New director of education at WRDSB wants to restore 'real trust' and 'confidence' in public education

Scott Miller has worked the last 30 years at the Waterloo Region District School Board as an educator and administrator.

He's been named the board's new director of education. He was initially named to the position on an interim basis in December after the abrupt departure of the previous Director jeewan chanicka. It was announced he would take on the role permanently on Feb. 10.

Miller sat down with CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's Craig Norris, host of The Morning Edition, to talk about this new role and his goals.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Craig Norris: For people who may be unclear about your role, briefly tell us, what does a director of education do?

Scott Miller:  First of all, it was an honour and privilege for me to be named the director of education for the Waterloo Region District School Board and ultimately have oversight over the entire organization. That includes all of our school services and the various things in that regard.

In addition, it also has oversight over all of the operations. So everything under the organization of really a CEO type of role.

Craig Norris:  You are a graduate of the WRDSB. You started working for them in 1995 and then you've moved on to various titles. How do you think those experiences will help sort of shape you in this new role?

Scott Miller: Being a graduate of the Waterloo Region District School Board is something, that I'm proud of and certainly knowing our system, living in this region and watching this region grow over the last number of decades will help and support me in this role.

Just seeing the changes that have happened and how the diversity has become part of Waterloo region and how exciting that that is for us as a school board. 

And certainly in my roles as being both an elementary and secondary teacher and then a vice principal and principal in elementary schools and then through various other superintendent jobs, I've really had the opportunity to work in all aspects of our organization.

The most recent being the associate director of business services allowed me to really learn the operations side where prior to those last six months, my entire career was spent on the education side.

Craig Norris: What would you say are your goals with this new role?

Scott Miller: Ultimately, to bring back a real trust in public education and confidence in public education specific to the Waterloo Region District School Board.

It's also to see our students achieve at their highest level. I mean, ultimately we talk often about graduation rate and, when students enter our system, the goal is for them to graduate. So being able to work toward quite honestly at 100 per cent graduation rate, is the ultimate goal for us as a district and something that that we will keep at the forefront as as we work toward that.

Craig Norris: You mentioned rebuilding trust. What do you see as a concern?

Scott Miller: Certainly, over these last number of years, I think people have started to ask questions, about what it is their students are doing, in their classrooms. The work that is ongoing. And, we are in a position, as a school board that we are doing excellent work in both literacy and numeracy, that we are providing such a high level of education for our students.

It's up to us to be able to communicate that, to be able to share that with the public, to really ensure our parents, our families are our community partners, are aware of the great work that that our staff is doing each and every day.

And wanted to just applaud certainly the great work of our teachers, our early childhood educators, our educational assistance, child and youth workers and and all the other aspects of our organization.

Craig Norris:  You are quoted in a statement that was sent out by the board last week saying that you want to work collectively with everyone at WRDSB, from students to trustees, to feel a sense of belonging. Put belonging into context for us there?

Scott Miller: Certainly, since the beginning of my career I go back to thinking of myself as a teacher and just how important it was to build that sense of community and collaboration, whether that was in the classroom or the school community that I was working with.

Public education and specifically the Waterloo Region District School Board, we're so fortunate to welcome all identities within society into our schools each and every day. And for every student, every staff member community, when they come into their schools, that they can see themselves represented in our schools, that as a large group, toward common goals.

That we see a pathway forward for all students to be successful. And that our staff can take great pride in the work they do. And in addition, that our parents and families and communities can feel a real sense of of collaboration with the school communities that they work with.

Craig Norris: Is there a morale issue, and if so, how do you turn the morale of the school board around, do you think?

Scott Miller: I don't necessarily say there would be a morale issue. I look at the many people that I have the privilege of connecting with each and every day. And certainly since I've taken over this role, my opportunities to be out in schools, to be out in the community, spending time with,our staff and also our community partners and parents.

What I continue to hear is the great work that is happening, and how that I think becomes my, my responsibility and those that I work with is one, how do we celebrate that? How do we communicate that? And in doing so, and when people feel successful in the work that they're doing, I believe ultimately that builds confidence.

And when that confidence is seen throughout our communities, it builds a strong culture that then together as an organization and as a larger region, we can celebrate.

Craig Norris: And the board of trustees has been talking about how to move forward, some calling for a public town hall and other asking for a fulsome public engagement process. From your position, what do you think needs to happen now for the the board moving forward?

Scott Miller:  Certainly I first, I'm just very fortunate to work with the board of trustees that we do and that that partnership that I get to be part of and looking at, you know, ultimately I think is as an organization, as a board, I talk often about what is our common responsibilities. And in thinking about how we move forward.

I think the most important thing and whether that's a fulsome overview or whether it's a town hall is really around communication and listening to feedback, for the various students that that are in our schools, our staff, our families, our parents and our caregiver a being able to take that feedback, listening to it and then being able to implement, in a variety of ways. So, they can see that feedback is being listened to. 

And, we've often talked about the idea of transparency, and what that means. And, I ultimately I go back to transparency is effective and good communication.

As we move forward, it really an important thing certainly from my perspective is that we are really thoughtful about our communication, that we are sharing the work that we're doing be sharing what is happening at our schools. And, again, being able to see one, the impact it's having on our students and also be able to share the great work that our staff is doing on a daily basis.