InspirEDFall 2022 The official journal of the British Columbia School Superintendents Association Canada Post Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 British Columbia School Superintendents Association The Spirit of Leadership www.rainawakens.com / @rainawakens British Columbia School Superintendents Association 5 CONTENTS 7 A Message from the BCSSA President 8 A Message from the Superintendent of Indigenous Education for the Ministry of Education and Childcare 9 A Message from the BCSSA Executive Director 12 Telling our Story: The Journey of The Spirit of Leadership 14 Helping Kids and Communities: Stewardship for the Future of all Children 19 An Openness to Seeing the World from Other Perspectives: Contextual Literacy 21 Deepening Understanding and Enhancing Learning: Aligning Structures with Vision for Learning 26 Creating a Passion for Learning: Fostering a Culture of Curiosity and Inquiry 28 Growing the Capacity of Self and Others: Student-Led Experiences Bring Community and School Together 30 Index to Advertisers For advertising information, please email sales@matrixgroupinc.net or call 866-999-1299. GREETINGS FEATURES This issue’s cover features artwork from Rain Pierre, a member of the Katzie First Nation and the artist who brought BCSSA’s The Spirit of Leadership document visually alive. Throughout this issue of InspirED you’ll learn from Rain how each animal shown on the various paddles connects with the five competencies included in The Spirit of Leadership. He explains, “Each competency has a paddle dedicated to it, but it can also be viewed as a feather. The intention of the paddles / feathers is to resemble flight. We must be prepared to take flight and spread our wings to see the world from a new angle. We must be able to see the whole picture in order to make systematic change for our people and build better relationships.” You can connect with Rain on his website www.rainawakens.com, or through social media (@rainawakens on TikTok and Instagram).British Columbia School Superintendents Association 7 A Message from the BCSSA President THE BCSSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAPTER DIRECTORS T homas King says, “The truth about stories is that that’s all we are.” The British Columbia School Superintendents Association (BCSSA) has existed for over 100 years, and our association has a lengthy story. The narrative of the association would include a long list of characters, plots, twists, and likely a few run on sentences. The release of The Spirit of Leadership marks a new chapter in the story of BCSSA. Each of you will write the pages of this chapter, individually and collectively, as we seek to explore and deepen our leadership competencies to benefit our students, their families, and the communities we serve. If Thomas King was right and stories are all we are, then I am grateful that the current membership of BCSSA will leave such a positive mark on the story of this association. I hope that The Spirit of Leadership positively influences your story as a leader. Yours truly, Teresa Downs President, British Columbia School Superintendents Association Superintendent, SD 74 (Gold Trail) Spring 2023 - Westin Bayshore Vancouver, April 21 Summer 2023 – Fairmont Chateau Whistler, August 16 - 18 Fall 2023 – Westin Bayshore Vancouver, November 16 - 17 BCSSA in 2023! Join 8 ED ❚ Fall 2022 Inspir O ne of the many, many practices of the Indigenous Peoples of British Columbia that I love, is that of expressing gratitude. Thanks is given at the beginning and end of each day, before – in the middle – at the end of ceremony, to the people, the ancestors, the land, and the animals. We don’t need to turn to eastern philosophies to learn that fostering gratitude is a way to foster mental well-being. Local Indigenous peoples carry the knowledge of this wise practice. As the days grow shorter, and we prepare for the winter, there is so much to be grateful for; fish for canning and smoking, fruit for jam, summer holiday memories of time with family and friends, and the purpose and meaning we find in the work we do. We are fortunate to be part of one of the very best education systems in the world, to be leaders in the work, to demonstrate courage while navigating an ever-changing environment (COVID-19, floods, fires, teacher shortages), and to have the opportunity for deep listening to parents, teachers, school support staff, operations folks, trustees, ministry. We are working hard to achieve respect for all. Uy’skweyul Siem nu Siiyeyu. Good day my respected friends. Enthu Swee’alt. My hul’q’umi’num name is Swee’alt. It is the name of my grandmother’s sister (Irene Griffiths) and my great grandmother (Alice Alec). I am the daughter of Kwatleematt (Jane Marston) and David Marston. My paternal grandparents were Bernice Brummit and Maynard Marston. I am the daughter of a welder and nurse, granddaughter of fishermen and women, loggers, Cowichan knitters – people who lived in close relationship with the land. I have lived my life in the Cowichan Valley, hul’q’umi’num lands that have not been surrendered. I have been an educator for over 25 years and currently serve as the Superintendent of Indigenous Education for the Ministry of Education and Childcare. This introduction is another Indigenous practice that I love. As said by Jo Chrona in Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies, “Acknowledging the relationality of who we are, who we are connected to, and where we are, models Indigenous values of kinship ties, connections to land, our position A Message from the Superintendent of Indigenous Education for the Ministry of Education and Childcare Denise Augustine Superintendent of Indigenous Education for the Ministry of Education and Childcare in history and our roles in present relations. It also recognizes and reaffirms the land-based connections of Indigenous Peoples. It asks us to think about not only the land and place we are on, but also the role of colonization in claiming that place, and implications for identity and belonging for all of us.” As we learn more, we are called to do better, to do different. We used to think that it was enough to read a book with images of First Nation tools or regalia. Now we know that we need to find books written by Indigenous authors accurately depicting the diversity of Indigenous Peoples in the province. We used to think it was enough to learn about Indigenous peoples. Now we know that we need to learn from Indigenous peoples. We used to think it was enough to help Indigenous children and youth fit into the education system. Now we know that it is our job to evolve the system to fit Indigenous learners. We used to think Indigenous Peoples were just another special interest group. Now we know that Indigenous Peoples must have a say over the education of their children and that First Nations of British Columbia are governments and we must respect them as such. We used to think our education system was fair and equitable. Now we know that we still have more work to do to MAKE our system fair and equitable for ALL. Another powerful practice of Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia is that of recognizing the gifts in ourselves and each other and using those gifts to create a world fit for inheritance by those who will follow. Thank you for sharing your experience, skills, and knowledge as an educational leader. Thank you for standing up and providing guidance and wise council, for asking the questions that need to be asked, and for bravely leading change on behalf of those who have been marginalized for too long, for navigating an ever-changing landscape (COVID-19, floods, fires, teacher shortages, and the list goes on). Thank you for your active role in raising our children. The actions you are taking today will impact generations to come. Huy tseep q’u siem nu siiyeyu. Denise Augustine Superintendent of Indigenous Education for the Ministry of Education and Childcare We used to think it was enough to help Indigenous children and youth fit into the education system. Now we know that it is our job to evolve the system to fit Indigenous learners.British Columbia School Superintendents Association 9 O ne of the challenges I find in writing these articles, is that publication deadlines require us to compose our thoughts much in advance of the actual release of each magazine. This requires a forward-thinking approach – one that we, as system leaders, do each day in our districts to best provide Stewardship for the Future of all Children – which is one of BCSSA’s Leadership Competencies. As I reflect upon the theme for this edition, The Spirit of Leadership, nothing could be truer than this moral purpose that drives us. As per this competency, “our eternal purpose is to embrace the challenges ahead, and to have the courage to create a future that is inclusive, just, and sustainable.” While none of us have the ‘crystal ball’ that would be so useful to predict the future, our students count on us to see a future vision that is for them, not us, and it is incumbent upon us to focus our decision making, actions, and professional learning to supporting their futures. The strategic plan for the British Columbia School Superintendents Association (BCSSA) focuses on four key areas: leadership, voice, equity, and support, and I would argue that all four of these are essential to the stewardship for the future of all children. Leaders ARE visionaries – and as such, you as leaders see a future that doesn’t yet exist and put plans in place to allow your students to flourish. At our August Summer Leadership Academy in Whistler, the leaders who graciously wrote the articles for this journal, courageously shared their thoughts about what each competency means to them. I am grateful for their dedication in sharing A Message from the BCSSA Executive Director The strategic plan for the British Columbia School Superintendents Association (BCSSA) focuses on four key areas: leadership, voice, equity, and support, and I would argue that all four of these are essential to the stewardship for the future of all children. Claire Guy Executive Director British Columbia School Superintendents Association SD19 – Superintendent, Mike Hooker SD27 – Director of Instruction - Education, Dean Coder SD23 – Director of Instruction, Peter Molloy SD35 – Assistant Superintendent, Barry Bunyan SD37 – Assistant Superintendent, Nancy Gordon SD39 – Director – Labour Relations, Joann Horsley-Holwill SD62 – Associate Superintendent, Stephanie Hedley-Smith SD79 – Assistant Superintendent, Tom Longridge Northwest Territories – Superintendent, Dr. Curtis Brown BCSSA RETIREES their time with you in this magazine and for their work on bringing the competencies to life. I am hoping you will be inspired by their descriptions and find meaning and connections for your work in your own districts. As I write this, I am still euphoric from the energy that comes from all of us finally being together. What was especially meaningful for me was the collaborative leadership highlighted throughout every part of the three-day event. Our Summer Leadership Academy has traditionally been described as “by us, for us,” and this was certainly true for this event. From welcoming new members, celebrating retirees, learning from Indigenous teachings, meeting our mentors, sharing with Chapter colleagues, dancing with Island friends, listening to Teresa’s “What If…” speech, and being challenged by critical friends, it was the collective work of all of us that made the conference such a success. That is the strength of our BCSSA, as it continues to evolve. To me, this encapsulates the true “spirit” of leadership, and I am humbled to be among and serve such dedicated and supportive leaders. As we now turn our heads at this Fall Conference to “Celebrating Learning in BC,” I hope we continue to build on this collaborative spirit as we action the leadership competencies to meet the diverse needs of your contexts and communities. I look forward to hearing of your “spirit of leadership.” Until next time! Claire Guy Executive Director British Columbia School Superintendents AssociationNext >