School District No. 35

One could walk into one of the 46 schools in the Langley School District and find a student that is experiencing success in school. Often it is a direct result of the care and connection of one teacher or support staff that has made that student feel a sense of pride and belonging. Or if you explore further and ‘peel back some of the layers’ of the systems and structures in Langley, it may be the result of a collective effort from staff in many departments, both educational and operational.

In the District’s latest Framework for Enhancing Student Learning (FESL), there are many stories and testimonials demonstrating the collaboration among departments to help students achieve success and “to reach their full potential and create a positive legacy for the future.”

According to the Ministry of Education and Child Care, the Framework for Enhancing Student Learning (the Framework), “is the scaffolding of policy and legislation that guides British Columbia’s approach to continuous improvement in public education. The Framework directs the system’s focus toward continuously improving educational outcomes for all students, with particular attention to improving equity of learning outcomes for Indigenous students, students with disabilities or diverse abilities, and children and youth in care.”

The District’s FESL is the “continuous improvement plan,” or blueprint containing goals and actions aimed at supporting all students, and in particular Indigenous students, students with disabilities or diverse abilities, and children and youth in care. The FESL is in alignment with the District’s Strategic Plan, school-based action plans for learning, staff growth plans, and the mission and vision. In the Langley School District, as outlined in its FESL 2025-2026, educational and operational departments are working together and focusing on goals and actions to support all learners. It’s a collaborative effort demonstrating that “every child matters.”

Throughout the school year, the District will be showcasing how various departments are making an impact in schools, using H.D. Stafford Middle school as an example of this work.

The District’s Facilities and Maintenance department is constantly working behind the scenes to improve learning spaces, outdoor play spaces and more – often doing this work in the summer months when many are on summer break. 

In the case of H.D. Stafford, facilities staff recently worked together with school administration to have a new sport court installed.

“We went to some vendors… and (said) we want it to inclusive and accessible,” explained Mel Cervantes, manager of facilities and maintenance. 

The end result was the installation of a court which can host multiple different sports. It’s become very popular with the students, too.

“When I think about this space, I think about how it’s such a sense of pride for our kids,” said H.D. Stafford principal John Hantke. “You see this beautiful sport court, you see kids’ smiling faces. They’re running out of school to get into it at recess and lunch, they’re here after school. It’s just been such a neat addition to our school and our school culture.”

Seeing the school community enjoy the court “makes us really feel good about what we do,” Cervantes added.

Other departments are making a big impact, too. 

The District’s Information Technology (IT) team, for example, has worked tirelessly to make sure technology is in the hands of students not just during school hours, but at home with their families, too. In collaboration with the District’s Student Services department, IT has implemented a technology recycling program of sorts, whereby older district technology – such as tablets – are distributed to families that need them.

“It’s just been so effective and welcomed by so many of the youth and families that we serve, helping them access school, helping access community services, helping them feel safer,” said Iha Hayer, district vice-principal, enhanced student services. 

“Some kids who just haven’t had those opportunities now can, because our IT department has figured out a way… to distribute technology when it wasn’t available (before).”

Hantke also noted that the District’s Human Resources department is also a key part of the equation, as staff work to bring in the right people for each job – whether it’s teachers, support staff or administrators. 

“We have an amazing staff here, an incredible staff, and we’ve done a lot of work building the culture of team and building a culture of positivity and care and connection for kids,” he said, adding that Stafford’s teachers “light up” when students walk through the door.

“And that’s where we have tremendous support from our HR team who are recruiting all summer. They have done a ton of work and we’ve been able to reap the benefits of a lot of their hard work to get quality people in the system.

“We often talk about how it’s not the position, it’s the person. And so the work of HR is to make sure that it’s the right person coming in.”

To read more about the District’s Framework for Enhancing Student Learning, click here.