Education
Red Deer Public Schools name new Superintendent
From Red Deer Public Schools
Board names its next Superintendent of Schools
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Chad Erickson as Superintendent of Schools effective August 5, 2020. Mr. Erickson will take over from Stu Henry who is retiring after a 33 years career in education and having served the division as Superintendent for the last five years. Prior to that, Mr. Henry served Red Deer Public as Deputy Superintendent and as principal at Eastview Middle School.
Currently Associate Superintendent – Student Services, Mr.
Erickson has been a teacher and administrator for 23 years.
Erickson joined Red Deer Public Schools in 2005 as Vice
Principal at Oriole Park School and then became Principal of
the Alternative School Centre in 2009 prior to joining the
Division’s Senior Admin team five years ago. Mr. Erickson received his Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta as well as a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Portland.
“Mr. Erickson is an exceptional and respected leader who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role of Superintendent”, said Board Chair, Nicole Buchanan. “The Board conducted an extensive search and considered options in selecting the next Superintendent. The Board felt that Mr. Erickson will provide strong valued leadership to Red Deer Public Schools while bringing continuity and stability to the district.”
“When embarking on the Superintendent search, the Board of Trustees, through consultations with our stakeholders, identified the key attributes it was seeking in its next leader,” said Chair Buchanan. “We have confidence our new superintendent will:
- build strong collaborative relationships and partnerships throughout the district, in our community, and with government
- provide strong, trustworthy, and visionary leadership in potentially challenging years ahead
- ensure a continued focus on student and staff wellness / resilience
- ensure our district focus on equity and inclusion continues to thrive
- ensure quality educational practice throughout the district to support our pillars of
numeracy & literacy, equity, and student success and completion
“It’s an honour to serve in this role and I appreciate the confidence the Board has demonstrated in me,” said Erickson. “I welcome the opportunity to continue the great work our division has undertaken to best meet the needs of our students. We have an outstanding and committed staff with tremendous support from parents and the community to provide great learning opportunities for students”, said Erickson. “The opportunity to work with teachers, support staff and community partners to best meet the needs of all learners is exciting. Red Deer Public’s reputation to respond to the unique needs of students is outstanding. We have great opportunities to ensure students succeed and reach their full potential.
“Chad is an outstanding leader who is committed to meeting the needs of each student. He is a known champion for excellence in instruction, inclusion as well as mental health and wellness that ensures student needs are met and they achieve their full potential,” said current Superintendent Stu Henry.
“Stu Henry has provided incredible leadership to Red Deer Public Schools and is highly respected as Superintendent across the district and beyond. He has positioned the District well, as a strong and passionate champion for public education and our priorities on Literacy and Numeracy, Equity, Student success and Completion”, said Chair Buchanan.
Henry and his wife Trudy, who recently retired as a principal in Chinook’s Edge School Division, plan to stay in Red Deer and be active in the community.
Red Deer
St. Joseph High School Celebrates Brody Andrie’s National Boxing Championship Victory
News release from Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools
St. Joseph High School (SJHS) is thrilled to announce that Grade 12 student Brody Andrie has been crowned the National Champion in the 57 KG youth division at the prestigious Canada Cup & Junior Youth Canadian Championships. The championships were held at the Genesis Centre in Calgary from March 20 to March 24, 2024.
Brody, a dedicated member of Team Alberta and a fierce competitor from the Shadow Box Boxing Club in Lacombe, has achieved a remarkable milestone by winning gold in his division. This victory not only highlights his outstanding skills and dedication to the sport of boxing but also marks him as the first central Alberta boxer to be crowned a national champion in decades.
Reflecting on his victory, Brody shared, “This win is not just for me but for everyone who has supported me along the way. I’m proud to bring this championship back to Lacombe and hope to inspire other young athletes in our community.”
SJHS Principal, Gary Gylander, expressed his admiration for Brody’s achievement, stating, “Brody’s success is a testament to his hard work, perseverance, and the support of his coaches and community. We are incredibly proud of him and look forward to seeing what the future holds for this outstanding young athlete.”
This is a historic moment for both Brody and central Alberta, shining a spotlight on the talent and potential within our community.
Education
Higher spending on K-12 education does not result in better student outcomes
From the Fraser Institute
By Derek J. Allison
Higher levels of per-student spending do not achieve higher student scores on standardized tests, either internationally or among the provinces, finds a new report published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.
“Just spending more on K-12 education does not lead to better student outcomes,” said Derek J. Allison, Fraser Institute senior fellow and author of School Spending and Performance in Canada and Other High-Income Countries.
The study compares provincial per-student spending on K-12 education in 2018 (the last year of comparable data) to other high-income countries in the OECD and to performance on the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
It finds that higher per-student spending levels are not associated with stronger academic achievement. In fact, in 2018, 10 countries—or one third—of the high income OECD countries included in the analysis spent more per student than Canada but achieved significantly lower PISA scores.
Similarly, among the provinces, Saskatchewan was the highest per-student spender among the provinces but ranked 8th out of 10 on PISA scores. Manitoba was the second-highest per-student spender and recorded the lowest PISA scores nationwide. Conversely, British Columbia was the lowest spender per student in Canada and achieved the fourth-highest PISA scores.
“The evidence is clear—simply spending more on established K-12 schools without finding new and better ways to help kids learn will not improve student outcomes,” Allison said.
Provincial per-student spending (2018) compared to core PISA score
Province Spending Core PISA score
Saskatchewan Highest spender 8th
Manitoba 2nd Lowest PISA score
Alberta 3rd Highest PISA score
Nova Scotia 4th 5th
Ontario 5th 3rd
New Brunswick 6th 9th
Quebec 7th 2nd
P.E.I. 8th 7th
Newfoundland and Labrador 9th 6th
British Columbia Lowest spender 4th
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