Greetings colleagues,
A few months ago, I encouraged you to vote and “choose your ultimate boss” in the election for your local School Board. British Columbia has 412 School Trustees. This past October, the people of BC elected 158 new trustees to a four-year term for the 60 Boards of Education in the province. That means almost 40% are new to the role! Just imagine if your school had this many new teachers starting in September – patience and support are the orders-of-the-day.
Well, last week I got a chance to meet many of your new bosses, as a guest of the BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA) at their New Trustee Academy. Held over three jam-packed days of learning, the event was a massive success with almost five-hundred people in attendance for the Grand Opening event. Better Boards, Brighter Futures was the theme for this first major in-person event for the BCSTA since the pandemic began.
Representing the BCPVPA in the welcome to the Trustee Academy World Café on Thursday, I had the unique opportunity to meet numerous trustees at the very beginning of the three days. After a brief Who we Are, What We Do, What Guides Us, talk, I offered to answer questions from participants at each table group. In keeping with my AIMS principle (Advocacy, Influence, Member Support), I was able answer trustee questions and advocate for the work and role of Principals and Vice Principals at the same time. The comments and questions followed similar themes: “What can be done to help our P/VPs?” (workload) and “Failure to fill is a big problem in my District. Can we work together to find solutions?” Trustees were overwhelmingly supportive of Principals and Vice-Principals. Having been introduced, I had many conversations with new and returning trustees throughout the Academy.
President Carolyn Broady, CEO, Suzanne Hoffman, and the BCSTA leadership team put together an amazing program. Participants were welcomed to the Academy by Trustee and Knowledge Keeper, Joe Thorne, as well as Squamish and Coast Salish Indigenous leaders and Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education and Child Care.
The event was remarkable with a host of educational leaders and luminaries presenting, including representatives from the Ministry, BCSSA, BCASBO, BCPSEA, FNESC, as well as UBC Associate Professor Dustin Louie, Shelley Moore, Lisa Zwarn, Parliamentarian Suzanne Craig, Dr. Charles Ungerleider, and, on the topic of Anti-Racism and Equity, BCPVPA members Beth Applewhite (SD41 - Burnaby) and Deena Buckley (SD39 - Vancouver). Quite a line-up, but that was not all.
The highlight of the entire three-day event were two keynote addresses. Chief Cadmus Delorme – Chief of the Cowessess First Nation, Saskatchewan – issued his own call to action. He delivered a story that asserted how Truth must prevail and be accepted before we truly empower reconciliation. At times you could hear a pin-drop, and at other times there was raucous laughter. His powerful and compelling talk ended with rousing and uplifting cheers.
The second highlight was from a more academic and cerebral source but was equally compelling. Michael Fullan inspired his audience with his talk on Leadership for System Transformation. Fullan confessed that in the past he felt that system transformation started at the top (top-down reform). However, he now contends that true and sustainable transformation happens from below. To quote Fullan: “Build the base. Mobilize the middle. Intrigue the top.” To further his point, he stated: “effective leaders are knowledgeable about the communities they lead.” At the BCPVPA, we couldn’t agree more.
Educator, trustee, district, or school leader, Fullan’s address had something for everyone. For trustees, he reminded and underlined them of their governance role, and what good governance means. Of course, being the academic, he gave his audience some choice reading for homework, which included: Spirit Work, by Fullan and Mark Edwards, The Principal 2.0: Three Keys to Maximizing Impact by Fullan, and The Governance Core: School Boards, Superintendents, and Schools Working Together by Davis Campbell and Fullan.
For the 158 new trustees and all the participants at last week’s New Trustee Academy, a whole lot o’ learnin’ was goin’ on!
In addition to the Trustee Academy, and some inclement weather that paralyzed traffic in the Lower Mainland for a few days, I did manage to squeeze in a visit with member, colleague, and friend Mike McGlenen. Mike was able to bring me up-to-speed on the issues (funding, governance, and audits) facing Continuing Education administrators. Mike’s email signature reads, President, followed by a whole lot of letters. Mike helped me unpack the letters – BCSDCEDA - BC School District Continuing Education Directors Association. Who knew?
As you prepare for the final week of classes before the break, remember to breathe!
Have a great weekend,
Brian
bleonard@bcpvpa.bc.ca
P.S.
Right after I had put my column ‘to bed’ for this week, and moments after sending congratulatory messages to the new and retiring Ministers of Education and Child Care, I received a phone call. Minister Jennifer Whiteside, as you know, has moved from the Ministry of Education and Child Care to the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions. Minister Whiteside took the time, during a very busy time of transition, to call me. She wanted to personally extend her thanks to the BCPVPA for being such a great and reliable partner in the work of supporting students, and especially wanted me to convey her appreciation to every Principal and Vice Principal in British Columbia for the tireless work they have done to keep schools open, safe, and welcoming places, and the on-going support for students during such challenging times. She was very effusive in her praise. Kudos to you all!
- BL