Today marks my 5-year retirement anniversary as Superintendent of Schools for Holy Spirit Catholic School Division. Just like today, it was a Sunday, and I remember walking around St. Basil’s Catholic Education Centre one last time before I left my keys on my desk, closed my office door and said goodbye to a place that I will always hold close to my heart.
During those five years, we lived through a pandemic and while many survived, I’m not sure we came out of it very well. While anxiety and anger were heightened during that time, I wrongly expected that they would eventually subside. Oh, how wrong I was! We still continue to be an angry society, a “me” generation and unable to rethink our own decisions, values and opinions. As Adam Grant communicates in his book, “Think Again” we are too busy being preachers, politicians and prosecutors to ever think like scientists and search for the truth especially when it goes against our own belief system. Stay tuned for a future blog on this topic.
What if we tried to be just 1% better each day…just 1%???
While the mental health needs of our students were increasing prior to the pandemic it is soaring out of control now. To complicate the issue, adults are suffering these same anxieties at an alarming rate too! In late 2024 I listened to Senator Stan Kutcher, say the following, “”Well being and wellness has often become not about self care but rather self-indulgence!” We keep setting ourselves up to believe that we should “feel good” all the time. This is problematic especially in our schools with children. Stress is not necessarily a bad thing and the inability for kids and adults to deal with it or worse avoid it is exasperating the problem. To avoid stress and feel good all the time is unrealistic. It is a fantasy! More to follow…
Finally, the last five years has demonstrated that leadership more than ever before is in high demand. We no longer have a complicated education system that needs to be managed but a complexed education system that needs to be led. Never before have we experienced a more complex world both within and outside of our classroom and it can not be simply managed. Returning to Adam Grant’s book, “Think Again” this is where we need leaders to not just learn but unlearn and not just think but rethink. The complexity needs a paradigm shift and not more of the same. Again, look for a future blog post.
Let’s hope that in the next five years we can build a society that is more hopeful, more helpful and more… your wish!
