Parkland College President Dwayne Reeve has tendered his resignation, and will step down on July 31, 2018. Reeve has been with the college since 2015, after 30 years in the K-12 education system.
The decision to leave the college was due to Reeve’s desire to look at other options in his career.
“For me, it’s taking a look at what else I might want to do with my work life, and being able to look at other options. I’m not sure what it will be, but I’m going to take some time to consider where I may go in the future.”
Over his tenure as president, Reeve says he’s proud of the development of a strategic plan for the college which will take them into the next few years, as well as the handling of the debt from building the Trades and Technology Centre, which opened when Reeve took over the presidency. They have paid off two million in debt since building the centre, going from $4.1 million in debt to $2.1 million.
Over the next few months, before Reeve leaves, the college will be looking at further plans for the Trades and Technology Centre site and developing a concept plan.
“What we’re looking at is, on a high level, what might be an appropriate use for the remaining fifteen acres.”
The college will also be establishing an Indigenous Advisory Board over the next few months, with plans to raise the Treaty 4 flag on National Aboriginal Day in June.
Reeve doesn’t know who his successor will be, but does have advice for them when they assume their new role.
“A couple of key things that I have been left with. There is a significant level of trust within the communities we serve as a college, many people rely on the college and I think the college, throughout their history has been a trusted provider.
They are starting from that point and I know I was really pleased when I came into the position that was the case.
“The other thing is we have to acknowledge that there is a group of people who have been with the college for a long period of time who really know and understand what our communities need and our students need, and work very hard to make sure they are meeting the needs of the students. Taking advantage of the staff that we have and the expertise that they have will be a key piece for whoever comes into the position.”
Reeve is happy to have had the experience of being the president of Parkland College.
“For me, the three years has gone very fast and it has been very enjoyable to see education from the post-secondary side. There are some similarities to what I was doing before in the pre-K to 12 sector but definitely some difference, and it has really allowed me to see something unique and different and allowed me to grow personally.”
