Christine Ho Younghusband

EdD Dissertation Defense #5

11-12-13… for those who are appreciated numerology, this is kind of cool… the 13th day, of the 12th month, in the year 2011.  This was a special day for my friend, colleague, and classmate, Ann.  She defended her Doctor of Education dissertation yesterday at Simon Fraser University (Vancouver Campus) with her doctoral thesis is titled: “From Crisis to Renewal: One School’s Journey.”  Ann was spectacular in her defense.  There were some technical difficulties, tough questions, and critical audience composed of the panel, colleagues, friends, and family.  She managed to stay focused and remain true to her academic writing and findings.  What I most enjoyed was being a part her dissertation journey from beginning to end.  Ann had a message for schools in crisis in her dissertation that resonates with her deeply and with me.  I am a big Ann supporter and I know she is a big supporter of me and my dissertation journey.  It was a fantastic learning experience for all those involved on this special day.  I am proud to report that Ann passed with minor revisions and she is #5 in my EdD cohort to complete the program.  Congratulations Dr. Ann Skelcher, EdD. 

First Official Business

My first official business as a newly elected school trustee, aside from the inaugural school board meeting and BCSTA Academy, was being present at the West Sechelt Elementary (WSE) Christmas Concert.  I am also a parent at WSE, but this event was even more special because I was also a school trustee that represents the District of Sechelt.  The event was celebrating the musical achievements of the students at WSE and the performances were dedicated to Ms. Scattergood who is retiring from her 41 year teaching career in just a few days.  It was a memorable event.

The school’s music teacher, Ms. Mitchell, led this special day.  She teaches music every student at WSE.  WES is a K-7 school with over 200 students.  She teaches students singing, musical instruments, and band.  Ms. Mitchell is amazing.  I have great respect for her as a colleague, parent, and school trustee.  She is committed to our students and we are so fortunate to have her teach our students.  She is doing a wonderful job.  It was evident in the concert.  Very entertaining.  Along side with the Superintendent of Schools, we both enjoyed the students’ performances.

Thank you WSE staff, students, parents, and Parent Advisory Council (PAC) for making this event possible.  The school gym was standing room only.  It was phenomenal to see such an extraordinary school community get together to attend this daytime holiday event.  It was a pleasure.

Tunnel Vision

Have you ever heard this term before?  Tunnel Vision.  I first learned about tunnel vision when I used to curl competitively in high school.  When you are in the zone… when you are focused on the task at hand… you have tunnel vision.  Don’t get distracted.  Keep your eye on the prize.  Set a goal and get it done.  I understand this notion of tunnel vision in terms of high performance sport.

Tunnel vision would be a useful tool for my dissertation.  I have so many things on the go, that sometimes sitting down and writing my dissertation for an extended period of time does not happen.  I get that tunnel vision can be a good thing. What about the negative aspects of tunnel vision?  What if you are so focused on a task that you lose sight of everything else or lose perspective?

I am beginning to realize that I’ve been so focused on myself and my achievements that I have lost focus on what’s truly important… my family, my health, and my academic studies.  Sometimes an unpleasant wake up call is needed to pull on the heart-strings to truly understand what is important in life.  There are no absolutes, but there is balance, recognition, and acknowledgment.

Lesson learned:  Tunnel vision is good… but when you are in the tunnel… don’t get stuck in there.

Last Day at the Academy

Let’s start with the end, first.  I am so glad to be back home on the Sunshine Coast, sitting in front of the fireplace in my pajamas… blogging.  Second, I had another great day at the BCSTA Academy.

The day started with breakfast with a seating plan.  Each delegate had a table number indicated on his/her name tag.  It was intended for delegates to mix and mingle.  I did meet people who remained in their district teams, others who followed the rules, and some who wanted to follow the rules but could not find a seat.  Nonetheless, mission accomplished… I met more delegates.  Anyway, I finally arrived to my table thoroughly enjoyed the conversation before the start of the first session.  

The day started with a Plenary Panel Presentation: The Voices of Experience… 6 experienced Board Chairs and Superintendents.  Each Board Chair/Superintendent duo from 3 distinct school districts shared their experiences and relationship.  I enjoyed the content, their honesty, and diversity of each duo.  I appreciated their stories, mutual respect, and willingness to make it work.  They offered great advice and wealth of knowledge.  And, the panel answered questions from the floor well.

The second morning session was a Plenary Presentation from Dr. Stephen Murgatroyd.  What an inspiration.  He was candid, honest, and insightful about his views on 21st Century Learning and Trustee Leadership.  The presentation was extremely entertaining and informative.  His wit, his knowledge, clear vision inspired the delegates to do what’s right.  Thank you Dr. Murgatroyd.

After lunch, the closing plenary started with Gladstone Secondary School Musical Theatre.  Loved it.  Song and dance with songs from Grease and 42nd Street.  It was like watching Glee LIVE (without the drama).  The students were highly skilled and talented.  Entertaining from beginning to end… an excellent segway to the final speaker Mary-Lynn Epps, A Teacher’s Perspective on 21st Century Learning.  Personalized learning in-action… A great way to end the BCSTA Academy.

Thank You BCSTA organizers, SD46, and our Board of Education and Senior Staff.  I much enjoyed the learning experience.  Making new contacts, learning about 21st Century Learning and role of the school trustee, and team building with the SD46 Team has been worthwhile.  Much gratitude.

BCSTA Academy 2011

I am beginning to understand the purpose of the BCSTA Academy.  I am a newbie trustee navigating my way through my new role as a public figure advocating for kids in BC public schools.  I have met some wonderful people this weekend and reunited with several colleagues from SD52 Prince Rupert, my hometown.  I enjoyed meeting new trustees, trustee incumbents, and senior administration from other school districts.  I have learned so much about my role as school trustee over the last couple of days and encountered several school trustees who are former public school educators.  Having the opportunity to network with other school trustees, leaders, and senior administrators at the BCSTA Academy has been extremely valuable.  Not only there were inspirational speakers, political leaders, and professional development facilitators helping school trustees to do their job well over the next 3 years, there was also time to build relationships to understand the strengths of your own Board of Education and senior administration.  I feel fortunate to be a part of this learning process and making connections with my Board of Education, superintendent, and secretary-treasurer.  With social functions hosted by the BCTF or CUPE, in addition to other social events, I was able to get to know my SD46 colleagues in such a short period of time.  We are a diverse group of people, varying in age, gender, experience, ethnicity, and knowledge base.  We all have much to contribute with one goal in mind: supporting students in public education.  The BCSTA Academy has been excellent professional development and outstanding in team development and cohesion.  I am optimistic for the students of School District No.46 (Sunshine Coast) in terms of the learning opportunities, innovation, and leadership.  Looking forward to the next 3 years.

BCSTA Pre-Conference Session

What a wonderful day.  It started with dropping off my daughter to school and handing in her “dodecahedron” to her science teacher.  There was a happy teacher and some closure for me and my daughter.  Returned home and made breakfast for me and my husband.  My husband kindly offered to drive me to the ferry terminal to catch the 10:20 ferry.  I could have taken the bus, but it’s always nice to have someone drive you and have some adult conversation with your best friend.  I caught the 10:20 ferry and found a cubical to work on Chapter 1 (don’t judge).  Because I was traveling by foot, I saw some friendly faces boarding off the ferry to catch the 257 express bus.  It was awesome to have some bus-time to chat with a good friend/colleague.  Much gratitude.

Voila.  I arrived at the Hyatt hotel on-time to check-in and attend my first BCSTA Trustee Academy.  I opted to be a part of the pre-conference session about 21st Century Learning.  Loved it.  What did I like about it?  I loved connecting with members of the SD46 Board of Education and senior management… and one trustee from Sea-to-Sky.  It was an active learning session addressing 4 key questions regarding 21st Century Learning.  I volunteered to be the recorder, so I did not get the chance to move around to discuss each question.  What I did get to do was listen, engage, and converse with 4 different groups about the same question.  It was fascinating and enlightening to hear different points of view.  I appreciated everyone’s honesty, passion, and willingness to share.

Well, I’m enjoying the Trustee Academy so far… even though it’s only been the pre-conference.  I love meeting new people, hearing different perspectives, and feeling a sense of collaboration.  It feels good.  Now, as you can read, that I have a little break between the pre-conference session, the BCTF reception, and the official opening of the Trustee Academy.  Later tonight… Chapter 1 editing.

Playground Rules

One of the things that my daughter and I are discussing at home are “playground rules.”  I am not sure if it’s because she is an only child or if she is socially awkward (or both), but it seems that she does not understand the playground rules.  As a result, she feels alone and misunderstood.  I am not on the playground with her.  I can only advise her to be herself, say “no” when needed, and do things at school that feel good.  I’m her mom.  I can say almost anything to her but it needs to transfer to the playground.  I think that she perceives the opposite message and believes that the opposite behaviour is rewarded with friends, popularity, and classroom recognition.  To explain to an 8-year old girl, that’s what she observes on the playground might be different otherwise is a tough sell.

I can empathize with my daughter.  I, too, feel like I am trying to figure out the playground rules.  I assume many roles in the field of education that may not all coincide.  I am a doctoral candidate.  I am an MEd Site Assistant at SFU.  I am on the BCAMT executive.  I am a private educator, tutoring mathematics and science.  I am a educational consultant giving workshops to teachers.  I am a newly elected school trustee with my former employer.  Admittedly, I am beginning to realize that my interests are getting a bit messy and I’m relearning the playground rules not as a full-time public school teacher.  It is not to say that I am not familiar with the institution, the stake holders, or public education.  What I am not acquainted with are the playground rules given the new hats I wear.

Life is a journey.  Making mistakes is OK, if you are willing to forgive, accept, and learn from them.

The Inaugural School Board Meeting

It’s truly official… December 6, 2011… I am now one of seven school trustees on the Board of Education with School District No. 46 (Sunshine Coast).  There were photo opportunities, oath taking, and trustee elections for leadership positions.  Although I was nominated to be vice-chair, I was not elected in.  To accept the nomination, I had the opportunity to express my interest in leadership on the Board some time during my 3-year term.  I am grateful.  I am also thankful that I was defeated in the election process so that I can spend the first year of my term learning, building relations, and understanding what it means to be a school trustee, to navigate within the politics, and represent the residents in the District of Sechelt in an honest, authentic, and respectful way.  There is much to learn.  I hope to be able to sit on the education committee in the new year and I look forward to working with the ‘new’ senior management team and Board of Education.  As Trustee Younghusband, would like to thank all those who came out to witness the inaugural school board meeting.  It was a first for me.  I would like to give a special thanks to my 8-year old daughter who came out to support me.  We even took a photo with the secretary-treasurer when signing my oath.  From beginning to end, the inaugural event lasted no longer than 45 minutes.  Handshakes, congratulations, and goodbyes… it was a very pleasant evening.  Thank you to all those in SD46 who organized, prepared, and facilitated tonight’s meeting.  Your work is greatly appreciated.

Behind the Scenes

Should I still be campaigning?  Apparently, I should be.  I feel so fortunate to be elected by residents of the District of Sechelt to represent them as school trustee on the Board of Education of School District No. 46 (Sunshine Coast).  It’s been 2 weeks since the 2011 civic election and I am still being approached by many Sunshine Coast residents who share their enthusiasm and gratitude that I was elected for this position.  Many shared with me that they would have voted for me if they had lived in the Sechelt area.  That means a lot to me.  It says to me that people on the Sunshine Coast want someone on the Board who has experience, knowledge, and expertise in public education.  For a ‘newbie’ trustee candidate to obtain the most votes overall is a clear message sent by the community.

What’s happening now?  Trustee elections are being held on Tuesday, December 6, 2011.  This is known as the inaugural school board meeting.  This meeting is initially chaired by the Secretary-Treasurer.  The Secretary-Treasurer will announce the results of trustees election, confirm that all trustees completed the declaration and taken the oath of office as required by the School Act.  Afterwards, the Secretary-Treasurer calls for nominations for Board Chair.  If necessary, there is a vote by ballot.  The nominee with a clear majority will assume the role as Board Chair and takes over the meeting from then on.  Elections for vice-chair, BCPSEA rep, and BCSTA rep will be conducted in the same manner.  Our first ‘official’ Board Meeting is held on Tuesday, December 13, 2011.

Trustees on each Board of Education around the province of BC are seeking election amongst their Board for these positions.  From what I understand, trustees connect with other trustees to secure nominations and support.  Some Boards of Education traditionally nominate and elect the trustee with the most votes from the civic election to be the Board Chair.  I am not quite sure what happens on the Board of Education SD46.  I am not behind the scenes.  I have not been campaigning.

How does a person, like myself, learn more about being a school trustee?  I guess it’s to get involved in opportunities presented, meet influential and informative people, and learn as much as I can so that I can effectively advocate for student learning as one voice on the SD46 Board of Education.

Words of Encouragement

I am so glad to be home… lying in front of the fireplace in my pajamas… watching Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives on the Food Network.  Life is good.  I’ve just returned home from a couple of days in Vancouver.  It’s a 4-hour commute both ways (with a brief stop over at my parents’ condo to spend the night).  I travel by public transit, as mentioned in yesterday’s blog entry.  It’s a journey.

Yesterday, I was heading to SFU-Surrey to be part of the Masters of Education K-12 Educational Leadership Cohort as their site assistant.  This was the last weekend the cohort was meeting before the term ends.  I met this cohort once before on the first week of classes.  I helped the professor remotely.  I felt it would be appropriate to see the cohort at the end of the term.  They are fantastic.

Today, I was scheduled to attend the BC Association of Mathematics Teachers (BCAMT) Executive committee meeting.  It’s truly amazing to be a part of a group of like minded people who want to support BC teachers in mathematics education.  Another wonderful experience, but opted to return home tonight after the meeting instead of attending the X-mas party.  It was time to go home.

What does this have to do with words of encouragement?  It is not to say that I don’t appreciate the congratulatory compliments and conversations I had with students and colleagues.  Loved it.  It’s the subtle comments that meant more to me… Comment #1: “You can be a sessional.”  Comment #2: “Hope your writing is going well.”  Comment #3: “How’s your research on autodidactism going?”

All 3 comments mentioned above all had to do with my dissertation… all 3 comments above came from professors from SFU who are not my supervisors.  That’s what’s amazing to me.  I have great respect for all 3 professors and feel lucky to be connected with each them from opportunities from at the university and educational committee work I’m a part of.  Each comment meant a lot.  Thank you.