A world renowned education expert from Tsawwassen has been tasked with providing an administrative review of the Nova Scotia school system.
Avis Glaze is evaluating the administration of public schools, including the administration of the head office of the elected school boards, as well as administration within the Department of Education and Community Development Childhood.
“It’s a big task, but one I’m looking forward to,” Glaze said.
According to Nova Scotia’s Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Zach Churchill, the goal of the review is to ensure their system works best to the maximum benefit of all their students.
“The last administrative review took place two decades ago. I think we can all benefit from the depth and breadth of Avis’s experience in this review,” said Churchill.
The work is not new to Glaze. In 1994, she was appointed as the only K-12 educator on Ontario's Royal Commission on Learning. At that time the commission was given 18 months to travel around the province and consult with the widest possible cross-section of people and translate their findings into a plan of action for the future of education in Ontario. Many of its recommendations were implemented.
Glaze has extensive experience in improving schools and school systems and has worked with educators in more than 50 countries. The Government of Canada has asked her to visit South Africa to contribute to school reform and national reconstruction and she has contributed to school reform in New Zealand. More recently, she was invited to help Scotland in its process of improving schools and the school system. She has also been a teacher, specialist educator, guidance counselor, administrator and professor.
“One of the things I like about Nova Scotia is the degree of consistency,” added Glaze. “From the premier, minister of education, deputy minister and staff around ensuring that the system works for all children regardless of their personal, cultural, geographic or linguistic differences.
“They have high expectations for learning, achievement and the well-being of students. They recognize and support the pivotal role of their staff in bringing about the necessary improvements and are willing to provide the professional learning to make this happen. There are many innovations in Nova Scotia education that other systems may wish to study. I feel very honoured to be chosen to conduct this review.”
