Education News Autumn 2019 | Page 5

PARTICIPANTS GAVE POSITIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE DIRECTIONS IN EDUCATION :
Carla Beck ( MLA ): " We are at an important point in the Province right now where we are having discussions about what the next 10 , the next 20 , years look like with regard to K-12 education in the Province . We ’ ve seen the education sector plan coming to an end in 2020 . We ’ ve seen the summit process through the Ministry of Education and the Re-Imagine process through the STF . A number of community groups and stakeholders are thinking about what it is we want from our K-12 system , and how do we support that . So this is a discussion that occupies most of my waking thoughts . It ’ s great to have the opportunity to be here — And this is a very impressive gathering : you ’ ve got directors of education , the children ’ s advocate , representatives of the STF and the Ministry — It ’ s an opportunity for people to get together and share ideas and hear other ideas and really think about how we make this a collaborative project that we can take to our schools and to the electorate in Saskatchewan . And to develop support and excitement about this project of making Saskatchewan the best place to receive an education , I think it ’ s possible . I think that we have some work to do . But to me it ’ s the most worthwhile project ."
Haley Maher ( Ranch Erhlo ): “ I appreciate the opportunity to participate . I love the fact that [ the Dean ' s ] vision is about what can we do to improve education today because there are lots of issues , and the fact that he ’ s saying ' Let ’ s do something about it ,' excites me . In my job , I work at Ranch Erhlo Society , I get kids when there is no where to go but up . I ask ' How did they get here ?,' kids that are nine years old ."
Corey O ’ Soup ( Then Child and Youth Advocate ): " I think that inviting community and stake holders to any event where you are planning for a future , it is really important that we have a voice in that , and that it ’ s not done in offices at the University , at the Dean ’ s or President ’ s level . I think actually going to your stakeholders and bringing them together is really important and I don ’ t think you can create a strategic plan without doing that ... so , I ' m thankful for being here today and having the opportunity to bring children and youth voice to the event as well , which is really important . I think we need more of that , and we need more of that here , today . I do bring that voice , but it ’ s better to have that voice directly from young people themselves ."
Susan Nedelcov-Anderson ( Assistant Deputy Minister of Education ): " I think that it is important that we also have voice , we don ’ t operate in isolation . And so involving the perspective of all the stakeholders around setting what the future might look like in the organization , I think , is really important ."
Gwen Keith ( Director of Education , Holy Family RCSSD ): " We are at a time in education in the Province where we are strategically looking at the future education for our students from a number of stakeholders ' points of views , so I think having some voice in where this University is going and the Faculty is gratifying . It ’ s nice to be able to know that our voice matters . As far as I know this has never happened before , and I ’ ve been around for a number of years , so I ’ m glad to be here ."
Nancy Mackenzie ( Regina Public library ): " It is important to get the community perspective on what is happening at the Faculty of Education and , by extension , what is happening in our schools . I think schools exist as part of the larger community , and it ’ s important for the teachers and for the kids to recognize that , and figure out how they can connect beyond the school , connect education to the community , whether the community is local or global , looking for opportunities to make connections between formal learning to what goes on in outof-school hours and in those months when kids are not in school ."
Trevor Smith ( SK Professional Teachers ’ Regulatory Board ): " We work closely with the University of Regina to make sure that the programs they are offering for students correlate with the requirements for teacher certification in Saskatchewan . I was grateful to share my voice and perspective . I think that whatever we can do to strengthen each other ’ s missions , to support one another , is beneficial . ... It is nice to have a big topic to discuss with colleagues , centering common interest ."
Nilgün Önder ( VP Academic , University of R ): " I came to learn from community members about education , educating children , teacher ’ s education . I would like imput from the community . ... We ’ ve been having really great conversation ."
Sherry Chase ( Regina Catholic Schools ): " I think it is great to engage the community and the education sector in the strategic plan . I like the direction of asking students and including their voice because they are the ones who are going to be impacted . I am excited about the connection between the University and the school divisions and where we could potentially go by working together .
Venkadesh ( Master ' s student ): " I ’ m from India . This [ event ] really helped me to know what is happening around Canada . I have ideas to share , related to environment , keeping it as a base ; you have to prepare any curriculum so they have an understanding about the environment ."
A simultaneous visual capture of a dynamic education-sector discussion about our shared future in K - 12 education
Education News | Page 5