Shaune Beatty is the new Good Spirit School Division school superintendent for schools. Those schools are: Canora Composite School, Canora Junior Elementary School, Davison, Grayson, Invermay, M.C. Knoll, Macdonald, Miller, Norquay, P.J. Gillen, Preeceville and Sturgis.
“I read in a piece of literature that ‘the President of the United States gets 100 days to prove himself,’” stated Beatty. “I have several schools that have remained in my cluster, change has brought new schools into the fold. I recognize that for some staff members I may be a name without a face and the balance of my relationship bank with those is zero. This is something I intend to remedy as soon as possible by making an early ‘deposit’ by visiting soon. As a relatively new superintendent, and most would know, I openly admit that my school leader band-aid is still falling off. I miss being in a school, and I relish in the opportunities to visit classrooms, collaborate with staff members, and interact with communities.
“When I am present, I want staff members to feel free to engage with me. When I am not present, please feel free to present me with opportunities and invitations for school events and celebrations,” said Beatty.
Beatty’s most recent school experience included an 11-year tenure as the principal of Yorkdale Central School. Prior to that, he was fortunate to have experienced teaching and leadership through a diverse range of school settings, including rural and urban, K-12, K-8, K-6, 7-8, an Indigenous setting and a tri-lingual school with English, French and Ukrainian programs. Much of this was in the Parkland area of Manitoba. Each opportunity provided him with unique challenges and opportunities to adapt, grow, and extend his versatility in leading.
“I believe I took each challenge with a growth mindset, determination, and a commitment to improve whatever situation I was presented. I feel strongly that if you spoke with those who have worked with me and have been led by me, they will indicate that their schools improved by my having been a part of it. Even more, I believe that the organizational leaders I worked under would claim that I was a significant contributor to divisional initiatives, and I served as a compass point to my divisional colleagues.
“Through my leadership tenures, I fastened my efforts to the promotion, development, and advancement of the whole child. This required a focus on cultivating an inclusive, program-filled environment in which all students would be motivated to be active, involved, and engaged as learners who practice the citizenship that would stimulate their overall physical and emotional wellness. My stakeholders would also highlight my commitment to transparency and communication, and my employment of innovation and best practices. With these priorities, my schools celebrated levels of success in student attendance and learning engagement, literacy and numeracy growth and achievement, arts and athletic program achievement, and significant student and staff satisfaction and morale.
“Three years into my superintendent career, I have truly appreciated my work alongside GSSD school leaders. Each has shared a passion and a vison for their buildings, and I have been pleased to collaborate and support these efforts. I believe each would share that I am a visible and active leader. I have appreciated that all have welcomed my frequent visits and their sharing of their students.
“Outside school, I am quite active in volunteering for committees and coaching several sports. Being a coach and official has also allowed me to gain some familiarity with GSSD communities and students. I enjoy the outdoors, a good book, and taking in new experiences. My wife is a teacher within Good Spirit School Division, and my children now attend Yorkdale Central and Yorkton Regional High School.
“My cluster schools are a priority for me, and I look forward to moving the agenda of these schools in the right direction,” concluded Beatty.
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