It’s the New Year and, with it, a new position. Having spent the last 14 months as the Superintendent-in-Waiting, I start January as the Superintendent of Schools for the West Vancouver School District.
This past fall, I had the privilege to speak at “Opening Day” — a professional development day for all staff in our district — the week prior to school opening. At that session, the outgoing Superintendent, Geoff Jopson, shared thoughts on the last decade and I spoke about what is ahead. As I start ‘for real’ in the role, I want to come back to some of the themes — a collection of beliefs, values and commitments.
On Working in West Vancouver:
It is a great honour for me to serve in this community as a teacher and as the superintendent. I love that on most days, most people are at least a 9 out of 10. We love what we do; we love who we do it with, and we love where we do it. The district and community are large enough to feel part of a greater entity, but small enough to be completely connected.
On Being a Teacher:
It is funny that we often use different words for “Teacher”. We have teacher leaders, lead teachers, principal teachers, support teachers, helping teachers, mentor teachers, and sometimes we take the word teacher out altogether — and have educational leaders, among a range of other terms. I am good with “Teacher”. It is who I am, and it says it all. The rest is about the different roles we have, but “Teacher” describes who we are. I don’t think we actually need anything more. And while teachers sometimes fall victim to profiling in the media, and while our profession is asked to do more and more, it is still the greatest profession in the world — and there are few things better in life than being called a teacher. What we do makes a dent in our world; it matters, and makes it a slightly better place in which to live.
On My Plan as Superintendent:
And what is it that we do, and will continue to do? I have often been asked about “what will be your plan as superintendent?” I know in many places gimmicks are quite fashionable — a particular program or approach that will be the be-all and end-all. We hear this a lot from the United States as they talk about No Child Left Behind . . . if only we all just did Smart Reading, or all had laptops, or used EBS, or played first and then ate lunch, or had a particular bell schedule, then our system would move forward and students would graduate in even greater numbers. These are all worthy and can be powerful initiatives, but there are no magic bullets. It is the hard work in the classrooms everyday — the mix of science and art; teachers taking what they know about what works, combining this with their skills, and building relationships with their students — this makes all the difference. In the end, and more than anything else, it is the relationships that matter. The relationships we have with each other, and the relationships we build with parents and students.
On A Culture of Yes:
It is the “culture of yes”, we have and will continue to foster — one that embraces new ideas and new ways to look at learning and organize learning; a “culture of yes” that supports innovation and creativity for both learners and teachers, knowing this is how we will continue to evolve. It is a “culture of yes” that touches on the passions we entered the profession with, and that may have sometimes been lost along the way, but hopefully, found again.
We have an amazing community in West Vancouver — and it is exciting to take on this new role. As I said at the end of my presentation in August, “Let’s go new places.”
cultureofyes.ca 
Chris, exciting times in West Vancouver and for all of us who connect with you online.
New ideas and new ways of learning, absolutely. But at the core, as you state nicely, is the magic of the classroom experience – one that encourages reflection, introspection and a sense of belonging.
What we can never lose “along the way” is the recognition of how special it is being a teacher: that every learning experience we engage in at our schools builds understanding and self-awareness within the context of human relationships.
In the end, your “new beginnings” resonates because you wirte about transforming our delivery but not our core purpose: providing all learners with enriching experiences, positive reinforcement and enabling them to discover their own admirable purposes.
Congratulations and nothing but the best as you move forward.
Thanks Gino for the kind words. It is an exciting time for me, and it is an exciting time for education. I am so interested in the similar conversations happening throughout the province around teaching and learning. As I have said to you before I also have a self-interest, with the urgency of my own children, and wanting to ensure that the public education they have in B.C. prepares them for the changing world.
Thanks for being a critical friend – I look forward to continuing to connect in both the virtual and face-to-face worlds.
Chris, from what I have come to know of you electronically, West Vancouver is lucky to have you in the new role. I wish you the best.
You didn’t speak here at all about your role with the elected Board of Education. From lower level district experience and from close contact with other Superintendents in other districts, I know this can be a challenge – managing what is best for the students vs. politics. Good luck in this regard too.
On your plan as superintendent, it sounds as though your goal will be to get as close as possible to monitoring what goes on within the classrooms. A good friend and now retired Superintendent did this by travelling around a lot in the district, working with school-based administrators and enjoying classroom observations. One thing he did that I might suggest is that he pulled the Secretary-Treasurer out of the office to go with him and see day to day school activities, not just special events, in order to get a good idea of how funds were being spent on children. Perhaps that is already being done.
I look forward to following your successes. Cheers, Bob
Thank You Bob. It has been wonderful to connect and learn from you through the digital space. We have a very strong Board of Education in West Vancouver, that is extremely supportive of the work being done in our schools. I think this is one of the key reasons it was a good fit for me here – as you point out, the relationship between the Board and Superintendent is key and sets an important tone for the community.
Like your suggestion as well about engaging the business side of the operation in school visits!
No need to look behind you Chris, as you face the future, we face it with you; with the same enthusiasm for learning and growing as you.
As you said, there is no greater honor that to teach. No greater wisdom than to allow yourself learn from your students. Your invitation is to all, learners and teachers alike. Come and create your future, we are here to help make that happen.
I am inspired and look forward to working with this district in seeing it’s vision for itself come alive!
Kerrie Watt
Prevention Consultant
Vancouver Coastal Health
School District #45
District of West Vancouver
Thanks Kerrie – we have amazing staff in West Vancouver. It is going to be wonderful times ahead.
Chris,
Congrats on the new position! I recently discovered your blog and am so excited that you are among a group of engaged and excited local educators that are exploring and pursuing various ways to improve schools in BC. Your passion and openness, accompanied by your new position as superintendent, inspired me to re-start my own blog this year with a whole new focus on education reform. As a gifted student who dropped out of high school at age 16, this is a conversation that I’ve been waiting to occur for years, and cannot wait to start a dialogue with yourself and other British Columbians on this vital topic.
I wish you the best of luck as superintendent. Your ‘culture of yes’ philosophy is exactly what we need in schools today. As you stated, there are no silver bullets for improving the educational outcomes of students. Master plans rarely work as intended. Lasting change can only come about as a result of open dialogues with all stakeholders and a willingness to pursue innovative, small scale initiatives or programs. I only hope that you are able to continue to post on your blog as often as you have in the past.
– Paul
Wow – what a power comment. I am committed to continuing to post once or twice a week – I think it is important that we have this conversation in a public space – a place that can engage a cross-section of the community.
Look forward to continuing to connect with you.
Chris,
What a great framework you put forward to all educational leaders. It isn’t about ‘your plan’ but being open to the posibilities what could happen when a learning community has a culture of ‘yes’.
James
Thanks James – it is funny that I was in a couple meetings today where people were asking for the clear two or three year plan – if only education was that linear and simple.
Thanks for your blog – I love learning from you and with you.
Chris,
Firstly, best of luck to you and congratulations on the new position. I look forward to reading more about your journey and one day discussing education in person.
Secondly, I love the fact that you state you are a teacher. I always think it is interesting when admin state when they “used to be a teacher”. It truly is “who we are”.
Thirdly, your leadership extends well beyond the borders of West Van. Through your online presence, people like me learn from you on a weekly/daily basis. You model what true leadership is and your passion for student voice and social media push me to learn more.
All the best!
Chris
Thanks Chris – I have become addicted to our network. The relationships we are building online are strengthening the connections between districts, and make it all the more powerful when we connect face-to-face. Thanks also to you – as I have said before, your writing has been very influencial on my thinking, particularly around assessment and awards.
Chris, what can I say, you learned everything you know from your memorable days with us in Coquitlam… we prepared you well. Just kidding.
I’ve always thought of you as an educational role model and have learned a lot from you over the years I’ve known you. You will do well for West Van I’m sure. They’re lucky to have you as their leader. All the best and I look forward to learning more from and with you in the future!
Cheers,
Brian
Yes, Coquitlam has prepared many of “us” well. Thanks for the kind words. I am sure we will have many more projects together in the future!
Congratulations Chris!
I believe that a component of leadership is inspiring those who follow to themselves become leaders. I know that for those of us that follow you in our personal learning networks, you have done exactly that for each of us. Having observed some of your career from afar, you have a willingness to take risks and implement new ideas, and you have truly been an agent of change for the learners in the districts that you have worked in.
I have no doubt that you will continue to inspire others in West Vancouver and beyond. Best of luck!
Thanks Cale – it is great we have become so connected digitally. As I have said to you, and said on this blog, your thinking has really pushed me. I am so impressed with the quality of your ideas and your writing. It is wonderful to be part of the same network.
Congratulations, Chris! Although I’m retired from teaching now, I still appreciate my times with you as a former colleague. In particular, I am thankful of your past support in my teaching, exchange trips and International Education. Thanks for upholding the “teacher’s” labour of love. May you continue to lead with vision, integrity and compassion. I will also continue to read with interest your educational initiatives.
Thank You Bill. It is wonderful we can continue to stay connected.
Congrats Chris!
We are on a cool precipice in education in British Columbia and globally for that matter. Personalized education is made so much more easy by the accessibility of content, expertise and networks. With the current political landscape exploring what education is going to look like in the near future, it is encouraging to know that innovative people like you and your team are working to fill the void that is being left by the rhetoric.
I look forward to continued learning as I surf your online presence.
Good luck in your new position.
Thanks Dave – it is great that many of us who worked together, and have moved different places can stay connected in the digital space.
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