The trip was a wonderful experience both personally and professionally.  While there are differences in the governance and funding of education in Australia and Canada, I have found more similarities than differences in our approaches to Indigenous education.

Giving voice and empowering parents has really been the driver for me when accepting different opportunities to be engaged in the education system over the years.  I strongly believe in the value of the parent perspective being included in the decision making process and part of that is providing parents with the information they need to be part of those important conversations.

Last month I posted a blog about the opportunity I had to travel to Australia in May 2011 for a 10 day Australia-Canada Indigenous Education Policy Exchange.  It was an amazing experience and I would like to share several highlights in this second installment.

Does your school have spirit? Is your school a fun, safe and welcoming place? Does your school have neat, interesting ways of getting students involved? According to a study conducted by the University of Calgary, school spirit is essential for "maintaining student interest and building school morale."

Three years ago students, teachers, administrators, business owners, retired individuals, and other stakeholders were invited to give input using a variety of means.

We received input from more than 2,500 individuals. This is a summary of what they told us:

In May 2011, I was given an unexpected and amazing opportunity to travel to Australia for a 10 day Australia-Canada Indigenous Education Policy Exchange.

The tour provided the Canadian delegation with exposure to a broad range of Indigenous education policies, programs and issues at community, school, state and federal levels, in three regions of Australia with very different educational contexts and demographics.

The freedom to discover is the best motivator there can be…for students; for business; for anyone, really (True Fact)!  So why don't we match up what we know with what we do?

The Kikino Métis Settlement Council and Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87 are supporting our schools, increasing student engagement and raising student achievement.  Our Student Achievement Committee still has work to do, but it definitely makes our job easier when we have supportive community partners like these.

How can we truly make the community school a one-stop shop for services and supports for students? And what structures in our current system might be getting in the way?

In the spring of 2010, PRSD had conducted five face-to-face public engagement meetings throughout the division.  However, they wished to continue the dialogue with their community by employing online techniques for ongoing engagement and made a commitment to investigate options.