For thirty-five years I enjoyed a rewarding career as a teacher and school administrator in Squamish. More recently, I am proud to have served on the Board for the past nine years.
For thirty-five years I enjoyed a rewarding career as a teacher and school administrator in Squamish. More recently, I am proud to have served on the Board for the past nine years. During that time, I have been the vice-chair, and during the most recent four years, the Chair.
The past four years have been a period of significant positive change in the district. We have developed, in complete collaboration with parents and teachers, an education plan that reflects the aspirations of both groups for our children. It is a plan that is moving learning forward - learning that is active, relevant, integrated, community-based and fun. While the Board cannot take credit for the great work being done by our staff, it has established the expectations that have led to that work. For this reason, I am proud to have been a key part in these initiatives.
These changes are complex, and are not achieved overnight, which is why I look forward to serving the District again.
In addition to our new education plan, we have actual results to boast about. We have more than doubled our aboriginal graduation. Indeed, School District 48 now has the fastest improving aboriginal graduation rate in BC. This is a significant credit to our teachers, support staff, and, of course, to our aboriginal communities and families.
With much to boast about, we also have challenges to meet. We can and we will continue to improve overall graduation rates. And we must also ensure that those who do graduate, do so with courses and (more importantly) skills that provide them with the maximum number of attractive options upon graduation.
We are a district with great plans, great staff, and great leadership. We will continue to be a lighthouse District over the next four years, and I will be very grateful if the people of Squamish allow me to continue to make a contribution.
