SMOKY LAKE — With change comes opportunity and growth, and the leadership team of two women currently heading up H.A. Kostash School in Smoky Lake welcome both as they strive to address parental concerns, improve student success, and evolve alongside social contexts.
Acting principal Ashley Bodnar and acting vice principal Shelby Kwasny explained their approach to uniquely feminine leadership and their markers for success with Aspen View Public School board members during a May 13 meeting in Alberta’s pumpkin capital.
“We’re not afraid to have the tough conversations, with all parties involved, on what’s going to make the school a better place,” Bodnar told trustees. “In fact, that’s been our mission, to have tough conversations with each other about why we’re doing the things that we’re doing, and can we make things better?”
Bodnar and Kwasny pivoted to their current roles suddenly, but were not unprepared. The pair have made healthy relationships, open arms and communication, and clear expectations a priority for both learners and educators.
“We’re two years in, we’re trying to honour tradition as our students were saying, but we’re also embracing growth,” said Bodnar. Enrolment at H.A.K. has reached 401 students, the highest in recent years. While she expects to see increasing numbers in the future, she’s also counting on expansion in other areas.
“We are here to make sure that everyone feels included in our school,” said Bodnar. “We are growing in diversity, and we see this as a strength.”
Bodnar and Kwasny were proud to inform trustees one way they’ve seen their inclusive attitudes making a mark in the school was the recent creation of an H.A.K. anthem by a new Ukrainian student.
And the school is experiencing changes in more than the student population.
“Recently I attended a women in leadership conference, and I thought of this board,” said Bodnar. “We have a majority female board, I have a majority female staff, that is a shift in education in terms of the leadership.”
“In the past, it’s been mostly male administration, mostly male board members. It is a shift because diversity is important,” said Bodnar. “People coming to the table need to bring their perspectives.”
Along with opportunity and growth, change can also bring challenges, which the pair also welcomes.
“Being female leaders, you’re looked at a little bit differently still, even from parents, from students. It’s just different because we are different,” said Bodnar. “That’s something Shelby and I are working through together to change those perspectives on how females can be just as good of leaders as males, and how we may do things differently.”
Leadership standards in action
Bodnar and Kwasny presented their school update using the provincial government’s nine leadership quality standards used to evaluate principals and divisional leaders, including creating healthy relationships, pursuing professional development for staff, developing leadership, and supporting cultural knowledge on First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
“One of my favourite things we do to foster effective relationships is karaoke Thursdays. In my office, I usually have 20 students coming in there to do karaoke Thursdays on the announcements.
“Those little things I think make a difference, when they see the principal as not the scary disciplinarian, as someone who they can come talk to, I think relationships make a huge difference.”
H.A.K. teaching staff has been engaged in rotating visits to different classrooms as a form of professional development. Staff can view how other teachers operate or tackle barriers and potential problems, and ask for advice and share solutions to common problems.
“We need to be able to work with each other and support each other,” said Kwasny. “People have a hard time being vulnerable and asking for that support, so this has been a great way for people to feel non-threatened and to feel supportive of each other and to say, ‘You’re having the same issue I am, let’s collaborate on that.’”
Another priority for the pair is providing students with opportunities to take an active role in the creation of community and culture in the school, as evidenced by the student voice presentation from H.A.K. student council representatives (See page 12 for the story).
“We’re trying to encourage students to see themselves as leaders,” said Bodnar. “Our shared leadership model fosters confidence, ownership, and sustainable growth, from staff to the classroom.”
“That’s what we’re trying to do, build from the inside out, and that’s a very uniquely female way to lead.”
The school has continued to work with local Elders and Knowledge Keepers to plan visits and events for the exchange of cultural knowledge, traditions and stories—educational opportunities that have proved popular with both staff and students.
H.A.K. will also host a celebration for National Indigenous Peoples Day this June in conjunction with Vilna, Boyle and Thorhild schools.
“Part of all of this is making sure students see themselves in what we do daily, whether that be resources, whether that be events,” said Bodnar. “We want everyone to feel like they belong because they do — at H.A.K., they do.”
