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
Mar 15
Remembering the past
The past week I have the pleasure of accompanying EF Educational Tours Canada and a group of senior educational leaders from across Canada to tour Germany. The main event was the Science and Innovation Summit. I will write a separate post on my experience with the summit. Prior to the summit however, we were able to visit …
Mar 09
From the Desk of the Superintendent- March 09, 2014
The wind is howling in southern Alberta this morning. That means we are either having a bitter cold snap or a chinook. Already in March, we’ve faced both! Let’s hope that the spring weather we are experiencing currently (maybe without the wind) stays around as I for one am tired of winter! February’s board meeting highlighted some major capital announcements …
Feb 23
Accountability and Assurance
There has been considerable conversation about the topic of accountability in education. Often pundits stand on either side of the debate without addressing the real issues or worse, without any semblance of common sense! Our division, although relatively small compared to our metro counterparts, still has a budget of approximately 53 million. The vast majority of this …
Feb 20
From the Desk of the Superintendent- Generative Governance
The following article was published in the Lethbridge Herald on February 19, 2014. School boards in Alberta have three main roles. The first is a fiduciary role that focuses on exercising its legal responsibilities. The second role revolves around strategic planning; making decisions on resources, programs and services. Last, and probably least exercised in the …
Feb 09
Continuous Improvement Plan Reviews
This year, I’ve been more intentional in working with our schools with their continuous improvement plans or CIPs as they are commonly referred. At one time in our division’s history, the school had little flexibility in the design of their plans. There was a strict format and all plans adhered to it. I believe that this …
Feb 02
From the Desk of the Superintendent- February 2, 2014
Semester and quarter exams are over and February begins the last half of the school year. According to Balzac Billy, who didn’t see his shadow, spring should be right around the corner, even though Environment Canada predicts more cold! The question is, “Who are you going to believe?” Regardless of the weather, we are in …
Jan 26
Discomfort
“The road to comfort is crowded and it rarely gets you there. Ironically, it’s those who seek out discomfort that are able to make a difference and find their footing. Discomfort brings engagement and change. Discomfort means you’re doing something that others are unlikely to do because they’re busy hiding out in the comfortable zone.” …
Jan 15
Lethcamp is coming
The following article was published in Lethbridge Herald on January 15th. Teachers have always engaged in professional development. The opportunity to learn, hone one’s skills and improve instructional practice is, and will always be, a professional requirement. In the past, school divisions have held professional development days and teachers have attended conferences to satisfy this …
Jan 13
From the Desk of the Superintendent- January 13, 2014
Happy New Year to one and all! It is hard to believe that we have already been back a week and soon will be coming to the end of the quarter or semester and the midpoint of the year. Teachers and students are busy preparing for final exams and completing final projects. I want to wish everyone …
Jan 12
No more lone wolf!
Last week in my blog, I wrote about the importance of continuous improvement in educational circles. Framed through the lens of a professional, seeking to improve on an ongoing basis is simply non-negotiable. Our practice must always be on an evolutionary track. The impact on student learning and our desire to be a learner must always …