Canada Post Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 Journal The official magazine of the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents Fall 2022 An Equity Perspective to School LeadershipManitoba Association of School Superintendents 5 MASS Fall 2022 Volume 23, Number 2 MASS Journal Published For: The Manitoba Association of School Superintendents 50 Monterey Road Winnipeg, Manitoba R2J 1X1 Phone: (204) 219-7059 E-mail: barb.isaak@mass.mb.ca Web: www.mass.mb.ca Published By: Matrix Group Publishing Inc. 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Up Front 6 A Message from the President of MASS / Un message de la présidente de la MASS 7 A Message from the Executive Director of MASS / Un message de la directrice générale de la MASS 8 MASS 2022/2023 Executive 9 MASS 2022/2023 Priorities THEME: AN EQUITY PERSPECTIVE TO SCHOOL LEADERSHIP Features 10 Working with Elders and Knowledge Keepers: Hanover School Division Learns 13 Embracing Change: Leveraging Technology to Elevate Student Voices 16 “We Thought You Were a Career Woman” 20 Umbay Nagamon (Come Sing): An Invitation to Action 24 Voices from the North: Representation and Opportunity 27 Equitable Places and Spaces 30 Index to Advertisers Journal On the cover: As a result of a student-lead collaborative and reflective project that spanned many months, this beautiful art piece was one of six designs selected to be built at a global architecture competition in Winnipeg, MB. This photo was provided by Frontier School Division. Learn more about Blossom and equitable spaces and places on page 27. Canada Post Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 J o u rn a l The official magazine of the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents Fall 2022 An Equity Perspective to School Leadership6 MASS Journal Fall 2022 A s I write these greetings for The MASS Journal, I am reflecting on the wonder we are gifted by liv- ing in a country with changing seasons. Some people feel that fall signals the end of something as flowers die and trees drop their leaves. I prefer to look at fall as a time of new beginnings, a chance to refresh and revamp some of the things we tried before, and as new cycle in the world of education. As the new school year begins, a focus on equity continues to be strong across the system. When reading this edition of the journal, you will see several equity stories focused on Indigenous Education. You will learn about the progress made in work- ing with Elders and Knowledge Keepers to bring Indigenous cultures, histories, and values into Manitoba schools. This article may provide you with ideas of where to begin the work in your schools and provides evidence that each small step is a step towards Reconciliation. “Umbay Nagamon (Come Sing): An Invitation to Action,” shares the journey of being involved in a multi- media detailed examination of Indigenous culture and the Canadian government residential school policy and pausing to reflect on Residential Schools after. This project invited participants to review, reflect, and make commitments to implement the calls to action in their local community. Technology is a tool that can be utilized to elevate equity for our students. Throughout COVID-19, there were lessons learned regarding technology that pushed the need for change and using technology to elevate student voice is an area that emerged. Three specific divisional initiatives will be shared with you that show the power of what can be done virtually and how students are empowered to lead in those scenarios. Over time, the faces of leadership in MASS have looked dif- ferent and the qualities to be an effective educational leader in the school and at the divisional level have shifted and changed. A historical look at MASS leadership statistics and an explora- tion of the changing qualities of leaders is presented. It is always interesting to look back and reflect on where we have come from and as society continues to change, think about what may be necessary to be a quality leader for equity into the future. Regardless of where you find yourself in the world of education, the topic of equity permeates the work. The topic of the discussion may vary by location, but leaders at all levels in Manitoba are learning, reflecting, shifting, and implementing practices to improve equity. It is neither simplistic nor straightforward, but that does not deter the efforts being made. For all those whose experience in school and life is better because of your efforts I say thank you, your work is appreciated. Krista Curry President A u moment où j’écris ces lignes pour le MASS Journal, je pense à com- bien il est merveilleux de pouvoir vivre dans un pays où les saisons se succèdent. Certains pensent que l’au- tomne marque une fin puisque les fleurs se fanent et les arbres perdent leurs feuilles. Je préfère voir dans l’automne une saison de nouveaux débuts, une chance de rafraîchir et de remanier certains des efforts que nous avons déjà déployés, ainsi qu’un nouveau cycle dans le milieu de l’éducation. En ce début de nouvelle année scolaire, l’accent continue d’être mis sur l’équité à l’échelle du système. À la lecture de ce numéro, vous verrez plusieurs histoires d’équité axées sur l’éducation autochtone. Vous découvrirez notamment les progrès réalisés grâce à la collaboration avec les aînés et les gardiens du savoir en vue de présenter les cultures, les histoires et les valeurs autochtones dans les écoles du Manitoba. Vous pourriez en retirer des idées sur la façon d’amorcer le travail dans vos écoles et constater que chaque petit pas est un pas vers la réconciliation. L’article intitulé « Umbay Nagamon (Come Sing): An Invitation to Action » relate le cheminement d’un projet de participation à un examen multimédia approfondi de la culture autochtone et de la politique du gouvernement canadien en matière de pensionnats, ainsi que de la pause nécessaire pour réfléchir à la période suivant les pensionnats. Ce projet a invité les participants à examiner, à réfléchir et à s’engager à mettre en œuvre les appels à l’action au sein de leur communauté locale. La technologie est un outil qui peut servir à améliorer l’équité pour nos élèves. Tout au long de la pandémie de COVID-19, nous avons tiré des leçons en technologie qui ont fait ressortir le besoin de changement, et le recours à la technologie pour renforcer la voix des élèves compte parmi les domaines qui ont vu le jour. Trois initiatives émanant de divisions vous sont présentées; elles vous révèlent l’am- pleur de ce qui peut être fait en virtuel et la capacité des élèves à prendre les rênes dans ces situations. Au fil du temps, les visages du leadership au sein de l’Association ont changé et les qualités requises pour être un bon leader de l’éduca- tion dans une école et dans une division se sont transformées et ont pris de nouveaux aspects. La revue jette un regard historique sur les statis- tiques concernant le leadership de l’Association et se penche sur l’évo- lution des qualités des leaders. Il est toujours intéressant de prendre du recul et de réfléchir à notre point de départ et, à mesure que la société continue de changer, de penser à ce qui pourrait être nécessaire pour être un excellent leader pour l’équité dans l’avenir. Peu importe la place que vous occupez dans le monde de l’éducation, l’équité y est un thème omniprésent. Le sujet du débat variera peut- être selon l’endroit, mais à tous les échelons, les leaders du Manitoba apprennent, réfléchissent, changent et mettent en œuvre des pratiques pour améliorer l’équité. Le processus n’est ni simple ni direct, mais il n’a pas d’effet dissuasif sur les efforts déployés. De la part de ceux et celles dont l’expérience à l’école et dans la vie se trouve améliorée grâce à vos efforts, je vous remercie; nous sommes reconnaissants de votre travail. Krista Curry Présidente A Message from the President of MASS / Un message de la présidente de la MASSManitoba Association of School Superintendents 7 T he beginning of the 2022/2023 school year has been filled with excitement and energy as schools have been returning to many more opportunities for in person participation and leadership. The fall 2022 edition of The MASS Journal focuses on some ways in which our public school system continues to move along a continuum of an Equity Perspective to School Leadership. When the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents (MASS) Executive met in August 2022, an extensive conversation about organizational priorities and ‘next steps’ was undertaken. As outlined in this Journal edition, MASS has some overarching priorities which guide the work of the Executive and committees including: • Being leaders of learning; • Improving achievement and well-being of all our stu- dents requires a shared commitment to raising both equity and quality; and • Actively working towards equity and quality through- out the public education system with a special focus on three action areas: Early learning, Indigenous Educa- tion, and mental health and well-being. Those of you who have reviewed our priorities in pre- vious years will recognize that similar priorities have been the focus for several years. The work is not done – though progress is being made, there is still much that demands our leadership, commitment, and attention. The conver- sation reminded us that our work in achieving greater equity, diversity, and inclusion in our schools and public education system is a continuum, a journey that we are committed to. The professional learning undertaken by MASS mem- bers focuses on granular and systemic work which moves us towards better outcomes for students. We appreciate working together with our educational partners to explore additional ways to create and facilitate an integrated support network for those who attend our schools. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to supporting our students and their families as we forge new and deeper pathways for success. Barb Isaak Executive Director L ’année scolaire 2022/2023 a débuté avec enthousiasme et énergie alors que les écoles ont pu saisir beaucoup plus de possibilités de participation et de leadership en per- sonne. Le numéro de l’automne 2022 du MASS Journal présente certaines des manières dont notre système sco- laire public continue d’évoluer le long du continuum du thème Une perspective d’équité dans le leadership en milieu scolaire. Lorsque la direction de la Manitoba Association of School Superintendents (MASS) s’est réunie en août 2022, il a beau- coup été question des priorités organisationnelles et des « pro- chaines étapes ». Comme le révèle le présent numéro, l’Associa- tion s’est fixé des priorités globales qui orientent le travail de la direction et des comités, à savoir : • Être des chefs de file de l’apprentissage; • Améliorer le rendement et le mieux-être de tous nos élèves exige un engagement commun à l’égard de l’amélioration de l’équité et de la qualité; et • Travailler activement en vue de l’équité et de la qualité à l’échelle du système d’éducation publique en mettant l’accent sur trois domaines d’action : l’apprentissage précoce, l’éducation autochtone ainsi que la santé mentale et le mieux-être. Ceux et celles d’entre vous qui ont passé en revue nos priorités des années précédentes auront constaté que des priorités semblables sont demeurées au cœur des préoccupations pendant plusieurs années. Le travail n’est pas terminé; des progrès sont réalisés, mais il y a encore beaucoup de choses qui exigent notre leadership, notre engagement et notre attention. La conversation nous a rappelé que le travail que nous accomplissons pour arriver à une plus grande équité, diversité et inclu- sion dans nos écoles et dans notre système d’éducation publique suit un continuum, un parcours dans lequel nous sommes engagés. L’apprentissage professionnel entrepris par les membres de la MASS se concentre sur le travail granulaire et systémique qui nous permet d’obtenir de meilleurs résultats pour les élèves. Nous nous réjouissons de travailler de concert avec nos partenaires du milieu de l’éducation pour trouver d’autres moyens de créer et de favoriser un réseau de soutien intégré pour ceux et celles qui fréquentent nos écoles. Nous vous remercions de votre engagement soutenu à appuyer nos élèves et leurs familles alors que nous traçons des voies nouvelles et approfondies en vue de la réussite. Barb Isaak Directrice générale A Message from the Executive Director of MASS / Un message de la directrice générale de la MASS The work is not done – though progress is being made, there is still much that demands our leadership, commitment, and attention. Le travail n’est pas terminé; des progrès sont réalisés, mais il y a encore beaucoup de choses qui exigent notre leadership, notre engagement et notre attention. 8 MASS Journal Fall 2022 MASS 2022-2023 Executive TABLE OFFICERS: Krista Curry, President Superintendent/CEO Border Land School Division Tyson Mac Gillivray, North Superintendent Area #3, Frontier School Division Troy Scott, Metro Assistant Superintendent Pembina Trails School Division René Déquier, Southeast Interlake Assistant Superintendent Division scolaire franco- manitobaine (DSFM) Jenness Moffatt, Metro Acting Superintendent St. James-Assiniboia School Division Stephen David, Southwest Superintendent/CEO Park West School Division Barb Isaak Executive Director Karen Wohlgemuth Executive Assistant Matt Henderson, Metro Assistant Superintendent Seven Oaks School Division Stephen Ross, South Central Superintendent Western School Division Tammy Mitchell, Metro Assistant Superintendent River East Transcona School Division Carolyn Cory, Professional Learning Chair Superintendent Southwest Horizon School Division Pauline Clarke, At-Large Chief Superintendent/CEO Winnipeg School Division Christian Michalik Vice-President Superintendent Louis Riel School Division Jason Young Treasurer Superintendent/CEO Beautiful Plains School Division DIRECTORS: STAFF: Lorie Henderson, At-Large Co-Superintendent School District of Mystery LakeManitoba Association of School Superintendents 9 MASS 2022/2023 PRIORITIES The Early Learning Committee will take leadership to ensure that MASS: • Advocates for full implementation of the Calls to Action in the MASS position paper on Early Childhood Education. The Indigenous Education Committee will take leadership to ensure that MASS: • Builds capacity in MASS and school divisions to address the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. • Promotes ever increasing academic achievement, graduation, school completion and positive life outcomes for Indigenous students, informed by collective inquiry into evidence. • Actively supports the teaching of Indigenous perspectives, corrective history and culture and the use of Indigenous languages. The Mental Health and Well-Being Committee will take leadership to ensure that MASS: • Advocates for an implementation of a comprehensive provincial Children and Youth Mental Health Strategy. • Collaborates with The Education for Sustainable Well- Being Research Group at the University of Manitoba and Manitoba Education and Training to develop tools and indicators for assessing the well-being and well-becoming of students in schools. • Pursues inter-sectoral liaisons with public and mental health organizations and agencies. • Contributes to a national voice on mental health through CASSA and through input into the Canadian Mental Health Strategy. • Promotes Mental Health Literacy in mental health for all educators and pre-service educators. • Sharing of Mental Health & Well-being paper with community and provincial partners.n 1. Early Learning 2. Indigenous Education 3. Mental Health and Well-Being Mission: MASS provides leadership for public education by advocating in the best interests of learners and supports its members through professional services. MASS believes that our mandate is to be leaders of learning, in our local school systems and in the broader domains of provincial, national, and global public education. MASS believes a quality education empowers the whole child to constructively participate in global society. We model learning that is: • Active and visible; • Based on robust research; • Tested through purposeful application in the field; and • Evaluated using a wide range of meaningful data. We take responsibility for our own continuous learning and the learning of everyone we lead: • Creating and fostering safe, supportive, inclusive and challenging environments; • Ensuring essential learning for each and every child; and • Preparing others to go beyond our own learning. We are guided by our learning in shaping policy and practice to achieve what is best for the learners in our care. MASS believes that improved achievement and well-being for all our students requires a shared commitment to raising both equity and quality. • A conscious and persistent commitment to equity, system- wide and across sectors, leads to poverty reduction, greater inclusion, and an appreciation for the riches that diversity brings. • A purposeful and sustained commitment to quality education for every student increases the capacity for teaching, learning, and leading throughout the system. • A strong grounding in literacy and numeracy and a rich learning experience involving inquiry, curiosity, creativity, and artistic expression enables all students to achieve success and to flourish in life, academics and career. • A respect for and openness to authentic youth voices and support for meaningful student action are critical for building capacity and self-efficacy in our students. MASS actively works towards equity and quality throughout the public education system, with a special focus on three action areas:Next >