As Karim Hachlaf officially began in the Burnaby School District as Superintendent, one of the first things he did was go to every workstation in the administration office and introduce himself to each staff member at their desk.
I've very much enjoyed the chance to connect with people, as I've begun my new role in Burnaby. It's clear to me that people here are passionate about public education and creating a positive impact for all students."
A father of three and long-time resident of Burnaby, Hachlaf is also a parent in the District. While he already has exposure to public education in Burnaby and experience leading neighbouring New Westminster School District as Superintendent, he's keen to learn more about the context here.
One of Hachlaf's priorities is to get to know the people and culture.
"Over the coming months, I'll be visiting as many schools as I can before the end of the school year. I look forward to the opportunity to meet more staff, talk with students, parents, partners, and see more of what makes the Burnaby School District such an amazing place to work and learn."
He's hitting the ground running, as Hachlaf joins the District during budget preparation for the next school year, and as the Burnaby Board of Education works to create a new strategic plan that will guide the District's work for the coming years.
Hachlaf had been Superintendent in New Westminster since 2018. He began his career as a teacher in the North Vancouver School District in 1999, quickly taking on various leadership positions. He holds a Master of Education, Administration and Leadership from the University of British Columbia, as well as a Bachelor of Education, Secondary and a Bachelor of Arts, Human Kinetics - both also from UBC.
