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.

A Great Day to Travel

Remote blogging on Skytrain to Surrey Central… it’s a great day to travel.  First of all, it’s a sunny day.  Can’t go wrong when taking public transit from Sechelt to Surrey on a sunny day.  Second, good people en route makes the journey worthwhile.  My husband and I dropped off my daughter to school.  My husband drove me to downtown Sechelt to catch the bus.  He went to work and the vehicle is scheduled for new winter tires.  At the bus stop, I saw a friend walking to work.  We chatted for a bit and my favorite bus driver was there to pick me up to go to the ferry.  At the ferry, I bumped into a couple of parents/clients and enjoyed a yummy bowl of BC Ferries oatmeal. The ferry trip seemed to zip by and in the bus line met a Gibsons woman who shared her story with me on the way to Vancouver.  I was meant to meet her.  Off a The Bay, I maneuvered my way through to the SkyTrain station heading to SFU-Surrey Campus.  It is here where I will enjoy a curry chicken and rice lunch, work on my dissertation at the library, and say hello to the MEd cohort I’ve been working with remotely as their site assistant.  More wonderful people to meet and greet. Tomorrow, I have the opportunity to spend another day with this cohort or attend the BCAMT executive meeting where there are more fabulous people.  I am looking forward to today. I will also get the chance to see my parents tonight and Skype my little family tonight or tomorrow.  Finally, I get the chance to remote blog to share my gratitude with you.  Almost in Surrey now… gotta go… hello chicken curry.

External Validation

“Hey Chris… What a win.  Congratulations on becoming school trustee.”
“Hey Chris… I’m so glad there is someone on the Board knows what it’s like in the trenches.”
“Hey Chris… You are such a wonderful math teacher.  Thank you so much.”

It feels awesome to be recognized for my hard work and what I may have to offer.  Those statements above are examples of external validation.  On the one hand, external validation can be viewed as a compliment.  On the other hand, external validation can be viewed as a reward or reason for being.  The difference is, how the external validation is acquired.  What is the motivation?

When I decided to embark on political life in the field of education, my motivation to run was to find a way to advocate for student learning.  As school trustee, I am taking a different role in public education as a policy maker to help students on the Sunshine Coast to enjoy learning, understand their learning, and develop lifelong learning skills.  Winning the election, shaking hands, name recognition, or receiving of compliments is GRAVY.  My motivation is intrinsic and the external validation only reinforces my life’s decisions.  I will move forward with or without the gravy.

When I decided to pursue a doctoral degree in educational leadership 3 years ago, I think that my initial motivation was extrinsic.  I wanted to be recognized, noticed, or acknowledged as a public school educator.  All that I was looking for was the GRAVY and I lost sight of the meat and potatoes.  In the end, nothing gets done.  Nothing gets accomplished.  Gravy does not taste good without the meat and potatoes.  This is where my pedagogical journey exists.  How can I move forward?

TRANSFER in education is one of the most complex and difficult learning tasks to achieve.  Here I am.  It is time to transfer.  I finally get it.  My supervisor has been advising this right from the start of my dissertation process.  When motivated by external validation, I became more consumed by “doing it right” versus “just doing it.”  When doing it right was more important, I could not accept formative feedback thus paralyzed to submit work.  UGH.  Forget about it… my work for the past year was not only to disembed from the workplace but also to find myself.  Writing, moving forward…

Significance of the Study

Once again, here I am… thinking about the SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY for my dissertation proposal.  I have written Chapters 1-3 over many times.  Although my topic is relevant and timely, I have been honing my writing skills, narrowing to scope of my research study, and refining my point of view that is somewhat objective and academic.  I am not proud to say that I still remain in the same place of the dissertation process.  It has been 2 years and I am STILL stuck on the SO WHAT?

I am frustrated to say the least and I continue to read articles, speak to colleagues, and make observations in hopes of finding some insight to the relevance of my study.  I must admit when looking at and revising the same document over and over again, my level of care starts to diminish.  I would love to get into the interview stage of my study, to listen to people’s pedagogical journeys, and make sense of the data to inform others of something new to consider.  But to do so, I have to be very clear with my research question, my literature review, and my methodology.

Chapter 1 (version BLAH) is almost complete.  The significance of the study is the heart of my dissertation and I have lost sight on ‘why bother.’  I don’t want to be a rain cloud on my academic situation.  I am very grateful to have so many SFU buddies from my cohort, Educ 809, and EGSA who are willing to gab, chat, and help out.  In the end, it’s me who has to commit and feel good about what I am writing about.  Even coming to my blog to express my frustrations has been cathartic.

I can write.  I can express my feelings.  I can think.  The question is… Can I write this dissertation?

SD46 School Trustee Orientation