We are living and leading in what many have described as a new world order. Economic, political, and social systems are shifting rapidly on the global stage. Long-held assumptions about stability, growth, and certainty are being tested, and institutions everywhere are being asked to re-examine how power, opportunity, and responsibility are distributed.
At the World Economic Forum, Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke about equity as not merely a moral aspiration, but as a foundational condition for stability and sustainability. Systems that fail to attend to fairness, inclusion, and shared responsibility ultimately erode trust, and without trust, institutions struggle to endure. The message resonates deeply within public education. Schools, districts, and leadership associations are not immune to these broader shifts. In fact, we often feel them first.
This context matters as we gather to do the very practical work of contracts and professional learning.
At the British Columbia Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association, our mission is clear: serving members by supporting effective leadership in education through representation, advocacy, and leadership development. Embedded within our strategic plan is a firm commitment to employment equity; specifically, ensuring that fair and equitable terms of employment are in place that reflect the competencies, responsibilities, and needs of Principals and Vice-Principals.
Contracts are one of the most tangible expressions of this commitment and set the foundation for the relationship.
Employment equity in contracts does not mean identical language for every contract, nor does it mean lowering expectations. Rather, it means ensuring that the conditions under which school leaders work are transparent, reasonable, and reflective of the realities of the role. It means recognizing that Principals and Vice-Principals carry significant responsibility educationally, legally, relationally, and emotionally, and that contracts must acknowledge scope, workload, and accountability in ways that are sustainable and just.
Equity shows up in clear role definitions, in protections that recognize increasing complexity, in fair workload expectations, and in language that does not rely on informal norms or assumptions. It shows up when contracts are accessible and understandable, when negotiation processes are transparent, and when leaders, particularly those new to the role or from equity-deserving groups, are supported rather than disadvantaged by ambiguity or imbalance.
Importantly, equity is not only found in the final agreement. It is embedded in the process that gets us there.
As we enter this weekend’s contract workshop and professional learning sessions, I invite local chapter leaders to reflect deeply on the how of negotiation, not just the what. In what ways does your local negotiation process reflect the values of equity, transparency, and inclusivity? Who is at the table, and whose voices are amplified? How is information shared, and how are decisions communicated back to your members? Are emerging leaders being mentored into this work, or does knowledge remain concentrated among a few?
These questions are not about criticism, instead they are about alignment. Alignment between our values and our actions. Alignment between our strategic goals and our daily practices. Alignment between what we say about leadership and how we advocate for the conditions that make strong leadership possible.
Professional learning plays a critical role here. Contract literacy is leadership capacity. Understanding language, processes, and leverage empowers Principals and Vice-Principals to advocate effectively, not only for themselves, but for the colleagues who follow. When we invest in shared learning, we reduce inequities created by uneven access to information and experience.
In a world where systems are shifting and certainty feels increasingly elusive, our commitment to equity offers grounding. Fair employment conditions build trust. Trust sustains leadership. And sustainable leadership strengthens schools for students, families, and communities.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the contract workshop this weekend in Vancouver, as we continue this important work together—thoughtfully, collectively, and with a shared commitment to equity at the centre.
Onwards.
Dr. Shannon Behan
sbehan@bcpvpa.bc.ca