<p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/ef36d25c-97eb-4b4d-8f76-de9fb52e0b97?fingerprint=ppb20260814194217" alt="Developing leaders" width="468" height="468" style="display:inline-block;max-width:100%;width:468px;height:468px"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Black Gold School Division hosted more than thirty new school administrators from 11 Alberta school divisions this week, in order to prepare for new leadership roles. The “Developing Leaders” course is for new Principals, Assistant Principals, and coordinators in new roles within the last year or so.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“This course series is a wonderful opportunity to support new leaders,” </strong></b></i><i><em class="editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">says Raymond Cable, Associate Superintendent, Black Gold School Division.</em></i><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Getting a head start with good leadership practices will help get these individuals going on the right foot. The learning paired with their enthusiasm created an air of positivity and collaboration.”&nbsp;</strong></b></i></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“It’s great to work with these new leaders and feel their excitement and energy for working with students, staff and school communities,” </strong></b></i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">says Ray Hoppins who co-facilitated the session with Kurt Sacher, both retired senior administrators from the area.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“The course is designed to provide targeted and practical learning just before the start of the school year, giving leaders hands-on tools to use right away,”</strong></b></i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> says Hoppins. Course content is based on Alberta Education’s Leadership Quality Standards (LQS) and covers topics such as building relationships and trust, instructional leadership, having a purposeful presence in classrooms, responding to student needs, and using simplicity and humour in work.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Jenna Haugan, the Principal of Covenant Christian School in Black Gold, says </span><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“I love that they tied the LQS to practical applications that I will leave with today and be able to use. I’ve also loved connecting with leaders from other school divisions and learning from them. That’s not something you get a chance to do very often.”&nbsp;</strong></b></i></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Angie Hodges, who is the new Assistant Principal at Warburg School, says she appreciates the chance to be with participants from BGSD as well as other school divisions. </span><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“It was great to talk with educators who are on the same journey as I am - transitioning from a teaching role in a rural school into a leadership role. It’s good to talk about how they are approaching their work.”&nbsp;</strong></b></i></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Five administrators from BGSD attended the session, held on August 12 at the division office in Nisku. Participants will continue their learning at two online sessions in September and October.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/0dd75a5c-f4ac-44f5-9da4-adfb65019e43?fingerprint=ppb20260814194224" alt="Developing leaders (1)" width="362" height="362" style="display:inline-block;max-width:100%;width:362px;height:362px"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><img src="/images/81e4ed02-dc97-40ab-b8cd-36e8f485302e?fingerprint=ppb20260814194222" alt="Developing leaders (2)" width="361" height="361" style="display:inline-block;max-width:100%;width:361px;height:361px"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><img src="/images/af34b123-82d1-4fe9-86ee-3ef4e954edc0?fingerprint=ppb20260814194221" alt="Developing leaders (3)" width="361" height="361" style="display:inline-block;max-width:100%;width:361px;height:361px"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><img src="/images/2b33bebb-0967-44d5-a544-091cbf3b515e?fingerprint=ppb20260814194219" alt="Developing leaders (4)" width="267" height="267" style="display:inline-block;max-width:100%;width:267px;height:267px"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><img src="/images/b05d033b-4eb1-4912-b947-5b32a79b160b?fingerprint=ppb20260814194218" alt="Developing leaders (5)" width="265" height="265" style="display:inline-block;max-width:100%;width:265px;height:265px"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><img src="/images/e211203f-b917-4b9f-9388-1f0f8d52bd41?fingerprint=ppb20260814194247" alt="Developing leaders (6)" width="271" height="271" style="display:inline-block;max-width:100%;width:271px;height:271px"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><img src="/images/93ecc491-7a19-414f-9be4-d0c8ada9a800?fingerprint=ppb20260814194852" alt="Developing leaders (9)" width="269" height="269" style="display:inline-block;max-width:100%;width:269px;height:269px"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>