InspirEDFall 2023 The official journal of the British Columbia School Superintendents Association Canada Post Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 Culture of Curiosity Fostering a British Columbia School Superintendents AssociationRegister online in advance of each event: https://bcssa.org Join BCSSA in 2024! Spring 2024 – Westin Bayshore Vancouver, April 12 Summer 2024 – Fairmont Chateau Whistler, August 14-16 Fall 2024 – Westin Bayshore Vancouver, November 14-15 Autumn in Vancouver. Stock image.British Columbia School Superintendents Association 5 CONTENTS 7 A Message from the BCSSA President 9 A Message from the Minister of Education and Child Care 11 A Message from the BCSSA Executive Director 14 Fostering a Culture of Curiosity 20 Living Inquiry 26 From Inquiry to Action: Courageously Building the Inclusive World We Seek 33 Getting Curious About the Data in SD81 39 Begin (Continue!) Your Personal Learning Journey Towards Truth and Reconciliation 46 Index to Advertisers For advertising information, please email sales@matrixgroupinc.net or call 866-999-1299. If you would like to adjust the number of copies you are receiving, please email distribution@matrixgroupinc.net or call (204) 953-3497 – please be sure to mention the name of this magazine and your name and / or organization. GREETINGS FEATURES BCSSA’s The Spirit of Leadership document says, “A culture of inquiry is curious, transparent, and active. It encourages all members of a community to ask questions, develop plans, and to link inquiry with better life chances for the students we serve.” This issue builds on this important topic. Cover photo courtesy of The Learning Partnership.British Columbia School Superintendents Association 7 A Message from the BCSSA President, Teresa Downs THE BCSSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAPTER DIRECTORS I hope this message finds you well. I appreciate the opportunity to share a few words with you as we continue our journey to further enhance The Spirit of Leadership within our Association, the districts we serve and, within British Columbia’s public education system. The theme for this edition of InspirED is Fostering a Culture of Curiosity, and I believe this theme reflects the heart of what we stand for as educational leaders. A culture of curiosity is not merely a set of words; it’s a mindset, an ethos that permeates every facet of our work. It is curious, transparent, and active, encouraging all members of our educational community to ask questions, develop innovative plans, and most importantly, link inquiry to creating better life chances for the students we are privileged to serve. This culture of curiosity isn’t confined to theory; it’s alive in the daily practices of each of us. It’s in the way we engage with our students, colleagues, and communities. It’s in our unwavering commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and our dedication to providing the best possible education for each student. Furthermore, this culture extends beyond individuals; it is woven into the very fabric of our educational systems. It thrives in collaborative and shared systemic inquiry, where we pool our collective wisdom and expertise to drive positive change. As leaders in British Columbia’s public education system, it is our responsibility to champion this culture, nurturing curiosity at every turn. Our commitment to fostering a culture of curiosity is evidence to our dedication to ongoing growth, development, and improvement, to students and to the future of public education in our province. Within this edition, you will be reading stories from Fort Nelson, Nisga’a, Sea to Sky, and Rocky Mountain. You will also read about the new provincial association British Columbia Black Educational Leaders Association (BCBELA). Thank you to those colleagues who took the time to capture their stories, because of you we have the opportunity to learn and grow from your experiences. It has been an honour to serve you in the role of President of BC School Superintendents Association, thank you for this opportunity. Teresa Downs President, British Columbia School Superintendents Association Superintendent, SD74 (Gold Trail) British Columbia School Superintendents Association Write for Inspir ED If you would like to write for BCSSA’s magazine, please send a short abstract (25-50 words) to CEO Gino Bondi at gbondi@bcssa.org. The abstract should include author information and an overview of what you’d like to cover. Note that contributions cannot be product or company promotional, and must have a BCSSA member involved in the content creation.British Columbia School Superintendents Association 9 F all is a special time of year for those of us in education, and I know that a lot has already gone into the beginning of the school year for you, as you reunite with students, families, staff, and administrators throughout the province. As a parent myself, as well as the Minister of Education and Child Care, I feel with you the busyness and excitement and demands that come with this time of year. Since I began in this role, I have visited many school communities and had the opportunity to have important and meaningful open discussions about our education system. I look forward to meeting many more of you over this next school year as we build and grow our school system together. I want to acknowledge those of you in wildfire-affected and adjacent areas who have worked tirelessly to support your communities through this ordeal over the past months. Your cooperation and partnership have been an example to us all of true leadership and the real strength to be found in community between neighbouring districts. I know that global inflation and escalating prices have put extra pressure on families throughout B.C. To help alleviate some of that cost burden, last year our government put $60 million into the Student and Family Affordability Fund. I want to thank you for the priority you and your teams gave to recognizing and supporting students and families in need of extra assistance. I also want to thank you for working with us to expand your existing school meal programs, or build new ones where needed. Our government’s Feeding Futures program is a historic investment in B.C. school foods, and the partnership with you, your boards of education, and your staff and community partners is essential to ensure that all students are well fed and ready to learn. Our government is also helping with the cost of before-and after-school child care. We know child care costs do not stop when children start school, which is why we have introduced a made-in-B.C. solution. As of September 1, 2023, families with children in eligible child care programs will automatically save up to $145 per child per month. The challenge to recruit staff in key roles throughout the public sector is a barrier many employers are facing, and the current teacher shortage is being felt nationally and globally, as well as here in British Columbia. In response, our government is investing $12.5 million in funding from the StrongerBC Future Ready Action Plan to boost the recruitment and retention of teachers in rural and northern districts, and to support the recruitment and retention of Indigenous teachers. Some of this funding went towards hiring incentives this past summer to ensure districts with some of the biggest hiring challenges could find staff for this school year. We continue to work with our education partners on an overarching K-12 workforce strategy to alleviate staffing pressures over the long term. As we continue to work together towards ending systemic racism, we are proud to implement a new Indigenous-Focused Graduation Requirement beginning this school year. Thank you all for being leaders in this regard, encouraging your educators to make time for professional development opportunities that support this learning, and continuing to strengthen your districts’ relationships with local First Nations. Having a broader knowledge of Indigenous worldviews, histories, and cultures will help to build a generation of students who have a better understanding of and respect for Indigenous Peoples. Together, we are continuing our work to create an education system where everyone feels included, represented, respected, and hopeful about their future. Thank you for the excellent leadership you demonstrate in your communities as we work to provide B.C. students with the resources they need and deserve to thrive during their school years and beyond. Rachna Singh Minister of Education and Child Care A Message from the Minister of Education and Child Care Rachna Singh Minister of Education and Child Care Thank you all for being leaders in this regard, encouraging your educators to make time for professional development opportunities that support this learning, and continuing to strengthen your districts’ relationships with local First Nations.Next >