October 1, 2024

Promoting, Elevating and Protecting Public School Education

Welcome to a brand new school year! The start of a new year brings with it a sense of renewal, opportunity, and the promise of growth for our students, educators, and community, and I always look forward to this time. This year, PSBAA is particularly thrilled to launch our PEP Initiative, which will help us all Promote, Elevate, and Protect Public School Education in Alberta.

Promotion is the first pillar of our initiative, emphasizing the importance of public education in shaping the future of our society. Our goal is to increase awareness of the significant achievements but also challenges public schools face and ongoing efforts within our divisions. By sharing success stories, academic achievements, and innovative programs, we aim to highlight the incredible work being done by our dedicated teachers staff and boards province-wide. We want to promote the opportunities for improvement and help be a crucial piece when it comes to growth.

We are excited to announce our first topic for PEP: Public Schools are the Foundation for a thriving Society. This is a statement PSBAA has been proud to stand behind and will continue to strive to create an environment where every student can thrive. Elevating the standards of education not only benefits our students but also strengthens our community as a whole.

A key aspect of this topic is its emphasis on community engagement. Every student has the opportunity to develop the foundation and skills to become a successful, contributing member of society. Public school systems welcome every Alberta student from diverse backgrounds and provide equal opportunities for all. Public school programs are designed to be inclusive, ensuring that every child, regardless of their socio-economic status, cultural background, or learning needs, receives a high-quality education. By highlighting this commitment, we will demonstrate how public schools serve as the foundation of our society, fostering a sense of belonging and unity.

The second pillar to this initiative, elevate, focuses on enhancing the quality of education for all students. This year, we are committed to providing our trustees, educators, and parents with the available resources and support they need to excel. Professional development opportunities provided by PSBAA will continue, ensuring that our member boards have access to the latest educational programs available.

The third pillar, Protect, underscores our commitment to safeguarding the integrity and sustainability of public school education in Alberta. This involves advocating for fair funding, equitable resource distribution, and policies that support the long-term success of our schools. We will work closely with government officials, community leaders, and stakeholders to ensure that public school education remains a top priority throughout the 2024-05 school year.

As we dive into this first topic of PEP, I invite each of you to embrace your crucial role as school board members and help drive these efforts forward by sharing, liking, posting and retweeting information as it becomes available. Together, we can promote, elevate, and protect public school education, making a lasting impact on our communities.

Here’s to a successful and inspiring school year ahead!

Dennis MacNeil