enews - bcpvpa · enews election special • candidate statements enews election statements/2...

eNewselection special • candidate statements

eNews/6

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To be successful as President-elect,

a candidate must receive 50%+1

of the votes cast.

If a second ballot is required, online voting will be held June 12 (late afternoon) until June 15 (5pm, PST).

Voting for Directors is scheduled for

June 12 (late afternoon) until June 15 (5pm, PST

HOWEVER if two ballots are required to determine the

President-elect, the online voting for Directors

will take place June 19 (late afternoon) until June 22 (5pm, PST).

Voting info

Voting info

Statements from all candidates follow on pages 2-11.In addition, speeches by candidates for President-elect at Chapter Council were recorded

and are available for viewing:

Notes on the upcomingBCPVPA elections This special section of eNews contains statements from the

BCPVPA members who have put their names forward for the

upcoming election.

President-elect:BCPVPA members will elect a President-elect who begins a one-year

term on July 1, followed by a two-year term as President, and a one-

year term as Past-President.

Ballots will be distributed via email on June 5 (late afternoon) and voting will remain open until June 8 (5 pm, PST).

The candidates are:• Darren Danyluk (Rocky Mountain)• David DeRosa (Kootenay-Columbia)• Carol-Ann Leidloff (Kootenay Lake)

Directors:

BCPVPA members will elect four Directors to two-year terms, effec-

tive July 1.

The candidates are:• Susan Clough (Surrey)• Steve Dalla Lana (Prince George)• Karen Flello (Saanich)• Beverly Forster (Bulkley Valley)• Ashif Jiwa (Delta)• Read Jorgensen (Greater Victoria)

• Susan Nichols (Vancouver Elementary)

https://youtu.be/c0HkwSftEvI https://youtu.be/_hSNRV2BHog https://youtu.be/ajXwFQHg2rY


eNews election statements/2

Candidate forPresident-elect

Voting begins late afternoon June 5 and continues until

5 pm (PST) June 8. If required, a second ballot

will be held June 12–15.

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For an elaboration on points made in this commentary, visit: http://bit.ly/Danyluk

Darren DanylukPrincipal, David Thompson Secondary [email protected]

My name is Darren Danyluk. I have been an edu-cator in British Columbia since 1987, starting

my career in Nechako. I began teaching in the tight knit community of Fort St. James. Having come from the Lower Mainland, life in a small community on Stuart Lake was an adjustment. It was an adjustment that stuck, and I have spent 30 years as an educa-tor in rural communities. In 1995, I accepted a posi-tion as a vice-principal and joined the British Colum-bia Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association. Since joining, I have served the membership of our Asso-ciation as Chapter Representative, Chapter President, and Director. I wish to continue this service for our members as President-elect. I believe the BCPVPA to be the singular, authoritative voice of principals and vice-principals in British Columbia. It is the sole advo-cate for principals and vice-principals within the halls of government, wherein we need to advance our po-sition to realize our objectives. Membership is impor-tant because leadership matters. The state of leader-ship in our schools matters greatly, and advocacy for that leadership will bring about the changes needed for healthy succession. Government decisions which fail to consider outcomes for our members are unac-ceptable. The restoration of contract language fol-lowing the Supreme Court Ruling has had a signifi-cant impact for our members. Adding more teachers

to the system has decimated TTOC pools and taxed our members with the management of daily short-falls. It is clear the welfare of our members did not feature greatly in planning a response to the ruling. The welfare of our members is further overlooked in the restoration of non-enrolling teacher ratios. The Strategic Plan of the BCPVPA concentrates the work of our Association upon these issues.

As a member of the Board, I participated in the re-view of our Strategic Plan. The pillars of the Plan shall focus my energies as President-elect. The BCPVPA will advocate for fair and total compensation for members. The concept of total compensation cannot be achieved until the benefits of our members are ad-dressed. Our Association must continue to aggressively pursue this agenda. The BCPVPA will build the As-sociation’s capacity to support members in their leadership roles. Our Association must expand the repertoire of Professional Learning on offer, addressing perceived gaps and leading the discussion of Continu-ing Professional Development. The Association will promote and advocate for the roles of principals and vice-principals. The well-being of our members must be a consideration of government. Negotiations, strategies, and innovations must examine the impacts upon our members and move forward only with mea-sures to preserve a healthy work/life balance for our members. The Association will use technology to enhance communication and engagement with members and other audiences. The means to con-nect our membership in exciting ways exists. Our Asso-ciation must continue to explore innovative measures to bring the advantages of membership to the field.

It has been professionally fulfilling to serve this or-ganization for more than 20 years, and I would be honoured to continue this service as President-Elect. Should you have any questions, wish to discuss my candidacy, or simply want to share your point of view, I will gladly make time to connect. Thank you for your consideration.

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David DeRosaPrincipal, J Lloyd Crowe Secondary, Kootenay-Columbia [email protected]

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I am a Principal and like you, I wear many hats. I am a teacher, learner, leader, manager, researcher, ad-

vocate and the holder of the Kleenex box. My school community keeps me busy, grounded, and reminds me daily that students are central to our work. The BCPVPA strategic plan has the needs of our member-ship at its forefront, but I believe our work will always be about students. We bring their voices and needs to all tables, literally and figuratively.

Despite your limited time and busy schedules, I am grateful to have connected with so many BC colleagues. The conversations have been eye-opening, illuminat-ing, and on many occasions inspiring. Your candid feedback, shared positives, and adversities have shaped the foundation for my vision, which reflects our current and future realities. With each connection, my admira-tion for the professional convictions of our membership grows and my vision for the BCPVPA becomes more defined, focussed, and resolute. This vision has 3 pillars:

1. The implementation of strategies to support mem-bers challenged by work-life balance and the en-gagement of our sector partners to define roles and responsibilities in developing new pro-active supports. 2. Developing leadership capacity and certifica-tion structures for PVPs, in and outside, of our ju-risdiction. This revenue generating model could pro-

vide financial and professional benefits for members. 3. Compensation imbalances for PVPs and the 3Rs document provide the rationale for a common con-tract negotiation for members. Simply put, leaders and supervisors should receive compensation and benefits packages that reflect their roles responsibilities.

I would also work to:

• continue the professional leadership with Aborig-inal worldviews for all learners,

• increase the use of effective technologies for com-munication and professional growth for colleagues in remote areas and regions of our province,

• differentiate professional learning supports to meet the unique contexts and needs of vice-prin-cipals and principals in their respective roles,

• raise the profile of our members in their commu-nities, their regions, and the province, and

• bring the voices of our students, with their unique cultural and social contexts, to the tables and dis-cussions that we engage in.

My committee work, including Short Course, Con-tract Advisory, Professional Learning and currently, Mental Health and Wellness connects me to provin-cial colleagues and provides insight into the personal and provincial supports provided by the Association. I will provide a strong and respectful approach to lead-ership that acknowledges the challenging contexts that we have been working in with students at the foundation. I also bring years of experience as a VP, District and school principal, Chapter President, Con-tract Chair, and four years as BCPVPA Director. My passion for the work of the BCPVPA in promoting, supporting, and advancing your roles is why I have committed to running for President-elect. BC’s princi-pals and vice-principals are proven leaders in educa-tion and deserve workplace environments that value health, happiness, and professional engagement. On June 6th, I would be honoured to receive your vote to continue this important work.

In-depth personal, professional and platform descriptions may be found here: http://bit.ly/BCPVPA_DeRosa_Pres-Elect






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Twitter https://twitter.com/principalddLinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrderosa/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrderosa/



Carol-Ann LeidloffPrincipal, Trafalgar Middle School, Nelson [email protected]

We are entering a fascinating and challenging period in BC’s educational landscape. The Su-

preme Court Ruling has driven a shift in Districts that provides many opportunities for change, but also cre-ates challenges that we, as building leaders, will be expected to resolve. Over the next few years, we will need to prepare our members to navigate these chal-lenges, and position our Association to proactively influence the political scene in preparation for 2019 when the teachers’ contract will be re-negotiated. Over the next couple of years, I see the following ar-eas as continuing priorities for our Association.

Advocating for fair total compensation. While we have made significant progress on compensation, it continues to look different in every district. In ad-dition to supporting our members in helping Districts move to the regional salary grids, we must also con-tinue to develop a common contractual framework and improve our benefits packages. Our total com-pensation package needs to be better than those we supervise to mitigate the recruitment and retention issues we are experiencing in our districts.

Workplace well-being will require sustained focus and advocacy, and must be a significant piece of the long-term vision for our Association. We must build a greater understanding of the role of Principals and

Vice-Principals with others outside our organization, for there to be a recognition that the requirements of the job are increasingly more complex and challeng-ing. It is important to help develop mechanisms to support our members at all stages of their careers in building their capacity so that they can be effective in their roles, and able to manage the pace and work-load in a sustainable manner. Principals and vice-prin-cipals are leaders in our communities and our Asso-ciation is well positioned to advocate not only for our members, but also for our students’ and teachers’ mental health. We need to articulate the need for policy and a plan of action to support mental health for all. Healthy school leadership will help promote and sustain healthy school communities.

Credentialing. As a result of Bill 11, the Teacher Regulation Branch has been discussing “credential-ing” for BC’s Principals and Vice-Principals. The reality is that many of our newest members have little train-ing or preparation before assuming their leadership roles. I believe our Association, through our Profes-sional Learning program, can become the primary credentialing body for principals and vice-principals in BC. There are many opportunities for us to increase the profile of our Association and to develop mutually beneficial partnerships with organizations such as the Ontario Principals’ Council to expand the range of professional learning opportunities for our members. Credentialing will ensure that our newest members are well-prepared when they begin the job. This will raise the credibility of our members and build public confidence in the role we play in our schools. It is the next logical step in the evolution of our Association. If it’s coming our way, we must be well-positioned to influence and shape how it will roll out.

It has been a privilege to work for you as a Director for the past three years and I would be honoured to serve as your next President.

For information about my experience and details on my three priorities, visit http://bit.ly/Leidloff

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Susan CloughPrincipal, Westerman Elementary School, Surrey [email protected]


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It has been a privilege to serve on the BCPVPA Board. The BCPVPA is an impressive Association of leaders!

For many years I was a teacher in Coquitlam, a VP for six years in Langley, and, for 20 years, a principal in Surrey in small and large schools with varied income levels. As a leader of schools that offered a Minis-try Resource Program for the Hearing Impaired, Late French Immersion, Social Development for students with severe behaviour, high English language learner populations, a segregated class of students with se-vere autism, District Intensive Fine Arts, and currently an inner city school, I bring a depth of experience to the BCPVPA from an insider’s perspective. These experiences help me to understand and support our members as they lead and manage their own schools.

Years ago I was a facilitator for Short Course. The theme was, “It’s all about relationships.” Building relationships – with each other, within our Associa-tion, and our school, district, professional, and gov-ernment communities – continues to be at the centre of our work to reach our strategic goals. We have been developing meaningful relationships, including those with BCPSEA and the Ministry of Education, and these have helped us to move our agenda for-ward including lifting the wage freeze. There is more to be done: having all of our members receive wages

at level A; attaining levels B and C, and, improving benefits. We must continue to develop a “top of mind” influential relationship with government. We absolutely deserve improved wages and benefits and we absolutely deserve to have our voices heard and valued.

One of my passions is mentoring for newly appointed Ps/VPs so that they can do the best that they can. The BCPVPA has begun its first steps on a continuum of mentoring. Judy Halbert and Linda Kaser said, “We are convinced that no teacher, no matter how tal-ented, can get high equity and high quality for young people by working alone. The work is simply too dif-ficult. Searching for colleagues who share your pas-sion is crucial.” The same can be said for Ps/VPs. My plan is to work as a member of the BCPVPA team to develop mentoring programs to meet the needs of our members.

As a member of the Board, I have supported the pro-fessional learning work of our staff, served on the Budget Committee, and the Work Intensification and Wellness Committee (WIWC). When it seemed Issues Forum might not be affordable, I advocated for this learning opportunity for our members at the Board table. When the WIWC expressed concern about wellness not having a clear focus in the strategic plan, I brought this forward to the Board. The Board agreed to move, “Advance a strategy to support member well-being” to the second objective of the goal, “Support the efficacy of school leadership pro-vided by principals and vice-principals.” My plan is to continue to help our members build their leadership capacity and to keep well as they lead and manage the volume and complexity of their roles.

It would be an honour to serve again as Director so that I may support our members, learn, lead, and facil-itate. As Dr. Seuss said, “We’re on our way up! We’ll be seeing great sights! We’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights. Oh the places we’ll go.”

Candidate forDirector

Once a candidate has been successful as President-elect,

voting for Directors will begin – either June 12 to 15

or June 19 to 22.

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We need to be recognized as a key player in the BC educational community

Capacity: I joined the Association because it offered me professional learning and professional develop-ment. Our organization needs to be able to support the rapidly changing reality of educational leaders. We need to continue to provide opportunities like; Short Course one and two or the Supervision for Learn-ing program 1 and 2. To support these programs, we need to explore ways of gaining long-term funding for a provincial leadership development strategy.

I have 12 years’ experience as a leader in Prince George School District in both the elementary and secondary settings. I have been an executive member of my Chapter representing the members on several local committees, on the contract negotiation team, and as my district’s representative for the BCPVPA’s Contract Advisory Committee.

My many roles in my chapter and as a BCPVPA board member have helped develop my understanding of and ability to work with the complex issues and chal-lenges principals and vice-principals face on a daily basis.

I ask you for your support so we can continue to keep the BCPVPA in the forefront of the educational com-munity in Canada.

I have been honored to represent you, for the past two years, as a board member of your BC Principals’

and Vice-Principals’ Association (BCPVPA).

I believe it is important to continue to focus on the BCPVPA’s strategic plan. My focus is on the Three Cs: Compensation, Connections, and Capacity.

Compensation: We need to achieve the full imple-mentation of the regional salary grids. Our Associa-tion needs to continue to build relationships and work with our education partners to advance the case for fully-funded adjustments to compensation for our members. This compensation needs to include ben-efits. The Association needs to continue to advocate for and support our members in getting the increases they deserve.

Connections: We all know the importance of the principal’s leadership to student learning. We too of-ten get swamped with managerial tasks or get added duties that disrupt our work life balance. Our Asso-ciation needs to continue to advocate for principals and vice-principals to have the time, resources, and support to be effective leaders. Leadership is about influence. We need to be strategic and strengthen our influence amongst our partners and the ministry.

Steve Dalla LanaPrincipal, Westwood Elementary, Prince George [email protected]

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DirectorOnce a candidate has been

successful as President-elect, voting for Directors will begin –

either June 12 to 15 or June 19 to 22.

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Karen FlelloPrincipal, SIDES, Saanich [email protected]

My name is Karen Flello, and I would be hon-oured to serve you as a member of the Board

of Directors. I have been an educator in BC for 27 years, working as a secondary teacher in Greater Vic-toria and as a secondary teacher and administrator in Saanich. I am Principal of the South Island Distance Education School (SIDES), a K–12 public Distributed Learning School serving more than 3000 students.

During my nine years as an administrator, I have rep-resented and served my administrative colleagues through our local Chapter as the Contract Chair (2009 – present) and as a member of our Pro D Com-mittee. Further, I have served as an executive mem-ber of the BC Distributed Learning Administrators’ Association (BCDLAA) in the roles of founding Direc-tor, President and Past President (2011 – present). I have represented both the BCPVPA and the BCDLAA as a DL representative in multiple meetings and working groups with the Ministry of Education.

Throughout my administrative career, I have been grateful for the support I have received from the BCPVPA – attending Short Course (2009), participating in the Coach Approach to Leadership (2011-12), and representing Saanich at Contract & Legal Seminars and Chapter Council meetings. Having access to the collective experience, expertise, and wisdom of the

Directors and the Contract and ProD teams has been invaluable in my growth as a leader and to my work on behalf of my colleagues, particularly as it applies to our work in the areas of contract and compensation. I feel it is imperative to give back, and I believe that as a Director I would be in the position to do that. Specifically, I would have opportunities to:

· provide a voice for our administrators of Distrib-uted Learning schools and programs – an area which has largely been absent from the conver-sation but which represents a substantial num-ber of administrators from more than 50 public DL schools and programs around the province;

· support the critical work of the BCPVPA in pursu-ing fair and appropriate compensation for princi-pals and vice-principals and in navigating the criti-cal issue of “compensation tied to performance” in such a way that it does not damage or compro-mise our professional learning and growth;

· advocate for principals and vice-principals who continue to absorb the pressure from both “above and below,” recognizing that capacity is not limitless and that mental health and well-being are issues of great concern in our ranks;

· support administrators in honouring and acting upon the calls to action outlined by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; and,

· support the continued mentorship and profes-sional growth support that is offered to our members through our Association.

I believe, and research proves, that school leadership is a critical indicator of student success. But we can-not do our jobs and provide leadership in isolation; we cannot work to our potential when we are feel-ing stretched, undervalued or alone. The work of the BCPVPA is to provide community for administrators which can help them to thrive, and it would be a great honour to be able to participate in this work. I thank you for your consideration and support.

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an appreciation for the diversity of challenges we face daily as educational leaders. Our Association is more important now than ever as we pursue fair and total compensation. In some districts, we continue to have to work extremely hard to get to the given levels on the 3R grid.

As we renew the BCPVPA strategic plan our priorities and strategies must adapt to the impetuous times we live in. Public education in BC is at a pivotal stage and we need the expertise to ensure the best for the stu-dents that enter our buildings. With the revised cur-riculum, new reporting guidelines, and the world of technology presenting challenges to many educators, principals and vice-principals need growing access to the amazing Professional Learning opportunities that this Association can provide. We need to continue advocating for principals and vice-principals by build-ing on work done by our current and former boards to remain a trusted voice at the education table. As performance models become a reality, we need to ensure we have a voice in building a growth plan model that is collaborative and truly develops leader-ship skills. Finally, we need to continue developing a comprehensive mental health strategy to ensure our members find balance in their lives.

I indicated earlier I am a learner at heart and I believe strongly in this Association. If elected, I promise to bring a broad-based perspective to the Board table that includes my rural background and provincial outlook. The role, I believe, of a Board member re-quires passion and commitment to be a voice that is heard at all levels.

I would be honoured to be that voice and serve my colleagues across the province as director and invite you to vote for me.

Thank you in advance for your support.

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I am Bev Forster from the School District 54 (Bulk-ley Valley) and I am seeking your support to serve

the BCPVPA as Director. I have come to this place in time through a desire to contribute my voice to the larger provincial conversation. I have been a principal for the past 15 years; prior to that I began my career in a small rural school in Quick, BC. I have had the honour of leading four schools. My current school is a large Dual Track French Immersion Elementary School in Smithers, which has a substantial Indige-nous population.

Each school I have been at has provided me with dif-ferent challenges and significant learning opportuni-ties. I am a learner at heart and through this Associa-tion have connected with colleagues from across the province as Chapter Professional Development Rep-resentative and President. I have been working close-ly with the BCPVPA for the last eight years. I worked with a team on the initial Supervision for Learning committee and as part of that team assisted in de-veloping Supervision for Learning training DVDs that are now used at the local Chapter level. I participated in the Coach Approach to Leadership series and I am proud to have facilitated at Short Course for the last two years.

Through my work at Chapter Council, I have gained

Beverly ForsterPrincipal, Muheim Elementary/École Muheim, Bulkley Valley [email protected]




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Ashif JiwaPrincipal, Cougar Canyon Elementary, Delta [email protected]

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I absolutely love being a principal! In this profes-sion we listen empathetically, guide gently, and

support unwaveringly, all with the intention of help-ing children live up to their full potential.

My good friend and colleague, Matt J., said at his last principals’ meeting before he retired, ‘I was lucky enough to have a job that allowed me to come to school everyday, and be with children.’ What a great perspective! I keep Matt’s words in mind, especially on those days that don’t go exactly as planned.

Colleagues, my name is Ashif Jiwa and I am running for the position of Director for the BCPVPA. I am cur-rently the Principal of Cougar Canyon Elementary School in North Delta, my home for the last seven years. There is no better way to start my day than to greet students and parents as they arrive to school. Connecting with people is definitely the best part of my job. Hearing the stories of a child’s lacrosse game or about a parent’s new job are the connections that make our roles so important and a source of joy.

Education, in particular public education, is going through an interesting time. A little bit of change, plus a tad of redesign, coupled with a new genera-tion of work force. and sprinkled with some politics, all adds to this fascinating time. Principals and vice-

principals are vital during this period. We must lead with our hearts, and let our voices be heard loud and clear. Our scope of influence is broad, which makes it exciting to be an administrator. If I am elected to the Board of Directors for our Association, I will strongly advocate for our members and the system that we work in. Ultimately, this advocacy will impact stu-dents in our schools in a positive way.

For the last seven years I have been a member of our local Association. I began as a Professional Learning Rep, which led to me taking on the role of the Geo-graphic Rep that would attend the Chapter Council meetings. This is where my interest for the provincial perspective was heightened and connecting with col-leagues from all over the province was definitely a highlight. From that role, I moved on to being the Vice-President for two years, and now the Chapter President. The strength of collaboration is a power-ful force and building networks among principals and vice-principals would be a focus if I were to be elected Director.

Learning is lifelong. It is lifelong for our students, for our teachers, and especially for us as educational leaders. From being an active member of our local Association’s professional learning committee, to working on the BCPVPA steering committee for the Connecting Leaders Conference, and the staff at our school on professional learning, I truly embody the passion for life-long learning. If elected, I would help continue the wonderful work that our Association is doing to provide meaningful professional learning opportunities for our members, often done by our members for our members.

Our local Association has always felt supported by the BC Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association and I would be honoured to serve as a Director. I would take this role seriously and would bring the same passion, care, and dedication to it as I do, being the Principal at Cougar Canyon School.




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Read JorgensenPrincipal, View Royal Elementary, Greater Victoria [email protected]

My name is Read Jorgensen and I am running for a position on the Board of Directors for the

British Columbia Principals’ & Vice Principals’ Asso-ciation. I am currently the Principal of View Royal El-ementary School in the Greater Victoria District #61.

I have served in public education for 28 years in Sas-katchewan and British Columbia starting as a Music and Drama teacher, followed by 16 years in adminis-tration; 12 years as Principal in five different schools. In the past two years I served as the President of our Chapter in Greater Victoria and now as Past Presi-dent. I also have experience at the provincial level working with the BCPVPA Supervision 4 Learning Committee and most recently working with the Pro-fessional Learning Advisory Committee.

I am excited about the opportunity to serve our orga-nization and I believe that I can bring a skill set that will complement our already dynamic Board of Direc-tors. In addition to my experience in public schools, I have an MBA, and several years ago worked outside of public schools in the field of international for profit education that provided me an opportunity to look back on our industry and practices from a different perspective and to acquire different skills not com-monly found in public education.

As a director I am interested in supporting our mem-bers in promoting three different areas.

First is to continue the strong advocacy begun by the BCPVPA in the past year regarding our role in the ed-ucation system. It is critical that our public, provincial government, local boards, and employee partners hear our voice as a trusted source and understand the important roles performed by principals and vice-principals. We are, by nature, humble at heart and we need to remind ourselves, and our partners, of our vital role in this entire enterprise.

The second area of interest is in continuing to sup-port strong, relevant, practical professional develop-ment by creating learning opportunities that support administrators in their day-to-day responsibilities. Most importantly we need to foster specific skills that sustain and grow our members as we handle these increasingly complex and demanding roles.

Last but not least, I am interested in the health and welfare of our members. With so many people count-ing on us day-to-day, including our families, we have all felt that sense of increasing pressure. I hope we can start an important dialogue with members to un-derstand work pressures and to talk about common areas of concern. In addition, we need to promote a culture where it is OK to reach out for help and sup-port and, in turn, to help and support others.

I am looking forward to working with the BCPVPA Board of Directors and our members to solving some of these future challenges and hope that you will al-low me to serve you as we as we tackle these defin-ing issues.

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Who am I? My name is Susan Nichols, and I’m proud to have been an integral part of the tran-

sition team that led our local Association (Vancouver Elementary) back to full Chapter status with BCPVPA this past year. In addition to this role, I am currently privileged to be the President of our Vancouver As-sociation and a representative to Chapter Council. In addition to my service with our local Association over many years and BCPVPA over the past year, I have been an educator for 29 years, including eight years as a Principal, five years as a VP, and many years of elementary teaching. I believe passionately in public education and the role of the Principal and Vice-Princi-pal in leading and supporting caring, safe, and healthy public schools. However, I recognize that our roles have become increasingly complex and demanding, and that often the demands of the role may distract our attention from our core focus: students. I am also a mother, a wife, a dog-lover, an avid hiker and enjoy spending time at our place in Whistler whenever I can.

How can I serve the BCPVPA? My colleagues de-scribe me as organized, efficient, hardworking, and able to work collaboratively to accomplish goals — all required skills to succeed as a BCPVPA Board mem-ber. While there are many issues that deserve our at-tention, I believe that our focus as a provincial Asso-ciation needs to be in the following areas:


Susan NicholsPrincipal, General Wolfe Elementary, Vancouver [email protected]

Leadership development and succession plan-ning. Much has already been done by the BCPVPA in this area, and it is important we keep building on these strengths to support those new to the profes-sion as well as provide a source of inspiration and renewal for those Ps/VPs with more experience.

Total compensation including benefits. Thanks to the advocacy and hard work of the BCPVPA, progress has been made on compensation for our members in many districts. Further work is needed, especially in the area of ensuring our benefits are equal to or bet-ter to the staff we supervise.

Workload/complexity. The role of P/VP has changed so much since I first started in administration, and next year, many of us are looking at supervising more adults in our building with the same amount of ad-ministrative time we had this year. Continued advo-cacy for increased administration time to accompany increased leadership/management expectations will be important in the coming years.

Why now? When Vancouver Elementary was think-ing about whether to rejoin BCPVPA, one of the ra-tionales I discussed most with our members was our need for a stronger provincial voice, and the advo-cacy and support a provincial association could offer us. I also talked about what Vancouver could bring to the BCPVPA. Despite the challenges of working in a district that is so often in the news, I am incredibly proud of the work our Principals and Vice-Principals do and am committed to encouraging and support-ing them to become active and full participants in the BCPVPA, both for their benefit and for the ben-efit of their colleagues around the province. While I am a new face in the BCPVPA, I am excited to offer my service as a prospective Board member. I believe my skills, knowledge, and passion will enable me to represent you and to continue the important work of our Association, united in representing the interests and needs of Vice-Principals and Principals in every district of the province.

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