LEADS History

L.E.A.D.S. formally became an organization in June 1984 under an Act to Incorporate the Saskatchewan League of Education Administrators, Directors and Superintendents.  All individuals who are employed by a board of education in a supervisory or administrative capacity and have an out-of-scope designation are required to be members of the League.  Members include directors of education, assistant directors, superintendents, and those in other related positions.  Regional Directors of Education employed by the Government of Saskatchewan are also required to be members of the League.  Major changes occurred in the Act of Incorporation in June 1991.  The League obtained legislative authority to register members prior to employment.  Full disciplinary powers are also an integral part of the Act.  The League employs a full-time executive director and secretary and rents commercial office space.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS OF L.E.A.D.S. (1940-2000)

By Bill Stodalka    (Retired Director of Education and former L.E.A.D.S. President, 1982-1983)

Comments are not based on the examination of any written documents but are based entirely upon my personal recollection. It is with this limitation that the following account is presented.

PRIOR TO THE PASSAGE OF THE LARGER SCHOOL UNIT ACT

Before the passage of the aforementioned Act in the 1940’s, the province of Saskatchewan was geographically divided into school superintendencies. Each of these superintendencies was assigned a Superintendent of Schools. These superintendents were provincial employees responsible for the supervision of the schools within the boundaries of the superintendency. Superintendents were also responsible for the supervision of professional staff. This arrangement, I believe, applied to all areas of the province except Regina and Saskatoon. Only in these two cities were the school boards permitted to employ their own superintendents.

LARGER SCHOOL UNIT ACT BRINGS CHANGES

The passage of this Act created School Unit Boards who were given the fiscal responsibility of operating all the schools within the boundaries of a defined geographic area called a school unit. The initial administrative structures created in school units by the elected trustees consisted of a secretary-treasurer complemented by other personnel deemed necessary. The school unit offices thus contained two different types of employees. There were those employees hired by the school unit plus a Superintendent of Schools who was an employee of the province.

The Department of Education employed another level of superintendents know as High School Superintendents. These superintendents were located in the offices of the department and assisted the local superintendents with the supervision of the high school program and its teachers.

Because superintendents were provincial employees, they belonged to the Saskatchewan Government Employees Association (S.G.E.U.) and had their own sub-group called Branch 16. Branch 16 was a bargaining unit and was involved in professional in-service activities.

During the 1950’s and the 1960’s a number of additional school boards began to seek department approval to employ their own superintendent of schools rather than having the Department of Education assign them a provincially employed one. These school boards wanted the right to choose and employ their own. It was their desire to have the superintendent responsible to the school unit board and not the Department of Education. Initially, the Department of Education granted some of the smaller cities the right to employ their own superintendent of schools but it was not until the early 1970’s that rural school units were granted permission to employ their own. The process of replacing provincial superintendents with locally employed ones was not completed until well into the 1980’s.

While the vast majority of superintendents were initially provincial employees, it did not take long before there became an increasing number who were locally employed. An umbrella organization was developed whose membership included all superintendents of schools, government and locally employed. This organization, governed by its own constitution, was used to provide professional in-service and it also gave members a mechanism whereby they were able to collectively respond to issues pertaining to education. The name of the organization, (subject to correction), was the Saskatchewan Association of School Superintendents (S.A.S.S.). The organization was nationally associated with the Canadian Association of School Administrators (C.A.S.A.).

Annual conferences would consist of plenary sessions where S.A.S.S. would meet. These sessions would include all superintendents, provincial and locally employed. Additional sessions were held for only Branch 16, government employed superintendents. Initially, there were too few locally employed superintendents to form an organization but as their number increased a decision was made to form an organization whose members would include only locally employed superintendents. It was also about this time a new administrative title appeared in Saskatchewan. The Regina Separate School Division changed the title of its superintendent to director of education. The new organization, when choosing its name, took this title change into consideration and called the new entity the Locally Employed Association of Directors and Superintendents (because of my memory this name is also subject to correction) or for short LEADS. The surfacing of the term director of education also had an impact upon the name of the umbrella organization (S.A.S.S.) and its name was changed to the Saskatchewan Association of Superintendents and Directors of Education, commonly known as SASDE. Thus, in the mid 1970’s, there were three distinct organizations, Branch 16, LEADS and the umbrella organization SASDE.

IMPACT OF THE EDUCATION ACT (1978)

During the 1970’s the Department of Education undertook to revise the School Act, a task that was completed when the new Education Act was passed. While the new Act changed many aspects of education in the province, there were a number relative to governance that had a direct impact upon the role of locally employed superintendent of schools.

First, came a name change, the former school units were now called school divisions. School unit trustees were called members of the Board of Education.

Secondly, locally employed superintendents had a name change. They were now called Directors of Education. The title superintendent applied to those superintendents who were employed by the Department. In subsequent years, the title superintendent was used by a number of divisions to describe line positions under the supervision of the director of education.

Thirdly, the most dramatic change required school division boards to appoint the director of education as the chief executive officer of the board of education. This change upset numerous division board secretary-treasurers. For many years, they had been the senior administrator of the board but the new Act legislated them into a line position that made them responsible to the director. This was a difficult pill for them to swallow and the change caused a lot of anxiety for a number of years after the change was legislated. The change was a milestone for directors in that the legislation legally established the director of education as the chief executive officer, the C.E.O.

Within Branch 16, the government superintendent organization, the number of superintendents eventually were reduced to such an extent that it was no longer feasible to try and retain the branch. A decision was to amalgamate the three organizations, LEADS, BRANCH 16 and SASDE into one organization. A new constitution was drafted and the Saskatchewan League of Educational Administrators, Directors and Superintendents (LEADS) was born. The name LEADS was retained because the members felt it to be an extremely appropriate name for an organization whose member were leaders in education.

SASKATCHEWAN LEADS EXPANDS AND GROWS

In the new LEADS numerous decisions relative to governance, membership, objectives, services to members and relationships with the other major players in education had to be made. The following are some of the more significant topics which were dealt with by the new organization.

1.  Constitution

The constitution of SASDE provided the basis for the new constitution. A president and vice president were elected at the annual business meeting. Other members of the executive were regional representatives from defined regions within the province. These regions, seven in number, had been set up by the Department of Education and were used to provide departmental services throughout the province. These regions were headed by a government appointed regional superintendent, a title later changed to Regional Director. Because regional meetings were held on a regular basis, often monthly, they provided an excellent mechanism for the executive of LEADS to keep its members informed. A decision was, therefore, made to elect one director from each region to be part of the provincial executive. Before each annual meeting of LEADS, the membership of each region would choose the individual from their area who was to be a member of the provincial executive. At the annual meeting these regional representatives were officially elected to the provincial executive. The annual meeting also elected one of its members to serve on the executive of the Canadian Association of School Administrators (CASA). The CASA representative also was a member of the provincial executive. A later change was made to the executive when the position of vice president was eliminated and replaced with the election of a president-elect. It was felt that this arrangement was advantageous in that it gave an incoming president an opportunity to better prepare for their year as president.

Initially, the president selected one of the LEADS members to act as secretary but the increasing demands placed on the secretary created a situation where it was not practical to provide secretarial services in this fashion. A decision was therefore made to hire a part-time executive secretary on a permanent basis.

2.  Membership

Over the years, membership in the organizations preceding LEADS had only been superintendents and directors of education. Because there were growing numbers of out-of-scope administrators being appointed by school jurisdictions and because these appointees were no longer a part of the Teachers’ Federation, a decision was made to extend LEADS membership to individuals appointed to these positions. It is important to note that an enlarged membership meant increased revenue to LEADS which was in need of additional funds.

3.  Providing Services to Members

While the former organization had primarily been involved in providing in-service through conferences, the services provided to members increased dramatically after the formation of LEADS.

 

LEADS ON THE PROVINCIAL SCENE
For many years the principle educational organizations on the provincial scene were the Department of Education the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) and the Saskatchewan School Trustees Association (SSTA). LEADS recognized the need to establish itself on the provincial level. The trick was to establish their role without treading into territories the other organizations felt was their turf. There was a desire to assume a role that would enable LEADS to influence educational decisions without having to resort to exerting political pressure. It was felt that the nature of LEADS membership offered an expertise that could be of value to the other leaders and, if LEADS was not a political threat, their influence would come through consultation. In summary, LEADS wanted to assume a role in which it would not be a part of political disputes that arose, but would be in a position to be able to advise.

The executive of LEADS recognized the necessity of the organization taking official positions in areas that were considered of prime importance to education. After identifying specific areas, the executive would appoint a committee to study the issue and write a position paper on the topic. The position paper was presented to the members for their consideration and approval. After their adoption, which often included revisions, they became policy. These position paper were a mechanism for dealing with the various opinions held within the membership and provided official statements relative to where LEADS stood on important issues.

The profile of LEADS as an educational leader grew rapidly and this resulted in the executive receiving many requests to appoint members to various provincial committees.

ACT TO INCORPORATE LEADS

Legal recognition by legislation is an objective that a neophyte organization identifies as a critical step in its growth towards maturity. Legislation, once achieved, provides a legal framework including powers, duties and control of membership that are not achievable in a less formal organization. In addition to the increase in stature that accompanies legislation there is also indication that the organization is permanent. When the executive began looking into the possibility of incorporation through legislation they identified a number of specific concerns and adopted a procedure for dealing with them. The strategy was to identify any one who may have objections relative to an Act of Incorporation and to provide them with information addressing their concerns. It was the objective of the LEADS executive to have the support of the major participants in education.

1. LEADS Membership

There were serious reservations amongst some LEADS members about what would happen to some of the benefits they had through their association with the STF. Members were assured that provincial legislation would be amended to guarantee that they would be able to retain the benefits.

After considerable discussion, over a period of time, a resolution was presented and passed at an annual business meeting. The resolution instructed the executive to prepare a draft of the legislation that could be submitted to the membership for their approval before it was presented to the government for its presentation to the legislature. A Saskatoon law firm was retained to write the Act. The law firm, in consultation with appointed LEADS representatives, drafted the proposed bill that was later sent to the members for approval. After an extensive clause by clause study of the proposed legislation, it was approved by the membership.

2. Consultations with the STF and the SSTA

The executive knew that the chance of getting the government to introduce the legislation would be greatly improved if there was no opposition from either the STF or the SSTA. Meetings were held at which the LEADS committee outlined their objectives. The procedure was successful as evidenced by the fact that neither of the organizations opposed it when it was introduced into the legislature.

3. Provincial Political Parties

A plan was designed to expedite the passage of the Act in the legislature.

The bill to incorporate LEADS was introduced into the legislature by the Minister of Education and was passed without any objections. The executive were extremely pleased that the bill and the strategies used to gain the support of the other participants received unanimous support.

The passage of the legislation (1984) changed the stature of LEADS. The organization was now legally recognized as one of the major players in education in Saskatchewan. LEADS was now prepared to move into a new era.

1984-1985 – President, Hervé Langlois

Breaking New Ground

L.E.A.D.S. executive members at this time were: Hervé Langlois, Joe Zolkavich, Bob Kroeker, Ed Gartner, Dexter Samida, Walter Selin, Ray Tourigny, Wayne Kyle, Gary Broker, Eugene Doroshenko, Wayne King, Marshall Effler and John Chyzowski.

 

1985-1986 – President, Bob Kroeker

Getting Established

1986-1987 – President, Dexter Samida

Phase Two: Sustaining Activities and Establishing Credibility

1987-1988 – President, Gary Broker

L.E.A.D.S. Plays a Vital Role in Saskatchewan Education

President urged Saskatchewan Education to maintain a collaborative approach to decision making.
  • Financial support for education was being reduced as the economic recession began.
  • Gordon Dirks appointed to conduct ‘private schools study’ and criticized for the secrecy in the review process.
  • L.E.A.D.S. adopts policy on private schools with a view to ensuring quality education for all children.
  • Deputy Minister Laurie McFarlane was under heavy criticism for "the new and sometimes abrasive style" of decision making.
  • Education Minister Hepworth hints that the public isn’t "totally confident in school system".
  • Chyzowski argued that: L.E.A.D.S. role should be that we not only are, but are perceived to be, a non-partisan voice for quality education in Saskatchewan.
  • College of Education budgets were being restricted.
  • SSTA First Vice-President Bob Thompson asked L.E.A.D.S.: Are you political or administrative? Are you staff-sided or management-sided? What’s the appropriate balance between lobbying for your board and lobbying for L.E.A.D.S? L.E.A.D.S. members were not impressed.
  • Ev Mazurkie was awarded the L.E.A.D.S. scholarship for studies in educational administration.
  • L.E.A.D.S. adopts policy on educational finance requesting less reliance on property taxes.
  • Membership fees were set at $535. Twenty-one members retired during the year.

     

    1988-1989 – President, Erv Boehm

    Planning for the ‘90’s

    SSTA President Berny Wiens speculated on the need to restructure Saskatchewan education.
  • Consideration was given to establishing a L.E.A.D.S. superannuate group.
  • Hervé Langlois and John Chyzowski travel to Newfoundland to encourage Newfoundland administrators to establish their professional organization.
  • Marketing school systems was a current topic.
  • The fall conference focused on education in the 90’s.
  • Steve Buttinger was awarded the L.E.A.D.S. scholarship for studies in educational administration.
  • Larry Sackney appointed director of the Saskatchewan Educational Leadership Unit.
  • Regional Services and Saskatchewan Education field support services were reviewed.
  • Implementation of core curriculum a serious issue.
  • Turtleford School Division in court over truancy – and lost.
  • Bob Bryce challenges University of Regina Task Force report on teacher education.
  • Marlene Taylor became acting director of the Saskatchewan Instructional Development and Research Unit.
  • Lorne Hepworth thanks L.E.A.D.S. for picking up the challenge of implementing core curriculum.
  • L.E.A.D.S. adopts policies on supervision and evaluation of personnel and programs, and student evaluation.
  • L.E.A.D.S. began consideration of certification of its members.
  • Membership fees remained at $525.

    Full Professional Status – A Dream or a Goal to be Pursued?

    L.E.A.D.S. established a committee to examine full professional status for the organization with the mandate to: define the profession of educational administration; consider the implications of licensing/certifying members and; identify the responsibilities of L.E.A.D.S. to its members and members of the public. The committee was chaired by Hervé Langlois and included Larry Booth, Ernie Dawson, Austin Gerien, Dave McCabe, Eleanor Rourke and Larry Steeves.

    1990-1991 – President, Don Schindelka

    Governance, Restructuring, and Money – Big Worries

    1991-1992 – President, Barry Earl

    Full Professional Status Realized

    The new L.E.A.D.S. Act was proclaimed on August 1, 1991 and L.E.A.D.S. members attained full professional status.

    1992-1993 – President, Gary Luke

    Reduced Budgets – Only the Beginning!

    L.E.A.D.S. executive members were: Gary Luke, Don Sangster, Joe Zolkavich, Elaine Malkin, Lawrence Chomos, Norman Dray, Gene Hodgson, Janice Petracek, Brian Noonan, Bill Macfarlane, Wes Prosser, Harvey Morissette, Don Smith, John Chyzowski.

    1993-1994 – President, Don Sangster

    Leadership – A Recurring Theme

    Executive
    Wes Prosser, Bill Macfarlane, Harvey Morissette, Gene Hodgson, Norm Dray, Elaine Malkin, Don Smith, Janice Petracek, Lawrence Chomos, Gary Luke, Don Sangster, Merv Grosse, Brian Noonan, and John Chyzowski.

    1994-1995 – President, Merv Grosse

    L.E.A.D.S. Responds to Challenge

    Executive
    Merv Grosse, Don Sangster, Lawrence Chomos, Don Smith, Wes Prosser, Larry Steeves, Bill Macfarlane, Siegrid Schergel, Norm Dray, Adolf Volk, Harvey Morissette, Linda Holmes, and John Chyzowski.

     

    1995-1996 – President, Lawrence Chomos

    Executive
    Lawrence Chomos, Ralph Eliasson, Merv Grosse, Bob Bryce, Larry Steeves, Bryan Tallon, Siegrid Schergel, Adolf Volk, Bill Macfarlane, Bill Cooke, Wes Prosser, Denis Tetu, Dennis Lokinger, and Joe Zolkavich.

    Amalgamations Ahead?

    L.E.A.D.S. executive members were: Ralph Eliasson, Bryan Tallon, Lawrence Chomos, Bob Bryce, Larry Steeves, Jim Hopson, Adolf Volk, Bill Macfarlane, Bill Cooke, Harvey Bowers, Denis Tetu, Dennis Lokinger, and Joe Zolkavich.

    CASA in Saskatoon

    Executive
    Bryan Tallon, Ralph Eliasson, Bill Macfarlane, Ailsa Watkinson, Larry Steeves, Tim Peake, Jim Hopson, Adolf Volk, Pat Donegan, Chris Sarich, Harvey Bowers, Vance Mokelky, Bill Duffee

    Executive Director Pat Dickson.

    Committees in Action

    Executive
    Bill Macfarlane, Bryan Tallon, Jim Hopson, Ailsa Watkinson, Joanne Cunningham, Tim Peake, Barbara Young, Christine Boyczuk, Pat Donegan, Chris Sarich, Gerald Guillet, Vance Mokelky, Bill Duffee

    Executive Director Pat Dickson.

    L.E.A.D.S. Paper on FOG Promotes Discussion

    Executive
    Jim Hopson, Bill Macfarlane, Barbara Young, Ailsa Watkinson, Joanne Cunningham, Lee Cummins, David Steele, Pat Donegan, Rene Baxter, Gerald Guillet, Vance Mokelky, Bill Duffee

    Executive Director Pat Dickson.

     

    2000-2001, President, Barbara Young

    LEADS lead by first woman president.

    Executive
    Barbara Young, David Steele, President-Elect, Ellery Peters, Lee Cummins, Mary Reeves, Vance Mokelky, Bill Duffee, Rene Baxter, Pat Donegan, Ron Richardson, Jim Hopson, Past-President, Norman Rebin

    Executive Director Pat Dickson

    Ailsa Watkinson is replaced as public representative by N. Rebin (August, 2000)

    President speaks to FOG issues.

    Executive
    David Steele, Lee Cummins, President-Elect, Ellery Peters, Dave Spencer, Norman Dray, Ron Richardson, Ken Loehndorf, Bill Duffee, Jeff Finell, Mary Reeves, Beverley Hanson, Jim Hopson, Norman Rebin,

    Executive Director Pat Dickson

    2002-2003, President, Leila Cummins

    Executive
    President, Leila Cummins; President Elect, Ken Loehndorf; Past President, David Steele; Region 1, Georgia Joorisity; Region 2, Dave Spencer; Region 3, Roni Spetalnick; Jeff Finell; Region 4, Beverley Hanson, Norman Dray; Region 5, John Treso; Region 6, Richard Buettner; Northern Region, Bill Duffee; Public Representative, Norman Rebin

    LEADS Staff Executive Director, Dick Nieman
    Assistant to the Executive Director, Linda Butcher

     

    2003-2004     President Ken Loehndorf

    Executive
    President Ken Loehndorf, President Elect Norman Dray, Past President Leila Cummins, Region 1 Georgia Joorisity, Region 2 Kelly Clenchy, Region 3 Roni Spetalnick, Jeff Finell, Region 4 Jim Jutras, Lyle Neher, Region 5 Alan Sharp (Richard Buettner), Region 6 Glen Winkler, North Austin Gerein, Public Representative Norm Rebin.

    LEADS Executive Director – Dick Nieman
    Assistant to the Director – Linda Butcher

     

    2004-2005     President Norman Dray

    Executive: President Norman Dray, President Elect Vance Mokelky, Past President Ken Loehndorf, Region 1 Harold Laich, Region 2 Marc Danylchuk, Region 3 Ben Grebinski, Dolores Wagner Owens, Region 4 Jim Jutras, Lyle Neher, Region 5 Alan Sharp (Richard Buettner), Region 6 Glen Winkler, North Austin Gerein, Public Representative Vacancy

    LEADS Executive Director – Dick Nieman
    Assistant to the Director – Linda Butcher

    Executive: President Vance Mokelky; President Elect Marc Danylchuk; Region 1 Harold Laich; Region 2 Sandra Hill; Region 3 Ben Grebinski; Region 3 Dolores Wagner-Owens; Region 4 Joanne Weninger; Region 4 Evelyn Novak; Region 5 Alan Sharp; Region 6 Janine Otterson; Northern Region Austin Gerein; Public Representative Patricia Roe

    Executive Director – Dick Nieman
    Assistant to Director – Linda Butcher

  • 2005 – 2006 President Dr. Vance Mokelky

  • 2001-2002, President, David Steele

  • 1999-2000, President, Jim Hopson

  • 1998-1999 – President, Bill Macfarlane

  • 1997-1998 – President, Bryan Tallon

  • 1996-1997 – President, Ralph Eliasson

  • 1989-1990 – President, Dave McCabe

    • 2006 - 2007 President Marc Danylchuk

    Executive: President Marc Danylchuk; President-Elect Ben Grebinski; Sandra Hill; Vance Mokelky; Joanne Weninger; Bruce Baldwin; Harold Laich; John Kuzbik; Janine Otterson; Ev Novak; Brenda Edwards; Ralph Pilz; Patricia Roe - Public Representative

  • Exeutive Director - Dick Nieman
  • Assistant to the Director - Raegan Lubiniecki

    • 2007 - 2008 President Ben Grebinski

    Executive: President Ben Grebinski; President-Elect John Kuzbik; Marc Danylchuk; Shelley Rowein; George Rathwell; Doug Robertson; Leila Cummins; Heather Shockey; Ralph Pilz; Brenda Edwards; Bruce Baldwin; Ivan Yackel; Patricia Roe - Public RepresentativeExecutive

    Director - Dick Nieman
    Assistant to the Dirctor - Raegan Lubiniecki

  • 2008-2009 President John Kuzbik
  • Executive: President John Kuzbik; President-Elect Sherri Stephanson; Zone 1 - Geralyn Hall; Zone 2 - Ben Grebinski; Zone 3 - George Rathwell; Zone 4 - Ivan Yackel; Zone 5 - Velda Weatherald; Zone 6 - Doug Robertson; Zone 7 - Heather Shockey; Zone 8 - Ralph Pilz; Public Representative - Patricia Roe
  • Executive Director - Dick Nieman
  • Assistant to the Dirctor - Raegan Lubinieck

  • 2009 - 2010 President Sherri Stephanson
  • Executive: President Sherri Stephanson; President-Elect Don Hoium; Zone 1 Geri Hall; Zone 2 Rob Currie; Zone 3 John McAuliffe; Zone 4 John Kuzbik; Zone 5 Velda Weatherald; Zone 6 Doug Robertson; Zone 7 Patricia Scott; Zone 8 Ralph Pilz; Public Representatvie - Dr. Don Somers

  • Executive Director - Dick Nieman
  • Assistant to the Director - Raegan Lubiniecki