I am very excited to begin another school year. I started teaching in 1984, 40 years ago at Hugh Sutherland School in Carstairs, Alberta. As a new teacher I had a desire to help my students flourish and achieve their dreams. My mother and my maternal grandmother both taught me to believe with effort and commitment a person could achieve almost anything. Over the years as a player, coach, school leader and system leader, I have come to learn that often it requires more than effort and commitment to flourish. You need hope, the kindness and generosity of others, and a team of people who share a common purpose that serves the good of others. The team can be tight knit, like an athletic team, or more loosely associated, like our community partners that share a common desire to help people in our community thrive. Whether it is colleagues in your school, from across the district, or around the province, we all benefit from working together if we are willing to be vulnerable, willing to follow – no matter one's formal position - and finally, being willing to risk and step forward to lead when necessary.
Working together takes a measure of humility, a willingness to listen, and remembering that it is a generosity of spirit that brings people together to share their time and talents so that others can flourish. I think of all my coaches, my colleagues who worked on projects together, my mentors who shared their wisdom. I think of my family who always supported me, sometimes sharing difficult to hear truths. It all contributed to who I am, the values I possess, and the leadership I strive to provide.
I think of the work we collectively do in Central Okanagan Public Schools in the service of our students. Many dedicated people lead from their position and make a difference in the lives of our community every day. Maybe it is a kind greeting as a student boards a bus, maybe wise counsel from a teacher or counsellor, maybe it is helping students lead a social justice project, or any other of the multitude of actions that people in our community do that lift up those around them. I am grateful that collectively we are helping so many learners flourish. I am grateful to our Trustees, our partners, our parents and guardians, to our learners, and of course to the dedicated staff who make Central Okanagan Public Schools a special place to work. Together we are stronger - Together We Learn!