High Prairie School Division is proud to acknowledge that we have been chosen as the recipient of the 2024 Alberta School Board Association (ASBA) Community Engagement Award. As stated by ASBA, "The Community Engagement Award recognizes one ASBA member school board that embraces community engagement as a method to inform, involve and gain input from stakeholders on school division plans, programs and/or services. This includes initiatives that demonstrate a genuine effort to engage stakeholders and communities in decision-making processes, ensuring their voices are heard and valued.
The recipient shows innovative approaches, stakeholder involvement, follow-up procedures, as well as outcomes and benefits achieved as a direct result of the community engagement. Additionally, the recipient details efforts made to sustain conversations with participants and the community beyond the initial engagement."
In the 2023-24 school year, the HPSD Board of Trustees and recently hired Superintendent and CEO Murray Marran sought a new method of engaging with the school community to gather feedback from Division stakeholders. As part of the Board's four-year plan, the topics they were reviewing were the Division's mission, vision, and core values. They designed a multi-pronged approach to stakeholder engagement, including thirteen community consultation sessions, an online survey, and the use of our Annual Education Results Report (AERR) data to develop a new set of mission, vision, and core value statements.
Board Chair Joy McGregor stated, "The information we gathered from our schools, our families, the people we serve, allowed our Board to come together and rewrite our (mission, vision, core value) statements so that they better reflect the values of our communities. To receive this province-wide award for the work we've done in our Division is incredible. We were so happy with the great feedback we received from everyone to drive positive change for our schools. To thenreceive this award out of all the other school divisions in the province was really special. It showed that we are doing what we need to do to provide the best schools and school communities for our kids, their families, our staff, and our communities as a whole."
Superintendent and CEO Murray Marran commented further, "This was a lot of planning and a lot of work to make this new engagement session structure a success. Our Trustees noted on a number of occasions that the format allowed them to hear what mattered most to their constituents and make informed decisions on the direction of the Division. When the Trustees and I sat down at strategic planning, we were able to clearly define our plan for High Prairie School Division based on the voices of our communities. We developed a mission, vision, and set of core values that spoke to our stakeholders' values. We were able to then close the loop and share that information back with our school community to let them know we are listening to them and that their voices matter. We are repeating a similar process this year, with the addition of two virtual town halls for anyone who does not have the ability to attend our in-person sessions. I would also echo Chair McGregor's comments that receiving this award from ASBA reaffirms that we are on the right track and doing what needs to be done to provide assurance in our education system to our communities."
High Prairie School Division's new value statements, developed from the feedback received, are as follows:
Mission: To inspire, lead, and empower success through accountability and resilience, creating a culture of lifelong learning.
Vision: High Prairie School Division will inspire students to learn, lead, and succeed in an ever-changing world.
Core Values (C-L-E-A-R)
- Community and Accountability: Fostering a strong school community where accountability is key.
- Lifelong Learning: Creating environments that encourage continuous learning and personal growth and potential.
- Ethics: Integrity guides our actions and decisions.
- Appreciation of Differences: Cultivating a community that respects and values unique contributions.
- Resilience: Embodying strength, adaptability, and conviction, remaining committed to the education and well-being of our school community.
On behalf of the entire High Prairie School Division, thank you to the Alberta School Boards Association for selecting us as the recipient of the 2024 Community Engagement Award. We were honoured to meet with our stakeholders and collaboratively develop our direction forward. Your recognition of our Division and the invaluable feedback from our school communities is an affirmation that our work is of a calibre that garners provincial accolades. Again, thank you for your recognition.
Pictured (Left to Right): Adrian Wong (Ward 2 Trustee), Tammy Henkel (Ward 2 Trustee), Lorraine Shelp (Ward 3 Trustee), Lynn Skrepnek (Ward 1 Trustee), Joy McGregor (Chair/Ward 4 Trustee), Karin Scholl (Ward 1 Trustee).
