Aspen View Public School Division associate superintendent Mark Francis will be the division’s new superintendent as of this summer.
In January, current superintendent Brian LeMessurier announced he was resigning at the end of the school year.
Francis takes over as superintendent on July 14.
“It is a very exciting time to be in education,” Francis said. “There are a lot of changes on the horizon.”
Francis said the last changes to the Education Act were in 1998; however, changes will be made to it in the near future.
“The curriculum is being redesigned as we speak,” he said. “I am really looking forward to some of those changes.”
Technology is changing, and Francis said the division must keep up with it.
“We have educational technologies that are just emerging,” he said. “We have new opportunities for students both locally and globally that we need to start taking advantage of.”
LeMessurier applauded his successor, saying, “Mark has proven himself in this system as a devoted educator.”
He noted that Francis has held many posts, including teacher, vice-principal, principal and associate superintendent. He added that as erstwhile superintendent Derm Madden will be staying on as an associate superintendent, Francis will have a capable mentor.
“He’s up for the challenge,” said LeMessurier of Francis. “He understands Aspen View and its strengths.”
Francis said he doesn’t plan on any drastic changes.
“Right now, the plan is to carry on some of the things we are doing, and being an internal candidate as opposed to someone coming from outside, we have a lot of good things going,” he explained. “The first big thing that we want to do, and we have already started this process, is identify what our priorities of this division are.”
Francis said he wants to talk to trustees, communities, parents, principals, teachers and support staff.
“I want to flesh out what those priorities are,” he explained.
Francis said that next year, the division will focus more on literacy and numeracy.
“That is something that is happening provincially,” Francis explained. “That is something that teachers and administrators and parents have indicated as a priority of the division.”
After spending 18 years in Athabasca working for Aspen View, Francis said he is excited to be superintendent.
“You have your first year to show your worth to the communities you serve,” he said. “I am very excited about this next chapter and challenge and opportunity.”
