Superintendent retires after experiencing 4 generations in Red River Valley School Division

Brad Curtis is retiring this August after eight years as Red River Valley School Division (RRVSD) superintendent and 54 years in education.

Throughout the generations of students, he said his focus has always been on the kids.

“From being a parent — my wife and I have two wonderful children — I kept in mind what I would want my kids to have in every school that I’ve worked in,” explained Curtis.

“That was my motivation.”

The inspiration to become an educator came from the people who taught him growing up in northwest Ontario, where students had an extra year of high school.

“I just had some awesome teachers in Grade 13. I could see myself wanting to be like them,” said Curtis.

It was being treated like an adult and being able to specialize in the subjects he was interested in that grabbed a teenage Curtis’s attention.

“And they really knew their stuff.”

Math and Physics were the subjects he gravitated towards.

“It was obviously their interest as well and it just poured out of them. Seeing that enthusiasm and that excitement for those subject areas, it was very natural for me to follow that,” said Curtis.

“Just helping people because they helped me. To this day that’s probably the most fulfillment you get, is when you’re able to help someone.”

He helped in other ways, too.

Curtis wanted to keep playing hockey while going to school. That is where his journey brought him to Manitoba, where he played for the Winnipeg Blues.

That led to coaching AAA and high school when he started teaching.

The teaching career was relatively short before getting into administration. Curtis started at Lowe Farm for a year. He then moved to Sanford for seven years where he taught Math and Physics and coached hockey.

He got into curriculum assessment with the province, leading to a job for two years at St James Collegiate as a Math coordinator. Then it was back to Sanford to be vice-principal for two years at the high school before being principal for 15 years.

It was his predecessor as principal Bill Bumstead who steered Curtis into administration.

Small town principals get recognized pretty easily, and Curtis has seen those kids grow.

“Everywhere I go: grandparents, parents and students. Probably four generations, not just three. It’s been very rewarding,” said Curtis.

The difference he made in people’s lives during their formative years was not always through learning a physics formula.

“When I run into a lot of students or they reach out by email because they know I’m retiring, they talk about the times I helped them and it wasn’t in the classroom. It was in the hallway or the hockey rink, or just whenever.

“Giving them guidance and encouragement maybe when they weren’t taking the right steps,” said Curtis.

“Just seeing the strengths in people and making sure that they can see those strengths that are going to help them be successful.”

Rural advantage

As a teacher, principal and superintendent, there were some big challenges. The pandemic was global, but there were other things to deal with that were more specific to RRVSD.

The former government’s Bill 64 attempt to dissolve school boards, the commission on K-12 education, the 1997 flood of the century, amalgamation, and a fire at Sanford’s elementary school just before school started nine years ago.

Then-principal Curtis opened the doors of the collegiate to the younger kids.

“Someone early in my career said always make sure you’re taking care of your students first, the rest will take care of itself,” said Curtis.

That community spirit is something he sees as an advantage working in a rural school division.

“I worked two years in St James. They had a lot more bells and whistles, but it wasn’t the same.

“It was not the same meaning we really know our communities, our staff and our students, which just makes it that much more meaningful.

“Maybe because you grow up in a rural area, small town, it’s part of you that you really, truly are looking out for each other,” he said.

The biggest thing Curtis said he has learned on the job is what he does not know. It is something he said he is passing on to incoming superintendent Daniel Preteau.

“The more you learn, the more you realize you don’t know. Which means it is lifelong learning. You just don’t have a choice because there’s something new to learn every day, every year.

“Don’t ever think you have all the answers. Really involve other people. Get more than one perspective,” said Curtis.

“But again, never lose sight of we’re here for students, and that is number one and number one always. And if you’re spending time on something and it’s not having any meaningful impact on student learning and achievement and success, then you need to reevaluate.”

Help came from those around him who assisted in solving problems and making things happen for RRVSD.

“I’ve been fortunate to be around great people, both students and staff.”

Getting parents behind him has helped Curtis in the division’s top job.

“You can kind of have a huge impact when everyone’s pulling in the same direction. I think in my career I’ve always been able to determine that direction and stay focused on it.”

But now it is time to step back.

“I will be house husband first, and help out friends and family and spend time with them,” said Curtis.

“For the last 54 years, September meant you go back to school. This will be the first time in 54 years that I will not be going back to school. It will be different.”

He plans on spending a lot of time at Lake of the Woods. It is a place he can reflect on decades of serving his community.

“I’m grateful for the time I’ve had. I fit the surroundings that I was in. It was good for me and it was good for the division,” concluded Curtis.

Preteau has already been immersing himself for the role of superintendent ahead of his official Aug. 1 start date. He has 26 years of education experience, including 10 in administration and eight in senior leadership roles according to RRVSD’s announcement.

Preteau began his career in RRVSD as a teacher before moving to Division Scolaire Franco Manitobaine (DSFM), where he was a teacher, guidance counsellor, and resource teacher. He eventually became assistant superintendent for two years there.