Aug 2005 ~ ECACS Division principal gets recognition by Maclean's Magazine
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This is the
second career award for Ron Lindsay, the principal at Blessed Sacrament Outreach School in Wainwright. In 1990 he won a provincial Alberta Excellence in Teaching award. This time he is recognized in an issue of the August 22nd, 2005 MacLean's magazine as one of MacLean's top three principals nationwide. For the MacLean's article
click here. Below, read the article by Erika Foley for the Wainwright Edge Newspaper |
| The August 22nd's magazine profiled Canada's best schools and the top
Canadian Principals and teachers. Blessed Sacrament Outreach School was
picked as one of the ten best high schools in Canada, and Ron Lindsay is
one of three top Canadian principals profiled in this edition. The ECACS
board wanted to nominate Ron for a provincial Alberta Excellence in
Teaching Award, but since he won this award in 1990 he was not eligible.
When Superintendent Valerie Burgardt was sent the Maclean's survey and
nomination forms in February, for profiling best practices in education
(which was sent to every school division in Canada), she nominated the
BSS Outreach School with Ron as principal. Over 1,000 letters were sent
in from all across the nation. In mid May Maclean's called Ron and said
they wanted to profile the school and sent out a reporter in June. They
interviewed me and a couple of my students. The reporter had just come
from Old Scona and Jasper Place High School in Edmonton, and I am sure
he noticed a difference here, Ron commented. Karen Marley, a Maclean's
reporter, phoned and told him that some incredible things were said by
his colleagues and students. After receiving this distinction, many
people in the community called and emailed him offering their
congratulations. Some people I haven't seen for 15-20 years have called.
It's kind of neat. Ron noted. Comments from students included, He gives
you the space to be a person, not the clone you're expected to be at a
normal school (Alicia Beswick), and He's not like some of teachers,
where as soon as you walk in, they are cussing you for not doing your
homework (Ty Miller). Its pretty shocking - a huge surprise to be
nominated, and a shock to be profiled in Maclean's magazine, he
concluded. The Maclean's article noted that over 80 percent of the
students at the Blessed Sacrament Outreach School earn their high school
diploma, yet what pleases Ron most is seeing the students blossom as
individuals. Reprinted Erika Foley Wainwright Edge
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