DIANE Nelson was happy just to be nominated.
"I've been nominated for things before, but you don't actually think you're going to be selected, so I kind of felt like I had won then," she says of hearing the news last fall that she had been nominated for an outstanding principal award.
In January, she found out she won.
Nelson was one of 40 principals across the country to receive an Outstanding Principal Award from The Learning Partnership, a national charitable organization that champions the public education system throughout Canada.
"It was very overwhelming," says Nelson. "It was such an honour to be selected among all my colleagues, who I feel are all outstanding."
The award includes a trip to Toronto at the end of February to participate in a five-day leadership training program with leaders from education, business and cultural communities.
When asked why she thinks she won the award, Nelson says she thinks it's because of her ongoing efforts to create and deliver innovative programs for students.
"I think I've probably done things a little bit differently. Maybe it's my specialized programs. I've tried to create and come up with new ideas to excite students in the public schools to want to come to our schools and enjoy their time," she says.
Nelson was recognized for her work with Sentinel secondary's sports academy programs, which allow students to meet academic requirements while pursuing specialized sports training. Students in the program attend credit courses in the morning and then leave in the afternoon to focus on one of four sports: hockey, soccer, tennis or golf. Baseball will be added to the program in September.
It's a program Nelson helped develop.
"I started it 10 years ago in the district as a pilot project, so I was based out of here because Sentinel school has a timetable that's conducive to allowing students to leave in the afternoon without missing any of their academics," she explains. "The idea is how can we bring about new ideas and new programs to the
schools to allow kids to work in areas where they are interested?"
Nelson also co-wrote a program (with Hollyburn elementary principal Valerie Brady) designed to teach primary students about character and social responsibility. The program, called Fin's Friends, is supported by the Vancouver Canucks, and is available free to teachers throughout the province.
"I've always had an interest in trying to understand and learn more about why students behave the way they do," says Nelson of her inspiration to co-write the program. "For me, the students' character is so important. Ultimately it's going to be their destiny, so I just want to always work on who the kids are."
Like many of her students, Nelson was an athlete as a teen, and also coached swimming and skating. She really enjoyed coaching, and so when it was time to pick her major in university, teaching was top of the list.
"I had an opportunity to go to a school and try an afternoon of teaching and I absolutely loved it," she says. "I went into second-year university education and never looked back."
After 27 years, Nelson still loves working with students. "It's so heartwarming to see them along this journey, and the improvements they make and the affect that you have on families in general. You make a difference. Not only with the child, but in the whole family."
Making a difference is the driving force behind Nelson's work. It's a decision that became more significant after her husband died a number of years ago.
"I thought to myself right then and there, I'm not sure what I'm going to continue to do, but whatever it is if it doesn't make a difference in the lives of others I'm not doing it."
