BONNYVILLE – A new year will mean a new position for one administrator at Notre Dame Elementary School.
Lakeland Catholic School Division (LCSD) announced that Rachel Reid would step into the role starting August 2021.
Reid isn’t a stranger to Notre Dame Elementary School. Before taking maternity leave, she was vice-principal at the school and decided to apply for the for a change of pace.
“I love the students and staff there,” Reid told Lakeland This Week. “I love being able to work with the families and community to help our little ones as they start their education career. I just thought what a great opportunity it was to return to work in the capacity of helping lead Notre Dame Elementary and help these families and journey with them as they start their little ones in school.”
Reid said she got into teaching because “kids have always held a soft spot in my heart.”
She continued, “I have always wanted to bring smiles to kids (faces). No matter if you come from a good home or a troubled home. I wanted to be somebody that would love them, care for them, and would hold them to a high standard all with compassion... I just wanted every single kid to have at least one adult in their world that cared for them and wanted them to succeed.”
Reid graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Education and later received a Master of Education from Gonzaga University.
It was Calgary where Reid’s teaching career started with the Calgary Board of Education. She worked with them for 12 years before applying for a position with LCSD.
One of the aspects Reid enjoys about working in a smaller area is the chance to have personal relationships with her fellow teachers.
“I love the small school division where you get to know all of your other schools and meet the different leaders and divisional supporters. The closeness that you have as a small division is something that’s irreplaceable,” she expressed. “I just love being able to see colleagues when you get together and have our faith days and district-wide meetings. It’s pretty special to meet with your colleagues. Whereas when you work for a large school board, you don’t really see them all. It doesn’t really happen.”
One of her first roles with the division was at Notre Dame High School, which was a change from her time spent in Calgary, where she worked at the middle school-level.
When the position for vice-principal became available at Notre Dame Elementary School, Reid applied to work in a different atmosphere than she had in the past.
“I thought, ‘what a great opportunity to be able to experience the elementary level’ and then I can have a whole rounded out educational journey with myself in elementary, middle school, and high school.”
Reid is looking forward to seeing the smiles on the students' faces once the new school year begins.
“I’m also really looking forward to continuing the good work that has already been occurring at Notre Dame Elementary School and the motto for the school is ‘let your light shine.’ I just want to continue providing opportunities for those kiddos to let their light shine and the staff too.”
Robynne Henry, Bonnyville Nouvelle
