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Editorial There is no doubt this is a blow to the Kawartha Pine Ridge area, a community that knew it had one of the most high-profile sentinels of public education possible when it gladly signed Glaze to a five year contract two and a half years ago. But whatever Glaze, an Order of Ontario recipient, has accomplished in her life, she has done so with the idea of service as her backdrop. It is embedded in her motivations, ensconced in her actions and obvious for all to see. So when Education Minister Gerard Kennedy recruits by writing, calling and persuading Glaze that Ontario needs her, one can imagine it was not easy for the director to make this decision. "Your director of education is uniquely qualified to lead the province’s main strategic initiative in education," wrote the education minister. "We need to have the combination of strong leadership, tremendous front-line knowledge and outstanding enabling abilities…available to the province as a whole." It is difficult to argue with Kennedy’s assertions. Glaze is a legend in education circles in this province and her own soaring star has only proven to exemplify real gains for students, simultaneously. Glaze was a part of the Royal Commission on Learning in 1995, one of only five commissioners on the panel. She told peacefulcommunities.ca it was a role she cherished, and noted she was the only educator on the panel. Many people do not realize the impact this report had on education in Ontario. It brought the idea of community service to schools, created the teacher advisory program, established the College of Teaching and the Education Quality and Accountability Office as well as other accomplishments.
Character education, her defining initiative at York Region District School Board (and introduced to acclaim in Peterborough) has now spread like a prairie fire across the province. Almost two years ago, peacefulcommunities.ca asked Glaze a simple question about her role in the community: ‘What will be the mark of Avis Glaze?’ Her response is telling. "I want student achievement to soar under my leadership. I want students to be in the top five per cent. I want there to be a higher degree of staff satisfaction, based on a higher degree of professional development and fair treatment for everyone. I want parents and the community to feel they have a meaningful involvement in the education of their children. And when all is said and done, I want it to be said that we got there as a team." Glaze may have been speaking about the Kawartha Pine Ridge region, but we are pleased she will soon be speaking for all of Ontario, surely with these same sentiments. Hers is a clarion call for service to millions now, in Canada’s largest province. We wish her well and, in so doing, we know we are wishing each student in the province this in equal measure. --prepared by Roderick Benns |
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Peaceful Communities is reaching more people! The Grassroots Review |
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