Big Valley School has welcomed Marjan Lenart as its new principal with a deep desire to build small rural schools and a vast array of experience around the world.
“Being hired as principal of Big Valley School is a welcome challenge and opportunity in my professional growth – it’s a dream come true,” said Lenart, who previously served at Valley View School in Beauval, Saskatchewan as vice-principal and taught career transitions.
“I am excited about moving to this wonderful part of Alberta and about the coming school year.”
He is dedicated to become part of the teaching team.
“We have a committed staff and I am eager and willing to serve the students, parents, and the community of Big Valley,” said Lenart.
With 28 years of experience, he is ambitious to lead a school after he completed graduate studies in educational administration.
“My biggest asset is my experience as an educator. I am going into my twenty-ninth year of teaching,” said Lenart, who is qualified to teach at the elementary, intermediate and senior levels and has taught in a variety of settings.
“I am adaptable and open-minded, and belive that to move forward as a team, collaboration and compromise are key ingredients.”
Already, he has taken steps to create professional learning experiences and incorporate summative learning data for the purpose of remediation.
He has several vital goals as he launches the new school year.
“I want to create a safe learning environment, prepare students for successful transition to next level of education when they leave Big Valley School and work collaboratively with staff, parents and community for the purpose of serving the students’ interests the best way possible.”
“To make the transition as smooth as possible, I will heavily rely on established best practices and continuous collaboration with all involved to support the school’s vision and mission statement,” said Lenart.
While he was schooled in a rural community, he said that didn’t attract him to a small rural school.
“I think what did inspire me is my sense of adventure and curiosity,” said Lenart.
“I was born on Columbus Day (October 12) and have longed to explore the world as a child.”
He brings a wealth of experience to Clearview School Division.
Lenart began his schooling on an isolated mining community in northern Ontario in 1962. When the mine shut down, the family moved to Hamilton, Ontario where he completed elementary and secondary education and later attended McMaster University.
He also attended Queen’s University in Kingston and the University of Toronto.
Lenart began his career as a physical education, language arts and social studies teacher in an isolated First Nations village in British Columbia.
He decided to return home to Ontario where he worked as a secondary school teacher with Toronto School District for almost 20 years.
Wishing to explore teaching overseas, Lenart ventured to Malaysia to teach at Taylors’ College.
While in Hong Kong, he served as a teacher/consultant with the Hong Kong Education Department.
Returning to Canada in 2008, he instructed English as a Second Language in Hamilton at St. Charles Adult Learning Centre while enrolled at the University of Toronto to obtain qualifications to become a principal.
He completed his graduate studies in educational administration at the University of Toronto in 2004.