After nearly a 35 year career in education, I retired as the Superintendent of Schools in January 2020. While in the role as superintendent, I sat on two national committees, ERDI and C21 and also was an adjunct professor for Gonzaga University. I now work as a leadership consultant supporting the work of school boards, system and school leaders.
Chris Smeaton
Author's posts
Aug 27
From the Desk of the Superintendent- Opening Address to Staff
The following is the abbreviated text of my opening address to our staff. Before I begin my opening comments, I want to take time to welcome to our Holy Spirit family, St. Michael’s Bow Island . Over the past couple of years our borders have continued to expand through parents desiring Catholic Education and using the …
Aug 25
From the Desk of the Superintendent- Opening Address to the Learning Leadership Team
I want to begin my comments by welcoming everybody back. I hope that everybody had a great summer and you are excited about the upcoming year. I’m also very pleased to introduce the newest members of our Learning Leadership Team, Chris Sumner from St. Michael’s Bow Island, Anthony Vercillo at CCH and Kristy Ruaben at St. Catherine’s in …
Jun 25
From the Desk of the Superintendent- Year End Message
Over the weekend, I had some time to reflect on our 2013-14 school year. It is hard to believe that we are in the last days of the 2013-14 school year as it seems like only yesterday we opened the year at the Enmax with David Wells. What a great start! And that great start translated into another …
Jun 04
Opportunity for Communication
The following article was published in the Lethbridge Herald on June 4th. This is my last submission to the Lethbridge Herald for the 2013-14 school year. With the month of June arriving, the end of the school year is not far behind. This will be my last superintendent’s column for the year and so I …
May 31
From the Desk of the Superintendent- May 31, 2014
I’m currently sitting in a hotel room in Red Deer, having just returned from RedCamp14– a local version of the edcamp model where participants exclusively drive the agenda. The Alberta School Boards’ Association Spring General Meeting begins on Sunday evening and so I thought I would come up a day early for the event. This …
May 18
Regaining culture, tradition and language
My mother’s parents came from the Ukraine. They spoke the language and I remember many of the Ukrainian traditions (especially the food) growing up while visiting them in the summer or at Christmas. Unfortunately, that is where the language, culture and most of the tradition ended, with my grandparents. I can assume that there were many …
May 11
Graduation Message- Being Significant
Yesterday, I began my graduation ceremonies tour and addressed students at Catholic Central High School in Lethbridge and St. Michael’s School in Pincher Creek. Being able to address all our graduates is always a highlight even though, it is fairly hectic with two graduations scheduled on the same day in locations 100 kilometres apart. Regardless of …
May 01
Staying the same is not an option!
The following article was written for and published in the Lethbridge Herald on April 30, 2014. A couple of weeks ago, I attended a conference in Saskatoon hosted by Educational Research and Development Corporation (ERDI). This organization brings together about 50 superintendents from across Canada twice a year. Our plenary keynote was given by Queen’s …
Apr 24
From the Desk of the Superintendent- April 24, 2014
With the date of the regular board meeting falling during Easter vacation, the Board voted to move it to a week earlier. Considerable action items were debated and motions passed at the April meeting. The monthly Board Briefs prepared by my Executive Assistant, Anisha Gatner, provide an excellent synopsis of the meeting. However, there are two items …
Apr 13
Schools adjust to parenting styles
I was born in the early 60’s and grew up in a traditional family setting for the time. Dad worked and for the majority of my school days, especially when I was young, I had a stay-at-home mom. We always had time for family supper and found time to attend church. I had a fairly …