Education Career Fair 2013/Foire d'emploi en Education 2013

Our Division Principal, Norm Dargis, and I attended the Education Career Fairs at both the U of A and Campus Saint Jean on Monday, January 21st.  We spent the day on the main campus and the evening at Campus Saint Jean representing BGRD No.18 and meeting many wonderful soon to graduate education students.  These young people were eager, prepared, and excited about beginning their teaching careers; education in Alberta will be in good hands.  We'd like to thank Jennifer El-Khatib, assistant principal of École Corinthia Park School, for assisting us at the Foire d'emploi en Education at Campus Saint Jean. 

                                                                                 

Principals New to Their Position Reflect: Would I Follow Me?

Seven new principals and three principals who transferred to new schools this fall met on the morning of December 19th learning about the 360 degree evaluation in which they all will participate and considering leaders' behaviours on a group's productivity.  Initially they pondered the quotation "The number one reason people thrive at work is their boss; it's also the number one reason they quit." 

From there, they participated in small and large group activities/discussions reflecting on inspiring behaviours, alienating behaviours, situations where misguided ideas resulted in unintended negativity, effective leadership practices, and servant leadership. 

The morning concluded with the group watching the following leadership video clip  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03o1JZ7c7gI&noredirect=1 and sharing key learnings.  Great things are happening in Black Gold Regional Division No.18!

 

Aspiring Leadership Team & the P.Q.P.G

After school on November 26th, Black Gold's Aspiring Leadership Team met to discuss the Principal Quality Practice Guidelines participating in a carousel activity sharing their ideas and thoughts.  They also had the opportunity to listen to a presentation from two Black Gold Leading Principals. 

 

BGRD No.18 Principals' P.L.C.

During monthly Superintendent meetings, Principals are given time for "Professional Learning Community" discussions and collaboration.  On Thursday, November 15th, the topic was "Teacher Professional Growth, Supervision, & Evaluation". 

BGRD No.18 Supports Ronald McDonald House

On November 14th, École Corinthia Park School staff, their children, and Central Office staff went to Ronald McDonald House and cooked dinner for the children and families staying there.  Ronald McDonald House is a compassionate, safe, and affordable home away from home for out-of-town families whose children are receiving treatment in a local Edmonton hospital.  The purpose of the house is to keep families together and provide a supportive environment while the family member is being treated for his/her illness.  Thank you, everyone, for your kindness.

BGRD No. 18 Students Remember

Thankfully, for many Canadian children war is a distant concept.  As parents and educators, we must help our children to understand that the freedom we enjoy today came at a high price and to respect our veterans and current Canadians who fight for peace and freedom throughout the world.  Mrs. Greene, music teacher at École Corinthia Park School, did just that on Sunday when she took her choir to the Edmonton International Airport Remembrance Day Ceremony to sing "O'Canada" and "In Flanders Fields".  Thank you Mrs. Greene and ÉCPS Choir.

 

Building Workplace Culture

Culture is not what you do, but how you do it; it's a unique set of values and practicies that one may call "Common behaviour".  Culture is a powerful force - nothing has more impact on organizational performance.  Culture taps our need to fit in.  If everyone in the organization works hard, then newcomers soon discover that working hard is the path to acceptance.  If newcomers work hard and are chastised by colleagues for doing so, s/he will either capitulate or leave the organization to find a better cultural fit.  Good leaders purposely attempt to shape  a positive culture.

New leaders, and leaders new to an organization, should map an organization's culture and then correct any limiting facets of that culture.  Once s/he knows the culture, s/he must develop a vision for a better culture and share both it and the accompanying strategies with employees - encourage the right habits and correct the wrong ones.  

Unfortuanately, not everyone will jump aboard, but one must press on.  Initially, one will notice three camps: supporters, fence sitters, and naysayers.  In time, the middle group will disappear and the leader will be left with supporters and naysayers.  Once the scale tips toward the new culture, this new culture will have the "pull" that the old one use to have, and the "common behaviour" will be the path to acceptance. 

Building a healthy workplace culture is difficult work, but it is the most important work one will do as a leader.