Horizons: Welcome to the 2015-2016 School Year!

Welcome to the 2015-16 school year!  As the Superintendent of Schools I am looking forward to having our schools re-engage students, families and communities in fulfilling the District’s mission “To inspire all learners to reach their full potential and create a positive legacy for the future.”

This is my first blog.  As Superintendent I have previously chosen to communicate via VLOGs (video messages) as I felt compelled to put a personal presence to the position.  Given the positive feedback to those messages, I intend to continue delivering thoughts verbally.  This past summer I presented to the District’s principals and vice-principals on creating and enhancing school culture at the summer administrators’ meetings.  Throughout the day I encouraged them to think about finding a multiplicity of ways to communicate thoughts to students, parents and communities.  Hence, my blog, and my personal attempt to model what I hope teachers and administrators will consider using as a mode of communication.

My blog will be entitled “Horizons” as a tribute to a forward-thinking, passionate group of educators that I had the privilege and honour of learning with this past summer at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.  One colleague spoke of horizons as a forward-looking metaphor, a goal, a dream, an ongoing journey with no fixed destination.  I see education much this way ~ exploring, planning, enjoying, challenging all that an education system has to offer towards a never-ending pursuit of lifelong learning.

I look forward to sharing my thinking over the course of this school year and wish all those fortunate to be in our District the best of luck for a successful and rewarding 2015-2016 school year.

Suzanne Hoffman, Superintendent of Schools
School District #35 (Langley)