Good first year at PVNC
Michael Nasello may only be a year into his role as the director of education at the Catholic school board, but he's already a familiar face in the school community.
He visited each of the Peter borough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board's (PVNC) 36 schools twice during the school year, held 65 focus groups and four town halls.
“I've gotten to know people this year, that's been a big priority of mine, to build relationships,” said Nasello.
Nasello took over for Barbara McMorrow when she retired in August 2016.
He's also the board's secretary/ treasurer.
Nasello met with staff, students and parents during the year to see what's been working well throughout the board and what needs to be improved on going forward.
“This was really a year of listening and trying to get a sense of where we're going to go in the future,” he said.
Through those meetings, PVNC was able to create the renewed vision, mission and strategic priorities for 2017-20.
A dozen of Nasello's focus groups were held with students in both elementary and secondary schools.
The director said listening to the student voice is critical.
“We're here to serve them. This is about them and their futures,” he said.
Nasello learned that students are very concerned with well being, transparency (for example knowing why they received the grade they got) and equity of technology for all students.
“They really gave us a lot of challenges around some of the things we need to work on.”
One of the challenges Nasello said the board needs to stay on top of is classroom practices. Because teachers have learned the craft of teaching throughout many different eras, it's important that everyone is using today's best practice.
That includes what experts are saying works for today and what's tried and true, he said.
Though it's now summer break, Nasello isn't vacationing just yet.
He's taking part in a Holocaust program that he hopes to bring to PVNC in the future. It's already in place at the York Catholic District School Board, where Nasello spent eight years as a superintendent before moving to Peterborough.
Nasello, students and teachers are spending two weeks in Berlin, Krakow and Warsaw, visiting former concentration camps. Students will also hear from a Holocaust survivor who lives in Toronto and authored a book about his experiences. The program earns students a high school credit.
As for next school year, Nasello said his goal is to continue to make connections with staff and students to enable the board's visions to move forward. That includes expanding community connections.
Reflecting back on his first year with PVNC, Nasello said he feels like he was welcomed into the community with open arms.
“I feel like I've been here forever, like I'm part of the fabric of life here and that's great.”