At the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) fall conference earlier this week, our Journey Partners Program received the Premier’s Award for School Board Innovation and Excellence. We shared this honour with Chinook’s Edge School Division, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools, Red Deer Public Schools and Wolf Creek School Division. In 2013 the Journeys program started with a focus on supporting 11 to 18 year old students with mental health and behavioral needs.

“This program has been a great support for students with diverse learning needs in WRSD,” stated Kathy Murch, WRSD Director of Student Support Services. Our work here will continue to strive to improve the life chances of all our students.”

Being able to bring five school divisions together to create this program, is the type of work that makes education for students successful. We recognize the most important people in the work we do is our students. Moving forward we will continue to work with our local school divisions, community members, parents and staff  to deliver for our students.

“Making sure none of our students get missed or left behind in their journey through education is essential for the work we do here,” stated Nancy McClure, WRSD Chairperson. “It is great to see the hard work of our staff recognized with such a tremendous award and to see school divisions working collaboratively to improve life chances for all students."