January 17, 2022

Renewal and Optimism for 2022

The new year is a great time to take stock, reassess priorities and values, and set – or reset – goals.

The Public School Boards’ Association of Alberta is doing exactly that this month, as our Board of Directors holds its annual renewal meeting. We meet, review our three-year Work Plan and set our goals for what we want to accomplish over the next year and beyond.

The “how” is always a great topic of discussion. We will ask questions like, “How can we elevate the member experience this year?” “How can we increase the value of membership in PSBAA?”

We will look at new ideas for advocacy and promoting the public school system, speakers for professional development sessions, how to build on existing relationships and partnerships, and how to welcome new member school boards to the Association. Throughout the year, we will continue to put a strong focus on communicating the value of the public school system and the Association.

We will also commission more research specifically relevant to the Alberta public school system, maintain strong management of the Association, and build on our productive working relationships with fraternal education organizations and the provincial Education department.

A year goes by all too quickly, and it seems there is never enough time to accomplish everything on our to-do list, which brings me back around to where we start as an Association: with our values.

By putting Students First and focusing on our values of integrity, leadership, collaboration, innovation, stewardship, and influence, we can then prioritize our goals and decide on our action plan.

One commitment will always be a key part of our yearly work: advancing awareness and understanding of the importance of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and considering how each of us can positively contribute to reconciliation in our personal lives.

We are looking forward to the year ahead and all the opportunity and promise January has to offer.

Dennis MacNeil,
President