Saskatchewan Principals’ Short Course strengthens the importance of Indigenous engagement for educators

The week’s activities included keynote speakers, breakout sessions and networking opportunities to help newly appointed vice-principals and principals and others working in leadership positions within school divisions develop their own leadership philosophies and administrative expertise.

Superintendents and directors from school divisions across Saskatchewan facilitated the course and gave of their time to guide participants through the week. 

“I think it’s a critical time for our educators to take a look at the province of Saskatchewan and where we are in terms of education and also look at where we want to go,” said Sarah Longman, supervisor of Indigenous Education Student Achievement with Regina Public Schools and a short course facilitator. “It’s been an absolutely powerful week with lots of challenging thoughts, deep insights and opportunity for growth.”

Those opportunities were reflected in sessions spanning topics from fostering mental health in schools to legal issues to developing teacher mentorship programs. Many sessions focused on how to develop an environment that engages and uplifts Indigenous students and their families.

For Carmen Messer, newly appointed principal of Tisdale Middle & Secondary School, having Longman as her small group facilitator was the number one highlight of the week.

“She has impacted me the most,” said Messer. “My school has a formal relationship with a First Nation, and it has a lot of room for improvement. Fostering that relationship is going to be a primary goal for me as I move into my principalship. Meeting First Nation leaders like Sarah confirms to me that the work that we’re doing is important.”

Chris Scribe, director of the college’s Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP) gave a keynote address on how to lead with purpose and what changes are needed to support Indigenous success in schools. He spoke of the critical role administrators play to ensure Indigenous students are supported to succeed.

His address resonated with course participant Mary MacColl, newly appointed vice-principal with Charlebois Community School in Cumberland House.

“I feel the same way, being Métis and growing up Métis—you’re constantly trying to better educate yourself in order to be taken seriously. You feel your knowledge is never enough,” said MacColl. “We need to build on true reconciliation, not surface reconciliation [across this province]. We need to build Indigenous knowledge and reconciliation into the school curriculum for all students. Not just in support of Indigenous students. With doing that, true change is possible.”

MacColl’s colleague Aaron Fosseneuve, newly appointed principal with Charlebois Community School, found the week to be valuable in reaffirming his leadership goals for his school community.

“How we support parent engagement is so important. One key thing for me from this week were discussions about how to drive school culture, how it’s about relationships. You can look at any new initiative and research it and always at the root and strength of it are relationships. This week has affirmed for me how important that is,” he said.

All in all, participants felt it was a successful week with many highlights, growth and networking opportunities that were worth delaying the start of summer break.

“I was exhausted at the end of the school year, but coming here it kind of feeds your soul. It’s rejuvenating, it’s energizing and it’s invigorating,” said Longman.