It is with a mixture joy and sadness that Dave retires at the end of this school year. His career started in the former St. Vital School Division on a term contract between Victor Mager and Minnetonka School(s) that quickly transitioned into a full time contract at Victor Mager School.
In many ways, transition marked Dave's career as the following year he was fortunate to be part of the staff that opened H.S Paul School, where he taught Physical Education to students in grades 4 to 9. It was during his 12 years at H.S. Paul School that he was inspired to seek leadership opportunities in Divisional Administration. As the Athletic Coordinator/Consultant, he is most proud that many of the initiatives he helped advance while at the Board Office are still in place in some form or another today. His work at the Board Office was coupled with a year as the Physical Education teacher at St. George School.
His journey in school administration took Dave from St. George School to Vice Principal at Lavallee School for one year, followed by two years at Victor Mager School and two years at Highbury School. Dave then spent two years as Principal of Marion School before joining the staff at Frontenac School.
His final move took him to Nordale School. He is proud of the legacy that he leaves in all of the stops along his career, but his contribution to the community's efforts to transform the green space at Nordale School to a nature playground is a collective achievement that will stand for years and generations to come.
During his time as a school administrator, Dave has also served a larger role as Chair (in various configurations) of the Louis Riel Association of School Administrators (LRASA). Perhaps he is most proud of the work that was done in creating LRASA going back to the first days of the division where, along with colleagues Al McDiarmid, Henri Peloquin, and Jack Fraser, he worked to reinvent what an administrative leadership group could look like: "Unity, Diversity and Leadership."
As LRASA Chair, Dave has had the honour of bringing the collective voice to the table with three different Superintendents and two LRTA Presidents. He acknowledges all the work of LRASA Members who have had executive positions and table members in supporting the work that was done to ensure LRASA had a voice with both LRTA, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees. He will always value the time and continue to look fondly on what this group of educational leaders has accomplished in service of schools and communities.
We thank Dave for his many years of service in the Louis Riel School Division and recognize the positive impact he has had in the lives of students, families, and staff across the communities he has served.
