September 15, 2021
Challenge and opportunity in this fall’s return to school
Welcome back! I love the beginning of the new school year. I always have. It’s a wonderful time to reconnect with old friends and make some new ones. This September is different than most – partly because of the pandemic and partly because elections for public school board trustees are being held on Monday, October 18. As we navigate this latest wave of the pandemic, please know that public school…
June 30, 2021
Looking back, and looking ahead
Each June, as the school year draws to a close and summer vacation begins, I like to take a few minutes to pause and reflect on the past 10 months. There is always so much to be thankful for and to appreciate, especially this year. We have heard many stories of how our amazing K-12 school communities have risen to the challenge of learning during a pandemic. Students and teachers…
June 15, 2021
Celebration and optimism
Another Spring General Assembly (SGA) has come and gone for the Public School Boards’ Association of Alberta (PSBAA), and what a celebration it was! Even though our SGA was virtual again this year, we were determined nothing would dampen our enthusiasm and our spirits. As always, we were uplifted and encouraged after spending two days together. We were so privileged to have numerous guests in attendance, including our Education Partners…
May 31, 2021
A celebration of public school education in Alberta
This is such an exciting time of year for the Public School Boards’ Association of Alberta (PSBAA). Not only is it spring, with longer daylight hours and generally warmer weather, it’s almost the time of year for our annual Spring General Assembly (SGA)! Due to the pandemic, we will be meeting in a virtual setting again this year, instead of in person. However, the setting has not dampened our enthusiasm…
May 14, 2021
Provincial funding and accountability should go hand in hand
In my blog posts recently I’ve been writing about why it’s important to have democratically-elected public school board trustees. The Public School Boards’ Association of Alberta’s (PSBAA) third belief statement is that Public schools are governed by democratically-elected trustees, accountable to communities and to the province. This is important because together as a board, school trustees decide how to allocate their jurisdiction’s share of more than $8.3 billion in yearly…
April 30, 2021
Education Week and the importance of local decision-making
Education Week 2021 in Alberta is from May 3 to May 7. This is a great time to highlight the importance of public education and the equally important role of public schools – and public school board trustees – in their local communities. But our public schools do not exist singularly or in a vacuum. Each public school is part of a public school jurisdiction that is governed by a…
April 15, 2021
Diversity is truly a lesson plan for life
Diversity, equity and inclusion matter more than ever before – here in Alberta, and especially in our K-12 public schools. That’s why the Public School Boards’ Association of Alberta’s 7th and final belief statement is so important. “Public schools most closely reflect, embody, embrace and promote the diversity within today’s Alberta.” That’s a bold statement, but we passionately believe we need to do more than just reflect and embody diversity:…
March 31, 2021
Cooperation and collaboration benefit all students
This is an election year for locally-elected school board trustees in Alberta. It’s important to know the issues before you vote, and to choose the trustee – or trustees – who best represent you, your values and your concerns. Before you can make your choice, you need to know what your school board trustee candidates believe. That’s why I’ve been writing a series of blog posts on the Public School…
March 15, 2021
Student education AND well-being – an important balance
I have been writing about the importance of the Public School Boards’ Association of Alberta (PSBAA) belief statements. Our belief statements are especially important in 2021 – a school board trustee election year in Alberta. Our fifth belief statement is: Public schools nurture each student’s education and well-being within a supportive learning community. This is a critically important statement. I am passionate about student learning and making sure we as…
February 28, 2021
Why is it so important to have democratically elected public school board trustees?
This is an election year for locally-elected school board trustees. I have been writing about the Public School Boards’ Association of Alberta (PSBAA) belief statements, and why they are especially important this year. Our third and fourth belief statements are: Public schools are governed by democratically elected trustees, accountable to communities and the province. Public schools offer world-class education through innovation, diversity and equitable learning experiences. Together as a board,…