Sharon LeClair
I have been the Social Responsibility and Healthy Living Coordinator in the Staff Development Department, SD#43 – Coquitlam, for the past three years. This has been my dream job! When completing graduate work in the late 90’s I read Daniel Goleman’s book “Emotional Intelligence” which validated many of my values and beliefs regarding teaching children and learning in general. In the year 2000, I had the opportunity to work in a new school. This school’s goal was to create a socially responsible learning community using the BC Performance Standards for Social Responsibility as a framework to teach common language and expectations. The years I was part of the school community were the most amazing years of my teaching career. It is my hope that every educator has the opportunity to work in a socially responsible learning community with a visionary leader who puts children at the heart of everything that happens in the building!
Presently, my role in the staff development department in Coquitlam, is to co-facilitate the Social Responsibility Design Team with Dr. Kim Schonert-Reichl. This team is drafting a systemic plan for increasing the social responsibility of all learning communities in our district. I support social responsibility initiatives and structures in schools; offer professional develop opportunities for educators in the areas of social responsibility, social justice and social/emotional learning; facilitate Learning Teams, Implementation Teams, and Focus Groups inquiring into aspects of social responsibility; network with other school districts regarding Safe Schools, Child Abuse Prevention, restorative approaches and social responsibility; work with learning partners from UBC and SFU to conduct research, and support educators with regard to practical application of the theory and research; initiate and develop community partnerships; and support educators in their quest to improve life chances for the children we serve in this district.
