Achieving Educational Excellence through Meaningful Engagements

Jillian Marino, School Principal, Edmonton Public School Division

Jillian Marino is a seasoned education leader focused on advancing academic achievement, cultivating resilience in youth and empowering both students and staff on their shared learning journey.

In an interview with Education Insider Canada, Marino discussed how building a sense of perseverance and meaningful relationships with teachers can help students excel in life.

Leadership Rooted in Experience

I have been part of public education for 32 years, beginning my journey as a French and Social Studies teacher. The first step in my leadership journey was serving as Department Head of Social Studies in our division, Edmonton Public School Division.

After years of heading the department, I was promoted to assistant principal, where I led numerous lower-economic schools with significant socio-economic challenges. The educational hurdles faced by students from diverse school cultures continue to shape how I lead change as principal at Vimy Ridge Academy, an alternative athletic school.

Championing Students and Educators

I believe that small incremental changes can make a significant difference. At Vimy Ridge Academy, I encourage students to craft their own stories by embracing opportunities to grow in both academics and athletics. Our mantra is ‘We uplift those we serve by uplifting those who serve them.’

“I am committed to doing what’s best for every student and guiding them, on their own terms, toward the future they envision.”

My enthusiasm is rooted in helping staff identify and remove obstacles so student-athletes can pursue scholarships, post-secondary education and a promising future. I am committed to doing what’s best for every student and guiding them, on their own terms, toward the future they envision.

Balancing Academic Excellence with Holistic Growth

Many of our teachers were once student-athletes themselves, and they engage with students through both firsthand experience and theoretical understanding. We take an integrated approach to ensure every student builds a meaningful relationship with their teacher.

Acknowledging the impact of socio-economic challenges on our students, we place a strong emphasis on helping them build resilience. We identify eligible candidates through a resiliency survey that focuses on the mental health component of youth. A low survey score isn't discarded. It is regarded as an opportunity to connect the student with someone in the school who can help them develop.

We call this effort the ‘Starfish Project’. Based on my experience, when provided with an effective support system, students who demonstrate low resiliency tend to perform exceptionally well.

Leveraging Technology for Personalized Learning

Our vision is to make learning accessible anytime and anywhere. We ensure that students who miss classes to attend sports trials or championships don’t fall behind in their studies. The classrooms are equipped with the Google suite of educational tools, and our technologically adept teachers facilitate students with every resource.

Connecting iPads to the smartboard enables teachers to physically move around and pay attention to every student while sharing solutions on the board. The teachers write, save and post their notes in Google Classroom for all the students to access. Recognizing the demands of classroom teaching, we provide teachers with sufficient release time to prevent burnout, enabling them to support students in distance education.

Growth Strategy that Leaves no Student Behind

We live by the phrase ‘One student at a time, one success at a time. Success for all students at their choice, at their pace.’

In Alberta, we take pride in our world-class education system and have consistently ranked among the top performers in the Programme for International Student Assessment, a global student assessment by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

We are committed to providing our students with the access and foundational skills in literacy, numeracy and social-emotional growth needed to flourish and lead a meaningful life.

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