qathet School District’s new superintendent of schools is deeply invested in learning and enjoying leaning his shoulder into the work.
Having last served as the assistant superintendent of schools in Saanich, Paul McKenzie said he applied for the superintendent’s position here after he read the school district’s strategic plan.
“There were certain elements in the strategic plan that I really gravitated to around teaching and learning and service to the community,” said McKenzie. “There’s a strong commitment to land-based learning and a strong commitment to the environment.
“The schools here are vibrant places to learn and they are deeply connected to the community. There is a strong relational connection to Tla’amin Nation and first peoples’ principles of learning. So, there were a lot of things that philosophically felt right for me at this point in my career.”
McKenzie is originally from Owen Sound, Ontario, where he was born and raised. After graduating from high school, he undertook further studies at University of Western Ontario. After graduation, he started his educational career in Ontario as a high school English teacher, then moved into administration, followed by senior administration, where he was a superintendent for about five years before moving to Saanich.
McKenzie said a number of factors precipitated the move, one being family.
“My daughters had relocated to the west coast and my oldest daughter had just given birth to my twin grandsons, so my wife and I started to think about being closer to family. We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity present itself in Saanich.”
While in that school district, McKenzie oversaw operation-based elements in terms of staffing and enrolment. He was heavily involved in helping mobilize the strategic plan and making sure schools were serving that plan.
The Saanich school district is larger than qathet School District, with 18 schools and a student population around 7,500.
After moving to the qathet region this spring, McKenzie said he spent a lot of time getting to know the schools and the work being done in the schools.
“What has been very affirming to me is how deeply invested our teachers and educational leaders are at the school level and the district level, leaning in deeply to that work,” said McKenzie. “I’m equally impressed with the level of support from the community in terms of their support of the schools. It is gratifying to come to a place that is as deeply invested as it is in serving this community.
“There is vibrancy and a dynamic feel in this community and in our schools. I’m proud to serve in whatever capacity I can as superintendent.”
McKenzie said he has had an opportunity to attend and participate in year-end festivities in the school district.
“I attended the Brooks Secondary School graduation, and I was amazed at what an outpouring of dedication there was from the staff and community in Hap Parker Arena,” said McKenzie. “It was such a beautiful night. I’ve also been able to see some school productions. It’s amazing to come in to see the story of this school district unfolding.”
McKenzie said a big part of his early time in the school district is to be actively listening to the voices of the community in every way possible.
“It is truly my role to serve,” said McKenzie. “My position in the school district is servant leadership.”
McKenzie said he has been hearing from the community and has met with some of the parent groups. He said at functions he has been able to attend, people have been more than willing to greet and welcome him, and impart their thoughts on the education system here.
“I’m immensely grateful for that,” said McKenzie. “As a new person coming to an area, it tells a lot about the community.”
Moving forward, McKenzie said the school district will be working on the core mandate of improving outcomes for students in literacy, numeracy and the core elements of the curriculum. He wants to ensure high levels of engagement for students and to give them the tools they need to flourish and be successful, not just in a kindergarten to grade 12 context, but beyond that.
“An advantage of a school district of this size is that we can be nimble, if we pay attention to the work and commit ourselves to it,” said McKenzie. “I’ve been so impressed with the deep passion of our classroom teachers and our school leaders in this.”
McKenzie has also been grateful to the school board and school trustees for the support he has received in his early days.
“These are very dedicated people who have a deep interest in public education,” said McKenzie. “They have been immensely helpful and supportive of me in the early transition. They represent this community with integrity and passion, and it’s my role to support the work.”
McKenzie said as a former hockey coach, he believes strongly in the power of teams and the power of the collective.
“It takes every single person who works in the school district,” said McKenzie. “They have a significant role to play in making us better. The only way we can get better is when we invest ourselves in making sure these people know how much we care.
“The hope we have is for there to be that wide-eyed curiosity in our students, that we meet them where they are, with the only aspiration being for them to flourish.”
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