As a Master Teacher, Tom has placed students at the centre of all his efforts. His strength led to several acknowledgments and awards, including the Alberta Education Excellence in Teaching Award. Throughout the years, Tom has lent his gentle leadership skills to guide many innovative practices at Olds High - from being a High School Re-Design pioneer and an early adopter of Gay-Straight Alliance efforts, to ensuring the school's place of pride as an internationally recognized UNESCO-Associated School. Olds High has hosted several large provincial and national student leadership conferences, and Tom has personally provided over 500 hours each year through his extra work.
Tom has set a warm and welcoming tone with parents, community, government and media. He was called on to deliver a high level of collaboration with external partners in the creation and ongoing programming of the Community Learning Campus (CLC) - a joint venture between Olds College and Chinook's Edge School Division.
"I will miss the classroom. I'm grateful that I was able to stay a teacher even in my role as Principal, because I really do love the interactions that happen in those four walls."
"A highlight for me was working on the CLC and seeing how the community rallied, and continues to rally, around the school and this important partnership," said Tom. "I attended over 600 meetings in the planning of the CLC but it never seemed like a burden, because we knew it would have big implications for the future of Olds, Mountain View County and Chinook's Edge.
"My favourite part of my role, though, has been without question being able to work with multiple generations of families in Olds. Olds is like family to me, because I have been able to work with so many people from the same family. I've seen so many amazing things that Olds High graduates go on to accomplish in the community and beyond.
"I am very honoured to receive the award, because I know what Roy Cope did for Red Deer County and I'm humbled to be in the same category as the other recipients. It means a lot to me that the Board and my peers at Division Office would consider me for this award."
Tom Christensen's contribution to Chinook's Edge has been significant - not only for his 30+ years as Principal and Vice Principal of École Olds High School, but also as a steadfast mentor to his colleagues throughout the division.
