February, 2026

Good morning, everyone. Collaboration was a strong theme throughout last week, as we connected with school leaders and system colleagues from across Saskatchewan. Whether through Learning Improvement Plan discussions or provincial director tables, the shared commitment to student success and continuous improvement remains evident.

Learning Improvement Plans

We wrapped up most of the remaining Learning Improvement Plan (LIP) meetings this week, connecting with school leaders at Three Lakes, Humboldt Collegiate, and LeRoy schools. Thank you to the school teams for your work in preparing your LIPs and joining the discussions about student learning, supports, and improving outcomes.

Directors’ Meeting

On Tuesday, I travelled to Prairie Valley’s division office for a provincial Directors' meeting, which I have the privilege of serving as co-chair of alongside Ward Strueby, Director of Education for Holy Trinity Catholic School Division. Our day began with a session led by Cory Rideout and Diana Welter, offering valuable insights into the Board of Reference hearing process. In the afternoon, we held our regular Directors’ meeting, where we continued important conversations on provincial priorities and shared updates from across Saskatchewan.

Provincial Education Plan Implementation Team meeting

On Wednesday and Thursday, I joined Superintendents Jacquie Bergerman and Jeremy Rolheiser in Regina for the Provincial Education Plan Implementation Team meeting. This two-day session brought together system leaders from across the province and the Ministry of Education to continue our collaborative work on implementing the Provincial Education Plan. The discussions focused on aligning our efforts to support student achievement, equity, and well-being in every division.

I left the meetings on Thursday afternoon to spend the rest of the week with my father, addressing an urgent family matter. Have a great week, everyone.  

-Kevin

Kevin C. Garinger B.Ed., M.A.Ed., Ed.D. (Candidate)

Director of Education/CEO

Horizon School Division No. 205

[email protected]

@kevingaringer

Good afternoon, Horizon.

I hope you had a chance to enjoy Family Day and the week off, and that you managed to stay warm and safe through the massive snowfall and arctic weather. I want to thank all the staff members who oversaw snow removal and safeguarded schools and buildings during the extreme cold. These behind-the-scenes aspects play a significant role in providing a safe and caring environment at Horizon. In talking to one of my colleagues from St. John’s, NFLD, he shared that they had 130 centimetres of snow in the past week, 55 centimetres just this weekend alone. Just when we think we have it difficult, it is important to know that others across our country are dealing with even greater challenges.

I would also like to begin this message by acknowledging the tragedy that occurred in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, on 10 February 2026. Our hearts and our thoughts are with the families, school and district staff, and community members who are grieving this tremendous loss.

When tragedies occur, they can raise questions and emotions close to home, and we are committed to providing support for students and staff who may be impacted. I am especially grateful for the strength of our Horizon community and for the consistency and dedication shown in our schools in ensuring student stability. 

While we hold space for those affected by tragedy, we also continue the important work of supporting students each day. Last week was no exception, and I would like to share a few highlights from across the division.

Collective Bargaining Agreement Planning Meeting

I attended the Provincial Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Planning Meeting hosted by the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) on Monday. Also representing Horizon were Board Vice Chair Mark Fedak, Superintendent of Finance Services Sarah Reding, and Superintendent of Human Resources Cory Popoff. We met with directors, superintendents, and board chairs from across Saskatchewan to explore and discuss employer priorities in preparation for the upcoming round of provincial bargaining between the Government–Trustee Bargaining Committee (GTBC) and the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF). 

After a welcome, introductions, and a process update to ensure a shared understanding of timelines and next steps, we reviewed current CBA language and discussed potential priorities and areas for consideration.

The School Superintendents Association (AASA) 

I joined the AASA Governing Board Meeting in Nashville on Wednesday morning in my role as Western representative for the Canadian Association of School System Administrators. Following the board meeting, we joined the AASA National Conference on Education on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. 

The conference is the premier professional development and networking event for school superintendents and administrators, with over 5600 superintendents in attendance and over 300 sessions. We heard from education experts, participated in roundtable conversations, and had invaluable networking opportunities with other North American public school leaders.

Board of Education

On Thursday afternoon, Board Chair Linda Mattock, Vice Chair Mark Fedak, Superintendent of Finance Services Sarah Reding, Executive Assistant Marni Sogge, Communications Officer Jesse Green, and I met to prepare the agenda for the February board meeting. We are all set for the meeting, which will be held the week after the school break.

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I know you join me in congratulating Team Canada on another tremendous performance throughout the Olympics. Although we are heartbroken to see our women's and men’s hockey teams lose to the USA, we can certainly be proud of all our competitors from each sport who represented our country in such great fashion. 

Finally, we hope all our colleagues and families in Mexico are safe and able to get home as quickly as possible. Our thoughts are with all those who are being delayed and those impacted by the crisis, and we hope everyone remains safe.

Have a great week, everyone. 

-Kevin

Kevin C. Garinger B.Ed., M.A.Ed., Ed.D. (Candidate)

Director of Education/CEO

Horizon School Division No. 205

[email protected]

@kevingaringer

Good morning, everyone.

I remain grateful for the many opportunities to connect, collaborate, and learn alongside colleagues and community partners. From leadership meetings to provincial discussions and community events, conversations reinforced the importance of working together to support students and families across Horizon. As an educational leader, Michael Fullan reminds us, “Relationships are the foundation of all successful change,” and this week was a strong reflection of that belief in action. 

Senior Leadership Team

Our Senior Leadership Team began the week with a meeting to discuss key priorities across the Division, review ongoing initiatives, and align on next steps to support student learning and well-being. 

CASSA Board Meeting

I joined the Canadian Association of School System Administrators (CASSA) Executive Meeting virtually on Monday afternoon as the western representative for The School Superintendents’ Association (AASA) in the United States. I continue to value opportunities to connect and learn alongside colleagues from across North America as we share our common successes and challenges. 

Assistant Professor in Educational Foundations

On Monday afternoon, I met with Dr. Carmen Gillies, Assistant Professor in Educational Foundations at the University of Saskatchewan.

Dr. Gillies, who is Métis and multi-facial (Norwegian and Chinese Canadian), is originally from Saskatoon. Her research focuses on critical race theory, anti-Indigenous racism in education, and strengthening racially just schools in Saskatchewan and across Canada. She has worked with ITEP, SUNTEP, and the Aboriginal Education Research Centre, and continues to support schools through anti-racism professional learning and collaboration with educators.

Our meeting allowed us to discuss shared priorities on equity, inclusive education, and supporting teachers in creating respectful, welcoming learning environments for all students.

Board Meeting

I joined the Board for its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, and details will be shared in the From the Board newsletter shortly. As always, important discussions took place as the Board worked to ensure that governance remains focused on supporting student learning, well-being, and the Division's long-term success.

SCC Workshop - March 2, 2026

Following the Board meeting, I met with the SCC Engagement Committee to finalize the March 2, 2026 workshop. The committee, consisting of chair Dana Stefanson, committee members Jim Lissinna, Pamela Wintringham, and Irma Anderson, and ex officio member and Board Chair Linda Mattock, determined the roles the committee would play during what is sure to be an exciting event. The guest speaker will be Giancarlo Brotto, a leading expert in Artificial Intelligence worldwide. If you don’t get a chance to listen to Giancarlo, we will try to have his plenary available after the session.

Celebration Lunch - Drake School

Thank you to the students and staff at Drake School for the warm welcome on Thursday as we joined them for their Celebration Day Lunch. Trustee Mark Fedak and I joined principal Erin Richard and the staff for lunch while Division Office staff, including Superintendents Cory Popoff and Terry Leibel, Inclusive Ed Coach Jolene Gullacher, Coordinator of Inclusive Ed Darryl Dickson, Agriculture Officer Sandra Hessdorfer, and Admin Assistants Kim Loose and Shelley Schell prepared the cake and provided supervision. Our students and all staff enjoyed a slice of cake following the lunch break. Congratulations, Drake School! 

Actions to Improve Early Literacy
While I was attending to matters in the office, on Friday afternoon, Superintendent Jeremy Rolheiser joined provincial colleagues for an update meeting on the Actions to Improve Early Literacy (AIEL). The session focused on reviewing feedback gathered by the Provincial Education Plan Implementation Team regarding both AIEL and the Saskatchewan Student Assessment (SSA), which connect to the Division’s Supporting Student Learning and Assessment priority. 

They discussed next steps and shared updates on the Provincial Reading Screeners, which are now available in draft form on the Early Literacy Portal. The screeners include Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN), the Phonological Awareness Screening Test (PAST), the Letter-name Sound Test (LeNS), and several reading measures. Feedback is being gathered on the clarity of instructions and administration guidelines, and revisions will be made as needed to ensure alignment with the provincial reading scope and sequence.

Further supports, including demonstration videos, will be available later this spring to help prepare teachers for implementation, and I will share further updates as the work continues.

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I spent the weekend mentoring and supervising volleyball referees at a 13UW Sask Cup tournament. I so enjoy these opportunities to get out and connect with our students, parents, and staff at events hosted across Saskatchewan. Whether it is the arts or sports, watching or helping students engage in their passions is critically important and rewarding for me. I remain grateful for the chances to be part of these experiences for our young people.

Have a great week, everyone.  

-Kevin

Kevin C. Garinger B.Ed., M.A.Ed., Ed.D. (Candidate)

Director of Education/CEO

Horizon School Division No. 205

[email protected]

@kevingaringer