Forward-thinking. Open to creative and innovative ways of doing things. A culture of caring.
Those are just three of the reasons Mena Kelly loves working for the Ottawa Catholic School Board.
“I know what the vision is for the board, and I know what our priorities are. They’re clearly articulated so I never have to guess,” says Kelly, a leading and learning officer at the OCSB.
“Our leaders, superintendents and senior administration lead by example. That cliche of walking the walk is exactly what I see and experience — we want the best for our students and our staff, and it shows.”
The OCSB approach to technology is one example. From converting libraries into learning commons and increasing broadband and accessibility to Wi-Fi, to encouraging students to bring their own devices to school, the OCSB has created a digital ecosystem among its 84 schools that focuses on collaboration, creativity and critical thinking.
Last fall the school board was selected by the Canadian Educational Association to participate in the Innovation that Sticks case study program. This was public recognition for the extent to which it has transformed its classrooms to meet the needs of all learners in today’s digital world.
Kelly started her career in human resources at the school board nine years ago. One of the most rewarding aspects of her job involves working on an in-house leadership journey program — a group of professional development sessions created and delivered by staff, for all staff.
“Sessions address what leadership looks like, strategies for conflict resolution and a variety of other topics,” says Kelly.
“Attendees receive a leadership certificate after completing four classes. We’re always full — sessions are capped at 50 people and for the past few years we’ve had 20 people on a waiting list.”
Professional development opportunities are plentiful, including a mentorship program for school principals and vice-principals and up to $500 every two years for support and teaching staff to attend conferences.
Not having a rigid hierarchy means staff have access to people — and mentorship — at different levels of the different organization, says Denise Andre, director of education, who first joined the OCSB as a French and geography teacher in 1978.
“People don’t need an appointment to see me — casual chats in the hallway happen all the time here. We always find ways to have fun, to make our work engaging and to celebrate successes. We want our staff to be as creative as our students — to take risks and experiment, and to build play into the learning curriculum.”
Kelly says she strongly feels the culture of caring at work.
This is demonstrated through the rich history of generosity employees have shown over the past 10 years — donating more than $5 million through the board’s annual United Way campaigns.
Staff and students have organized and contributed to numerous social justice initiatives, ranging from providing clean water to villages overseas, feeding and clothing the homeless in Ottawa and initiating anti-bullying initiatives to make schools welcoming and safe environments.
“Knowing my work has purpose, is recognized and celebrated, is key to my coming back the next day,” says Kelly.
OTTAWA CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD
Years in business: 160
Number of employees: 4,227
Locations: 84 schools, a multi-site treatment centre, adult high school, four adult education centres and head office.
Head office: Nepean
Positions employed: Elementary, secondary and continuing education teachers, early childhood educators, educational assistants, administrative support, caretakers and skilled trades, managerial and professional.
Hiring incentives: Competitive salaries, professional development for all employees, pension, health and dental benefits for permanent employees, exceptional workplace morale, employee assistance program, vacation days and Christmas break.
Application process: Online at ocsb.ca/careers
This story was produced by Postmedia Works on behalf of the Ottawa Catholic School Board for commercial purposes. Postmedia’s editorial departments had no involvement in the creation of this content.