There will be another shuffle amongst the top administrators at the Foothills School Division (FSD).

Deputy superintendent Denise Rose will replace current superintendent Jim McLellan, who announced his retirement earlier this year.

Rose took over the deputy superintendent position last year after the retirement of Jim Brandon. Prior to that Rose acted as the Foothills School Division’s assistant superintendent of learning for six years.

In that position she was involved in the development of the Learner Profile, currently a pilot project which is aimed at replacing existing report cards. She has also been following the Province’s review of funding for special needs students and implemented a learning coach program that allowed a group of teachers to take a year to research their profession. They shared their research with their fellow teachers in the division.

As the superintendent Rose said she is looking forward to taking the Province’s initiatives and applying them to the local division. She points to the School Act Review and the Province’s look at 21^st Century learning, called Inspiring Education as initiatives that will have a significant impact in coming years.

“I’m excited about that,” she said. “I love to take frameworks and put them into action.”

Locally, she said she has three main objectives. The first is to provide more outlets for students to express their opinions. She said some steps have already been taken in that direction, for example, during recent principal reviews, she interviewed students to get their feedback. Student surveys have also been distributed to get their input on a number of issues affecting their learning.

“I’d like to find ways to give students a meaningful voice,” she said.

A second priority is getting students, staff and parents involved in issues early on.

“We need to continue with that whole public engagement piece, but not always in a reactionary way,” she said.

Finding ways to get people’s attention early on is difficult, she admitted, but is important for keeping things running smoothly.

Although, she said her aim is not to please everyone.

“If we are working around what we think is good for student learning you can live with the outcome,” Rose said.

Rose competed with candidates from all across the country for the superintendent position with FSD.

FSD board chair Doug Gardner said in the end it was her experience with the division and personal qualities that landed her the job.

“Denise Rose’s dedication to and knowledge of Foothills School Division and its students is second to none,” Gardner said.

Prior to coming to the Foothills School Division in 1999, she worked at the Southeast Kootenay School Division as a vice-principal and principal. She started her career at the Rockyview School Division in 1978.

When Rose moved to the foothills she was the principal at Percy Pegler School in Okotoks.

0 Click Here to 'Like' this post

 Email This Post  Print This Post