What if?
It’s a simple question, but one that compelled Heather Welwood to seek what was best for students, change policies and advance ideas to improve education in Alberta.
While in her role as a parent, a trustee with Northern Lights School Division and president of the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA), Welwood posed that question often in her efforts to facilitate collaboration and consultation among education stakeholders.
Among the many organizations appreciative of Welwood’s efforts is the Alberta Teachers’ Association. It presented Welwood with the Public Education Award at this year’s Annual Representative Assembly. The award is given annually to an individual or group, not involved in teaching, that provides outstanding support to public education in Alberta.
“Under her direction, the relationship between the ATA and the ASBA was significantly altered for the better,” remarked Kevin Kempt, ATA district representative for Calgary City, in his introduction of Welwood. He cited examples of Welwood’s leadership and character that contributed to an improved relationship between the two organizations. Examples included her participation in the ATA’s media conference to announce its Stop the Cuts campaign and the successful lobbying effort to jettison ASBA policy that called for the separation of the ATA’s union and professional functions.
Welwood was modest and appreciative in her acceptance speech, saying the award was the result of the efforts of many being willing to ponder her favourite question.
“Collaboration and advocating only happen when more than one person sits down and talks about ‘what if?’” said Welwood in all seriousness, before quipping, “Without others at the table, I would’ve been in a room talking to myself and that would have earned me a very different kind of distinction.”
In relating her experiences in the world of education, Welwood counted ATA staff, Provincial Executive Council and ATA President Carol Henderson among those she was “truly fortunate” to have engaged in conversations of “what if?”
In the Association’s view, the feeling is mutual.
“Public education in Alberta is better because teachers and trustees are working together to improve it,” said Kempt, in his closing remarks introducing Welwood. “Teachers and trustees are working together better because of the leadership of Heather Welwood.”
Welwood retired as ASBA president in 2010, but she left the Assembly with a caveat to her oft-posed question. “‘What if?’ is only a game, and wasted, if there is no ‘and now we will …’”
Wise words indeed for anyone with a stake in Alberta’s education system.
