By Norm Park
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She has the top job on two impressive fronts as president of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) and now the Canadian School Boards Association (CSBA), but it's her job as an Estevan representative at the regional public school board table that she probably appreciates the most.
"It keeps me grounded and it helps remind me what is ultimately important as a trustee doing what is best for the students," said Janet Foord, who was elected to the top trustee job during the CSBA annual meeting held in Niagara Falls, Ont. on July 5.
"So much of the provincial and Canadian-based work is policy driven and as exciting as it is, I love dealing with grass roots issues, making those connections. Nothing is more important than direct dealings with students and staff," Foord said during an interview in the Mercury office July 14.
Foord ran unopposed for the Canadian presidency post, having served for over a year as vice-president of that body. She replaces Michael McEvoy of B.C. who stepped down. Floyd Martens from Manitoba was elected vice-president.
"I know Floyd well, we have worked together on a few committees in the past year," she added.
Earlier this year, Foord stepped into the president's box at the provincial level again, after having served as vice-president and before that, as a regional representative on the provincial board of directors.
The job is hers for just a year. If the year goes well and she can see her way clear to meet fresh challenges, she may choose to seek it again for a second term, but that is still too far in the future.
"It's already been an interesting run. I filled in for the provincial president before getting that job and went to Prince Edward Island for the Skills for Tomorrow symposium as our representative there," she said, referring to the meeting arranged by the Council of Ministers of Education Canada. She said that conference delved into how business, education and non-traditional partners can find common ground.
"Last year I also got to talk to a group of mining leaders and we discussed the topic of what being ready really means these days on the educational front."
Foord added that she sees the CSBA challenge this year being one of partnerships in education, not only federal and provincial, but also business.
"We worked in silos before. Now we have to work at building the skills businesses need. What we used to describe as soft skills are now at the forefront and that includes communication skills," Foord said.
However, when she sits at the South East Cornerstone Public School Division table on a regular basis, that's where she feels a different kind of excitement since it affords her the opportunity to have a direct impact on educational directions at the local level.
"I felt that when I first started, being a trustee on a small rural school division board before regional mergers. I still feel that way. I don't want to lose that regular grass roots connection and the direct association. I've enjoyed this interesting run at the provincial and national levels and I expect I will continue to enjoy the challenges, but when that's over I'll be more than happy being another trustee at the local table, dealing with regional issues that matter the most."
When she hasn't been able to physically attend Cornerstone regular business meetings, Foord has usually hooked up with the other trustees through various video conferencing connections.
