Accomplishments .
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The Board of Trustees operates as a unit. A team. Decision making can only be made as a team, and once decisions are made, regardless of our individual vote, we must back the decision made. While we are elected in individual wards, once elected the focus and commitment is to the entire Black Gold School Division. As we operate as a team, identifying specific individual accomplishments is a little more challenging. Below are some highlights of my contributions over the past four years: |
Community engagement
Board decision making is data informed; part of the 'data' is of course having an understanding of community perspectives. I appreciate the insights and communication with any and all constituents; all perspectives are valid and provide meaningful insight for decision making.
I truly feel that when we have the opportunity to meet with any of our stakeholders, engaging and listening is more important than reporting. School Council meeting, for example, are a great resource of engaged parents whose voice represents a cross-section of the larger school community. I love regularly attending this meetings!
Early on in this term, there were a few of us new trustees who really championed increasing engagement in our communities. We established a new standing committee: Community Engagement and Advocacy. This committee meets monthly and has taken on a significant amount of engagement planning, communication, and advocacy. I have chaired this committee for the past two years.
We strive for a strong working relationship with the three local MLAs that overlap with the Black Gold boundaries. I am comfortable reaching out by phone or text to our MLAs whenever a need arises.
Locally, I have participated in a number of meetings and committees to keep in-tune with community needs/trends. Examples include:
I truly feel that when we have the opportunity to meet with any of our stakeholders, engaging and listening is more important than reporting. School Council meeting, for example, are a great resource of engaged parents whose voice represents a cross-section of the larger school community. I love regularly attending this meetings!
Early on in this term, there were a few of us new trustees who really championed increasing engagement in our communities. We established a new standing committee: Community Engagement and Advocacy. This committee meets monthly and has taken on a significant amount of engagement planning, communication, and advocacy. I have chaired this committee for the past two years.
We strive for a strong working relationship with the three local MLAs that overlap with the Black Gold boundaries. I am comfortable reaching out by phone or text to our MLAs whenever a need arises.
Locally, I have participated in a number of meetings and committees to keep in-tune with community needs/trends. Examples include:
- monthly invitation and attendance at school council meetings at Robina Baker, Riverview, and John Maland
- Devon Interagency meetings
- Early Childhood Development meetings
- occasional Town Council meetings
- Town of Devon State of Address
Communication
Communication is a big one for me. A common phrase from me is "it's one thing for us to be advocating for 'x' or doing 'y' - but our communities need to know about it as well!" I know this is one area where some feel there is never enough, however I am proud of the strides we have made and know we will continue to grow in this area. Some examples of increased communication include:
- For increased transparency, we have started posting our advocacy letters. I have been actively involved in the writing of almost all of these letters.
- We also started a trustee newsletter that goes out 4x per year (The most recent newsletters can be found here.). I have written the bulk of the content for these newsletters and have had so much positive feedback on this tool!
- Trustee newspaper column - last year we were able to secure a regular column in the Leduc Rep and affiliated papers. 6-8x/yr we publish info about a topic of interest. I have been an active contributor.
- Social Media - we have increased our social media presence dramatically, including many written and video messages from myself as Chair. (recent example)
- Parent emails have increased dramatically over the past few years - partly from increased engagement and partly as a result of recent hot topic issues. As Chair and spokesperson for the Board, I have drafted responses to the bulk of these messages.
- Board meetings are live-streamed and/or recorded and posted on youtube for transparency. Board Highlights are published monthly as a written summary of decisions made.
Hiring of the superintendent
Retirements in Senior Administration lead to significant turnover in these key roles over the past few years.
- In 2019 we hired a new Superintendent - the one and only direct employee of the Board. I proudly co-chaired this hiring committee.
- I also sat in on the interviews as a Trustee representative for the hiring of the Associate Superintendent, Business & Finance, the Associate Superintendent, Learning Services, the Division Principal, and the Director of Student Services.
Core values / strategic plan
After 10 years, and with the hiring of a new Superintendent, it was time for a strategic plan refresh. To initiate this process, we began by re-affirming our Core Values. I championed a process whereby we facilitated discussions at all school council meetings in order to get a cross section of views. This process was repeated with staff groups as well. The process, engagement, and feedback was incredible! By compiling all the data, we were able to not only re-affirm our Core Values - but also create definitions for each.
Strategic Planning can be hard work. Messy work. I staunchly defended the value of this work, and supported the process and those involved to work through it.
Strategic Planning can be hard work. Messy work. I staunchly defended the value of this work, and supported the process and those involved to work through it.
Leadership
Despite being a first term trustee, I served the bulk of this term in a Leadership role (1yr as Vice Chair / 2 yrs as Chair). Leadership is one of my greatest contributions to the Board; I worked tireless to elevate the Board to a new level.
I believe we have a responsibility to finish each term leaving the Board in a stronger position than it was at the beginning. Each Board should be better than the last.
I believe we have a responsibility to finish each term leaving the Board in a stronger position than it was at the beginning. Each Board should be better than the last.
trustee handbook
A legacy project left by this Board is the development of a Trustee Handbook as a point of reference for expectations and procedures. The Handbook has two parts - that which is published on the website, and a section that contains internal working processes.
Additionally, I am working on a supplemental handbook specifically for Board Chair. Transition of knowledge is vital and helps to maintain momentum and consistency.
Additionally, I am working on a supplemental handbook specifically for Board Chair. Transition of knowledge is vital and helps to maintain momentum and consistency.
Committee Experience.
2020-2021 BGSD Committee Representation:
- Board Chair is an ex-officio member of all committees established by the Board
- Chair - Salary Negotiating, Maintenance Personnel
- Chair - Bus Contractors/Custodial/Maintenance Board Advisory Committee
- ASBA Zone 2/3 Representative (all 4 years)
- Chair - Community Engagement & Advocacy Committee
- participated in the work of the Policy Review Committee
- Board Committee of the Whole
- Chair - Agenda Setting Committee
- Board Evaluation Development Ad-hoc Committee
2020-2021 Alberta School Boards Association Committee Representation:
- Edwin Parr Committee
- Superintendent Evaluation and Contractual Obligations Review Committee
- Board Chair Committee
Other Previous Committee Representation:
- Chair - Salary Negotiating, School Support Staff Personnel
- Chair - Salary Negotiating, Custodial Personnel
- Chair - Policy Review Committee
- Chair - Support Staff Board Advisory
- Alternate Director - Alberta School Boards Association Board of Directors
