Inspire
Dr. Glaze Says Public Education is a 'Moral Imperative'
French Language Board Welcomes Chief Student Achievement Officer for Presentation on Leadership
By Lucie McCartney
Student Achievement Officer, The Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat
At an end-of-year meeting in mid December, 2005, le Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario (CEPEO) welcomed as its guest and keynote speaker, Dr. Avis Glaze, Chief Student Achievement Officer for Ontario. CEPEO is one of Ontario's 12 French-language school boards.
Situated in Ottawa, CEPEO serves Eastern Ontario, an area the size of Switzerland.
Denis Chartrand, Director of Education and Secretary Treasurer for CEPEO, warmly welcomed Dr. Glaze and introduced her to the members of the board's senior administrative team, elementary and secondary school principals and vice-principals, and ministry staff from the Ottawa regional office.
In her speech, Leadership: An Educational Imperative, Dr. Glaze stated that she was greatly encouraged by the improvement in the latest provincial EQAO test results in Grades 3 and 6 and noted that student achievement would continue to improve by remaining focused on the government's goal of 75 per cent of all students by age 12 meeting or surpassing the provincial standard by 2008.
In describing the leaders of the future, Dr. Glaze stated that "they will be judged on their achievement; how lives (especially the disadvantaged) have been changed as a result of their leadership; and how well they meet the needs of the various groups they serve."
The metaphors used to describe the new roles of the principal "will include being an instructional leader, a human rights advocate, a community developer, an ethnographer, an action researcher and an inveterate learner."
The following leadership imperatives for school administrators were underscored by Dr. Glaze:
- Provide a literacy/numeracy guarantee
- Focus on student achievement
- Be accountable for results
- Focus on instructional leadership
- Utilize data to influence decision-making
- Ensure that diversity works for the benefit of all Canadians
Leadership was described within the broader context of a strong public education system. Dr. Glaze advocates a strong public education system and notes it is the cornerstone of Canadian democracy, with democracy and education inextricably linked. She elaborated by stating that "there is a relationship between a robust public education system and the health of a nation. Public education must deliver on its promise to educate all children successfully. Educating all children to the highest possible level is a moral imperative."
Sylvie Lalonde, Director of Educational Services at the CEPEO, thanked Dr. Glaze on behalf of the board, stating that "The Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat is making a powerful impact on education by creating the appropriate context for change."
She indicated that change has been facilitated and nurtured by a variety of government initiatives: increased educational funding, projects promoting local initiatives, capacity building to improve student achievement, teacher training in literacy and numeracy, national conferences for educators such as the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) November forum on literacy and numeracy featuring such renowned experts as Dr. Michael Fullan and Dr. Carmel Crévola, networking and dialogue opportunities with French-language educators from across Canada. Especially significant to all French-language educators is the full consideration the Ministry has given to the needs and reality of Ontario's French-language schools.
CEPEO was formed in 1998 as a result of the amalgamation of four French-language sections in the former Hastings, Frontenac, Prescott-Russell and Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry public school boards, the Ottawa-Carleton public school board, and the demand for public French-language education in five counties (Renfrew, Leeds-Grenville, Lanark, Prince-Edward, Lennox-Addington). The board provides French-language public education to over 11 000 students and has 36 elementary and secondary schools and an adult education centre.
An emotive cord was struck when Dr. Glaze concluded by challenging her audience to reflect about their legacy as educators, and the potential impact they have on the lives, livelihoods of those in their stewardship, as well as the future image of Canada as a successful nation.
Ottawa, Ontario – A Warm Welcome (Left to Right)
Lucie McCartney and Thérèse Chaput, Student Achievement Officers – The Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat
Denis Chartrand Director of Education and Secretary – Treasurer – CEPEO
Dr. Avis Glaze Chief Student Achievement Officer for Ontario – The Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat
Francine Chessman Surintendent of Education – CEPEO
