B.C. students are among the best in the world, thanks in part to strong leadership in schools throughout the province, and now government is strengthening that leadership so students continue to succeed.

The Ministry of Education is investing $200,000 to support expanded professional learning opportunities for education leaders in British Columbia.

Aimed at education leaders and those who aspire to leadership roles, the funding will support new and existing professional learning opportunities across the education system.

As the education system evolves to serve the changing needs of students, the demands on leaders are increasingly complex and challenging. As well, many experienced and effective leaders are approaching retirement, and there’s a need to recruit and train their replacements, and effectively manage the hand-over process. Throughout this, school administrators must maintain productive learning environments, while managing schools and school districts to the highest professional standards.

To address these challenges, the ministry has partnered with the B.C. School Trustees Association, B.C. School Superintendents Association, B.C. Association of School Business Officials, B.C. Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association and the Federation of Independent School Associations of B.C. to create a Leadership Development Framework.

The framework provides a vision for collaborative leadership development in the K-12 system that enables students, educators and school communities to thrive through skilled and effective educational leadership.

The framework organizations have over 3,500 members and provide training programs to support professional development.

Quotes:

Rob Fleming, Minister of Education –

“In order to ensure that students have the quality education they deserve, we are dedicated to developing the leaders of the education system. This investment and collaboration will directly enhance the educational experience of B.C. students and prepare them even better for future success.”

Gordon Swan, president, B.C. School Trustees Association (BCSTA) –

“Minister Fleming’s acknowledgement of the importance of strong leadership in K-12 education, as well as the accompanying initial funding, is strongly supported by BCSTA. If we want to maintain strong schools and an effective provincial education system, it is critical that we support our leaders at the school, district and board levels.”

Tom Longridge, president, B.C. School Superintendents Association (BCSSA) –

“The BCSSA is committed to working with the ministry and our other partner groups to continue to strengthen the already outstanding leadership in our province. We know that student success is directly linked to strong and supported leadership at all levels of the system. This framework will assist to expand the scope of the work as we collectively build capacity and continue to transform our education system.” 

Kevin Reimer, president, B.C. Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association (BCPVPA) –

“The BCPVPA knows that leadership development builds capacity and enhances the entire school system. We are pleased to have joined with our education partners and the ministry to draft the Leadership Development Framework. Our ongoing collaborative work will ensure that B.C.’s well-earned reputation as an education super power will continue to provide all students with a foundation for success.”

Learn More:

Leadership Development in the B.C. Education Sector: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/administration/kindergarten-to-grade-12/leadership-development