Sandy McDonald, our Superintendent for the Grande Prairie Public School Division (GPPSD), has received the provincial EXL Award for Excellence in School System Leadership. Sandy was given the award at the Annual General Meeting of the College of Alberta School Superintendents (CASS), held March 23, 2023.
Jointly sponsored by Xerox Canada Ltd. and the Canadian Association of School System Administrators (CASSA), this prestigious award is granted to outstanding school system leaders who exhibit exemplary leadership ability and have enhanced the profession of school system administration over the course of their careers.
As the Alberta recipient of the EXL Award, Sandy will be the CASS nominee for the national EXL Award as Canadian Superintendent of the Year, to be announced at the CASSA Conference, which will be held in Victoria, BC from July 5 - 7, 2023.
Consideration for the EXL award is given to those system education leaders who:
- guide children's educational experiences,
- establish the character of a school system's programs through the important work with school boards, school leaders, teachers, and parents,
- shape children's attitudes towards learning and their perceptions of themselves as lifelong learners, and
- model effective leadership and mentoring.
As Superintendent of Schools within GPPSD for the last seven years, Sandy has demonstrated a strong strategic vision for using professional standards as a foundational framework for determining student success. When considering the scope of contributions and articles that he has written about system leadership, Sandy has used evidence of impact of teacher and teacher leader practices on student learning as the sole reason for adaptive practices within his school authority. Through his tenure as a system education leader, Sandy has published multiple national articles that outline the work of his school division in working on behalf of students.
These articles have addressed the topics of effective use of emerging technologies, the importance of community participation within the learning system, leveraging inquiry to guide system-wide improvement, and the process for building a road map for continuous improvement in student learning.
These articles have addressed the topics of effective use of emerging technologies, the importance of community participation within the learning system, leveraging inquiry to guide system-wide improvement, and the process for building a road map for continuous improvement in student learning.
Sandy has collaborated with the University of Calgary and specifically Dr. Sharron Friesen to author "Operational Practices through COVID identified as a Stabilizer and Catalyst for School Effectiveness." The success of GPPSD in this area became the reason that the University of Calgary presented promising research from this school division at the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement in Vina del Mar, Chile.
"Superintendent McDonald actively embraces and immerses himself in leadership. His style is collaborative and inclusive, respectful and thoughtful. His drive for constant improvement is evident, and his dedication to student success helps us make informed and well-thought-out decisions," shares Joan Nellis, Board Chair, GPPSD.
Please help us celebrate Sandy's extensive efforts to enhance the quality of system education leadership in our province.
For more information
10127 120 Avenue
Grande Prairie Alberta
Canada T8V 8H8
www.gppsd.ab.ca
