Superintendent Amos says goodbye to HSD

Superintendent and CEO Shelley Amos is saying goodbye to the Hanover School Division after four years in the role, but 22 years of working in the division.

“The answer I’ve given to most people is it’s bittersweet because I’ve been here for so long – 22 years – so it was hard to make the decision to leave. An opportunity came my way that was just too good to pass up and so there’s another chapter and journey for me in education so I’m very excited for the new journey to work in a new school division a little bit closer to home. I’m also sad because I will miss all the people and all the relationships I built here over 22 years” she said.

Amos began her time with the school division in 2002 as a Grade 2 teacher at Woodlawn School then as its principal before finally taking the superintendent role in 2019. She will be the new CEO and superintendent at the Pembina Trails School Division in Winnipeg.

“It’s a chance to lead in another division even though it’s Manitoba, some things will be similar but many things will be different. It’s a larger division. It has about 17,000 students and 36 schools so really I’m looking forward to building relationships and getting to know the schools in that area of the city,” she said.

Amos said her time as superintendent began when the COVID pandemic hit and having to deal with that and how to best protect the division. She said there have been a lot of challenges of the last four years one of which was dealing with two protests during the pandemic and the EA strike last fall.

But she said there were also highlights as superintendent such as the opening of Niverville High School, the addition for Mitchell Middle School, the planned addition to Green Valley School, and the construction phase of Parkhill School.

“We’re growing. The division’s been growing for the past few years and that’s a good challenge to have and I’m pretty proud in managing that. It was a real joy to help design the new school (Parkhill) so I look forward to coming back and seeing that as soon as its ready,” she said.

Amos has some advice for the incoming superintendent Joe Thiessen. She said it’s a benefit that he knows the people in the division, the schools, and the community. Her advice is for him to build relationships and to listen to people.

“And that he continues the good work being done in the schools. School principals in particular really matter in terms of leading the work in schools. So, I would encourage him to build really strong relationships with the team in this office and the teams in schools and that he treats all employees like I’ve tried to do with kindness and value for their role no matter if they’re a bus driver, a mechanic, or EA or secretary – all the roles are important in the school division.”

Amos thanks everybody who crossed her path in the 22 years she has been with Hanover. She said she loved her time in the division.

“Public education matters, inclusive education matters. We know school is so much more than the brick walls and academics. We’re working hard on developing good citizens who will do fantastic things in life and for our world down the road and it’s been a privilege to serve here and I wish Hanover School Division all the best in the future.”