Public school education director retires

The Good Spirit School Division is looking for a new director of education.

Last week, Dwayne Reeve announced he is retiring from the position, which he has held since before amalgamation in 2006.

He explained the announcement wasn't exactly in the works for a long time, but it wasn't a snap decision either.

"I knew what my timeline was and, of course, wanted to notify the board well in advance so they have a chance to look at their recruiting process," he said.

The trustees will have plenty of time as Reeve's last day is next June at the end of the 2014-2015 school year. They have contracted E.D. Dawson, a Saskatoon consultant, to facilitate the search for the new director.

Reeve began his K-12 education career in 1985 as a middle school teacher in Whitewood, but quickly moved up the ranks. Within four years he was vice principal and from there became principal, assistant director, superintendent and ultimately director in 2000.

That period was the toughest time for him in his career, he said.

"I think for all of us when we were involved in education in the late nineties and early two thousands, the declining enrolment that was happening and, obviously, the school closures that we had to face, those are tough gut-wrenching decisions that have to be made," he said. "They take a lot of people involved, administration, board, community members, and that's always a challenge when you have to look at the viability of a school and have to determine what you feel is best for the students in the area, which sometimes conflicts with what the community wants. There were many of those challenges over the course of the years."

Another challenge, but a welcome one was the creation of GSSD, which Reeve led.

"The amalgamation process was probably the most interesting work I've done in my career because we were melding five different divisions together and trying to create a new entity, while still respecting the past and it took some effort and I think we went about it in a way that really preserved some of the culture of the former divisions and then had a strong base to move ahead," he said.

As for what is ahead, Reeve is not retiring altogether, but whatever he does will not be in education, at least for the time being.

"I'm going to definitely work, probably even full-time, for the next four or five years, he said.

"I'm looking for opportunities here or based out of my home and then after that decide if partial retirement might be for me, not full retirement from all activities, but just from this particular job and from K to 12 education.

"I've talked to many people and they've said don't set yourself into a particular area, that you want to take a look at all possibilities and, really, that's what I'm looking at is whatever lies out there."

He will also consider volunteer opportunities.

"From my standpoint, I don't see myself going into a board of education role, but being involved in a board and working with boards, I've enjoyed the dynamics of boards so, at some point in time, if there's opportunity with boards at a local level or at a provincial level, it would be something I would look at as potential," he said. "I know I'd be interested in it and depending on the time commitment required it might be an avenue I'd look at, but definitely not in education at this point."

While ready for the change, it is not without some

"I know I'm going to miss being here," he said. "In education for me it's always been about the ability to forge good, strong relationships with people. Getting a chance to see some of the good work people do and the absolute commitment that they bring to the work, has been a highlight for me."

Reeve will also be missed according to Lois Smandych, chair of the board of education.

"We are definitely going to miss the strong, quiet influence of Dwayne as our leader," she said. "I have worked with him for over 14 years and, in that time, we have seen many changes on the education landscape, the largest of which was province-wide amalgamations in 2006. Dwayne has been a continual guiding force, both patient and persistent, in helping us achieve a unique identity as a new division."

Darrell Zaba, Christ the Teacher Catholic Schools director of education, said GSSD is not the only school division that will miss Reeve.

"I really appreciated his collegial support as a neighbouring school division and we wish him all the best in his retirement," Zaba said, adding with tongue firmly planted in cheek that if Reeve gets bored he can cut his neighbour's lawn. The two directors live, coincidentally, right next door to each other.