Saanich Schools

Truth, Reconciliation, and the Promise of Education

/ Dave Eberwein / 3 Comments

As another National Day for Truth and Reconciliation approaches, I find myself reflecting on a simple but important question:

What is the role of public education in the journey towards Reconciliation?

For me, the answer is both straightforward and challenging.

Public education has a responsibility to tell the truth. Not a convenient version of the truth. Not a simplified version. The truth.

That means helping students understand the history of residential schools, the impacts of colonization, the intergenerational experiences of Indigenous Peoples, and the lasting effects that continue to be felt in communities across Canada today. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was clear in its Calls to Action that education must play a central role in reconciliation.

Calls to Action 62 through 65 specifically emphasize the importance of age-appropriate learning about residential schools, Treaties, Indigenous histories, contemporary realities, and the contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. They recognize that learning the truth is not optional work. It is essential work for all of us in K-12 education.

But education cannot stop at truth alone.

Truth matters because it creates the possibility for something greater:

Justice Murray Sinclair (1951-2024)
  • It creates the possibility for understanding,
  • For empathy,
  • For healing,
  • And ultimately, for Reconciliation.

As Justice Murray Sinclair reminded us, Reconciliation is not an Indigenous problem. It is a Canadian one. It belongs to all of us. That is why public education occupies such an important place within this journey.

Every day, millions of students walk through the doors of schools across this country. They arrive with diverse backgrounds, experiences, cultures, beliefs, hopes, and dreams. Schools provide one of the few places where an entire diverse generation can learn together, ask the difficult questions, and be instrumental in creating a better future for all of us.

Education has the power to shape not only what students know, but who they become — and what they do to make our society more equitable, just and responsive.

In Saanich Schools, we continue to embrace this responsibility with humility, purpose, and a recognition that there is still much work to do.

Our district resides on the traditional territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ people. We are grateful for the opportunity to live, learn, and work on these lands, and we recognize that acknowledgment must extend beyond words. It must be reflected in action. Through Indigenous Education programs, support for SENĆOŦEN language learning, partnerships with local Nations, student support services, cultural learning opportunities, and our ongoing commitment to Indigenous Learner Success within our Strategic Plan, we continue to deepen our understanding of what meaningful Reconciliation can look like in practice.

  • Students engaging in powerful conversations about history and identity.
  • Classrooms exploring local Indigenous stories and ways of knowing.
  • Educators thoughtfully examining their own practices and asking how they can create learning environments where every student feels respected, represented, and connected.
Every Child Matters

These moments matter.

They remind us that Reconciliation is not only about correcting historical misunderstandings. It is also about creating conditions where Indigenous students can thrive while maintaining a strong sense of cultural identity and belonging.

At the same time, honesty requires us to acknowledge that Reconciliation is not a destination we arrive at — it is a journey.

Sometimes progress feels visible and measurable. Other times it feels slower and behind the scenes.

There are gaps to close — learning to be done — voices that still need to be heard. There are still difficult conversations that require courage and persistence.

The reality is that Reconciliation is not the work of a department, a committee, or a handful of passionate educators. It belongs to all of us — each of us has a role to play:

  • Sometimes that role involves learning.
  • Sometimes it involves listening.
  • Sometimes it involves speaking up.
  • Sometimes it involves challenging assumptions we may have carried for years.
  • And sometimes it simply means showing up with humility and a willingness to understand perspectives different from our own.

The good news is that I continue to see this happening throughout our district. And that gives me hope – real hope.

Not the kind of hope that ignores challenges — the kind of hope that acknowledges challenges while believing that improvement is possible.

Perhaps that is one of the greatest gifts education can offer. Education allows us to learn from the past without being trapped by it. It allows us to better understand one another. It helps us replace misunderstanding with knowledge, indifference with empathy, and division with connection.

Most importantly, it helps young people imagine new possibilities.

And that, perhaps, is where hope lives. Not in believing the work is finished. But in knowing that together, we are willing to continue the journey.

Saanich Schools Students Working to Build Understanding

My Reflections from 2025-2026

/ Dave Eberwein / Leave a comment

June is a great month — a time when we celebrate student successes. It is also a great time of reflection — not just on what we did, but on why it mattered.

A Year of Reflections

As usual, the school year has been busy — full of change, full of momentum, and, as always, full of people doing great work on behalf of students. As I look back — both on the year and on the blog posts that helped me process it — a few themes rise to the surface.

Leading With Our “Why”

If there’s a thread that continues to run through everything I write, it’s this idea of why.

Throughout the year — from late summer planning to mid-year check-ins to my spring reflections — I found myself returning to the same reality — public education is about people creating the conditions where students feel connected, supported, and challenged.

Many of my posts this year explored the why of public education — the purpose of what we do. And when things felt complex — which they often do — remembering to come back to our why helped to ground the conversations.

Because when we’re clear on why we exist as a system, decision-making becomes a little less noisy and a lot more focused.

The 2022-2027 Strategic Plan: Progress You Can Feel

The Board of Education’s 2022–2027 Strategic Plan is the big why for the District, as it continues to shape the direction we take as a system — but more importantly, it’s also shaping day-to-day experiences in our classrooms.

We check on our success against the plan in our annual Enhancing Student Learning Report which gives us a meaningful opportunity to step back and ask: Are we making a difference?

What stood out wasn’t just the data — although there are encouraging signs there — it was the story behind it:

  • Increasing attention to student voice and belonging
  • Ongoing work to support Indigenous learners and embed local ways of knowing
  • A continued focus on literacy and inclusive practices
  • A growing recognition that personal well-being and learning are deeply connected

Progress in education is rarely linear, and it’s never fast enough for those of us working inside it. But there is something powerful happening when you start to see alignment — when classroom, school, and district priorities move in synergy.

This year is one of those moments.

The Reality of AI… and the Case for Being Human

It would be impossible to reflect on this school year without acknowledging one of the biggest shifts we’re seeing– the rapid emergence of Artificial Intelligence. AI is now part of our landscape — in classrooms as well as in the district office.

Our position on AI in Saanich Schools has been articulated in our Framework for Artificial Intelligence. We’ve taken a stance that’s grounded and realistic.

We’re not ignoring it. We’re not fearing it. We’re learning alongside it.

Human Intelligence is the Point

But at the same time, I’ve been thinking a lot about what this means for education. AI might be everywhere — but Human Intelligence is the point. Because the future isn’t going to reward students for simply having answers. AI already does that. The future belongs to those who can:

  • Ask thoughtful questions
  • Think critically
  • Show empathy
  • Collaborate meaningfully
  • Make sense of complexity

In other words, the future belongs to people who are deeply human. And so, as much as we continue to look at how AI might integrate into learning, we’re also doubling down on the things that make education irreplaceable — relationships, curiosity, and connection.

The Power of Relationships

If there’s one thing that continues to stand out across our schools, it’s this: relationships are still the most powerful driver of learning.

Throughout the year, I had the opportunity to see this in action — in classrooms, hallways, meetings, and community spaces.

  • A teacher taking the time to check in with a student who’s struggling.
  • A team collaborating to support a learner in a more inclusive way.
  • A school creating space for student voice to genuinely influence decisions.

These aren’t new ideas. But in a world that increasingly values efficiency, they are more important than ever. And they showed up again and again in the stories I found myself writing about this year. Because no matter how much education evolves, the human connection at the center of it doesn’t change.

Heading Into Summer … and What Comes Next

As we close out the 2025–2026 school year, there’s a lot to be proud of — but also a recognition that the work continues.

Education doesn’t really have a finish line. It evolves. It adapts. It responds to the world around it. And right now, our world is moving quickly. But if there’s one thing I’m confident in, it’s this — we have people across Saanich Schools who are committed to doing this work thoughtfully, collaboratively, and with purpose.

So as we head into summer, my hope is that everyone finds a bit of time to rest and recharge — but also to reflect. Not just on what we accomplished, but on why it matters. Because when September comes that clarity of purpose will matter more than ever.

Thanks for reading along this year — for being part of my thinking and the conversation.

Wishing everyone a wonderful summer break …

My 2024-2025 Reflections

/ Dave Eberwein / 1 Comment

There’s so much I am grateful for as Superintendent. But if I had to name just one thing that stands out, it’s this: I get to be part of a professional community that never stops striving to be better. Every day I’m surrounded by people who challenge and inspire me to grow — people who believe deeply in creating spaces where every learner can thrive. Together, we’re not just educators. We’re leaders. And we’re building something meaningful.

Like everywhere else, our district is affected by global issues. The global social and political realities of today are significant and impacting us in unexpected ways. In some of my previous posts I have commented on things such as the current political turmoil, economic uncertainty and social media biases — where we have seen the marginalizing of people because of their beliefs and personal preferences. I have blogged about the problems of racism, bigotry and hatred — because they are important topics for me — areas where we need conversation and action against them. As a school system, we have an obligation to combat these intolerances and be strong in our belief of being the places of kindness and understanding — the places where students feel welcomed, safe and included.

Tucker catching up on some critical down time

These are some of the current influences that are shaping my thinking and wonderings. With this as a backdrop, I’ve compiled a short list of 4 areas of personal reflection that I’d like to share — areas where I’ve spent some time — at work, on my drive home or perhaps walking Tucker:

  • Student Success
  • Artificial Intelligence & Education
  • Political and Economic Upheaval
  • A Personal Perspective

Student Success

We are 1/2 way through Strategic Plan 2022-2027 — and making some good progress in: Literacy; Indigenous Learner Success; Mental Health & Wellness; and Global Citizenship.

School Plans, Personal Growth Plans, Long-Range Facilities Plans, staff recruitment, the Information Technology Plan, budget planning and many other areas are all examples of how we align our efforts to the Strategic Plan, building on what we know works well as well as trying new things to make us better.

The Enhancing Student Learning Report (Sept 2024) provides a great overview of our successes and areas where we still need to focus.

Here are some sample results:

  • Overall student literacy rates are showing improvement including for students with complex learning needs. There is still a difference in literacy rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, but the gap is narrowing.
  • Overall, students are feeling welcomed and safe at school. There has been a significant improvement of Indigenous students feeling a sense of belonging.
  • It is clear that having an adult with whom every child feels connected makes a tremendous difference in students’ sense of safety, as well as feeling valued for who they are in this world.
  • Graduation rates for all students continue to show a steady increase, with the biggest increase seen for the 6-year Indigenous student graduation rate increasing from 56% (2022-22) to 73% (2023-24).

These are just a few of the trends we are seeing. I encourage you to look over the entire Report when you have some time. While there is still much work to be done — especially as it relates to building equity — it is important to acknowledge the efforts our staff are providing in building successful learning opportunities for the students in our care.

Artificial Intelligence and Education

This is an exciting time to be in K-12 education.

In the words of a friend and colleague, “The AI you’re using today is the worst it’s ever going to be.” Being the most recent ‘disruptive technology‘, AI is altering the educational landscape — changing how we lesson plan, increasing accessibility to the curriculum, as well as how we assess student progress. It also provides opportunities within the business side of our system.

But, this newest of technologies also comes with questions and worries. We’re not ignoring these, but instead we’re building a foundation of understanding that is continually evolving alongside of the technology. By embracing the conversation, we have the best opportunity to leverage its possibilities, while being cognizant of ensuring its appropriate use.

In Saanich, we produced a foundational document (Framework for Generative AI in Saanich Schools) that provides some of the ‘bumper pads or guiderails’ for AI in our schools. It is not the final word on how we use AI, but it does give us the foundation from which to build awareness and understanding, as well as increase our system capacity in capitalizing on this new, and evolving tool.

We hosted two staff GenAI Think Tanks this year as well as a virtual Parent Information Evening with 300 parents registered.

Our goal in these ongoing conversations is to share our current knowledge and progress, ask questions and continue our learning journey. We don’t have all of the answers. By asking questions and spending the time charting a path forward, we remain committed to being informed and progressive. We see the possibilities that AI can bring to our teaching and learning environments.

Stay tuned for continuing updates next year.

Political and Economic Upheaval

I have never intended for this blog to serve as a political platform—that has never been its purpose. Yet, remaining silent in the face of today’s turbulent political, social, and economic climate would be to ignore the wild uncertainty that surrounds us. This global instability is reverberating across all levels of governance — national, provincial, and local — leaving no community untouched, including here in British Columbia. Government budgets are in a state of flux, and school districts are not immune from the effects of this global uncertainty.

A Personal Perspective

Life is filled with moments that take your breath away and remind you there is a bigger picture . This past year, one of those moments was the birth of our granddaughter, Ophelia. What a pure bundle of joy! And, she just had her first birthday.

Baby Ophelia – 1 year old

Her brightness and inquisitiveness, the pure joy when she tastes new food, the giggles when you play peek-a-boo, and the screams of delight when you blow bubbles in her neck — they all put into perspective life’s priorities.

While there are many pressure points in our professional lives — in the end, what matters most are the people.

It is Ophelia and others like her who bring the greatest meaning to our lives and our priorities — both personally and professionally.

See you in September!

For those of you returning next year, I look forward to connecting with you again in our schools and district office. And, if you are off to new adventures thank you for being part of our community of learners. I wish you well.

Thank you to everyone who has entered my world this year — you have made an impact and a difference. I wish all of you a summer of rejuvenation, and opportunities to do the things that may get pushed aside during the busy school year.

Dave

(This post was written without the support of Artificial Intelligence.)