, to gain wider perspectives, and to meet colleagues from all over the province.
Stepping into my role has offered me all of that… and much more.
In many ways, the BCPVPA is like an iceberg. At the top, we see professional learning, member support, communications, events, and the many ways we come together as members.
But beneath the surface lies a deeper body of work.
The governance.
The advocacy.
The careful listening.
The decisions that shape direction, influence policy, and support leaders across the province.
Governance is an important part of the education system in British Columbia.
Serving on the Board offers a view into that deeper layer, and helps leaders to strengthen their understanding of governance in a meaningful and practical way. It offers insight into how decisions are made, how advocacy is shaped, and how systems are influenced.
Board work expands your perspective, connecting your leadership practice to a broader provincial context and aligning your work with the collective direction of education across BC.
Here is what I know to be true:
Across this province, there are exceptional leaders doing extraordinary work every day.
Many of those leaders would never think to put their own name forward.
Not because they aren’t ready.
But because they are focused on others.
Because they are humble.
Because they are dedicated to the important work in front of them.
Nominations are now open for the BCPVPA Board of Directors, and I invite you to consider your candidacy. When you put your name forward, you experience a broadening and enhancement of that focus. When you nominate a peer, you are signaling your support of their practice, knowledge, and leadership.
2026 Board of Directors Nomination Form
Who is that colleague who consistently lifts up those around them?
Who brings thoughtful perspective to complexity?
Who leads with care, integrity, and a deep commitment to their community?
That person may not be seeking the spotlight.
But they are already doing the work.
Sometimes, a new leadership pathway begins when someone recognizes something in us long before we see it in ourselves.
Our Association is strongest when it reflects the breadth, diversity, and wisdom of leaders across British Columbia. Our future depends on those who are willing to step into spaces where they can shape conditions, not only for their own schools or districts, but for the entire system.
So, before April 15, I invite you to do two things:
Consider asking two colleagues to nominate you.
Consider tapping a colleague on the shoulder.
Because leadership doesn’t always begin with a decision.
Sometimes, it begins with an invitation.
Onward,
Dr. Shannon Behan
sbehan@bcpvpa.bc.ca