Last Updated: Tuesday - 01/04/2011

New school superintendents named

St. Albert, East Central get new leaders

ST. ALBERT — Two Catholic regional school divisions in the Edmonton Archdiocese will have new superintendents to begin the school year 2001-02.

Bill Hoppins took the leading post in Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools while David Keohane will head the East Central Alberta Catholic Schools.

Both Hoppins and Keohane were deputy superintendents of their respective divisions before they were named to the top posts.

Hoppins replaced Lee Lucente, who will become the executive director of the College of Alberta School Superintendents, while Keohane succeeded Paulette Hanna.

"My vision is to make all our actions focused towards learning," Hoppins told the WCR.

All workers in education are accountable for the learning of the students, whether they are property custodian, maintenance personnel, teachers or board trustees, Hoppins said.

Hoppins, who began his education career in 1970, promised to continue promoting the division's motto, "Loved by God . . . Nurtured by community . . . Every student a success!"

"It is important that (the students) know they are loved by God, more than we can know," said Hoppins, who worked for Alberta Learning before getting connected to the St. Albert division.

"If they know that, then the whole community can nurture them and turn them into successful students," he said. "The curriculum is just a vehicle and pathway towards achieving that motto."

Hoppins, educated by Ursuline Sisters and Basilian Fathers in Calgary, said these religious were influential in his decision to pursue a profession in education.

"They gave their whole lives to make sure that I learned," he said.

He also emphasized that his mother, who was a teacher, was a very strong influence in his career while he took upon his father's leadership style.

As a leader he always recognizes others' talents and gifts and encourages to use them to the full, believing that "the glory of God is man fully alive."

Keohane, who began his teaching career at the age of 22 asked himself on his first day as classroom teacher, "How can I be a Church representative for them?" Since then, it became his personal motivating principle as an educator.

He might not be the youngest of all the Alberta superintendents, but this 41-year-old educator exudes the youthful passion to get the mission of evangelization done through Catholic schools.

The schools in his division cater not only to Catholic students but to non-Catholics as well. For him it is a challenge to maintain a Catholic identity of the schools and attend to the needs of non-Catholic students.

"Probably the school is the major Church experience our students can have. We might as well make it a fun and exciting experience for them," Keohane said.

Keohane, an active member of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Wainwright, parallelled his teaching experience with involvement in Catholic youth ministry.

His leadership in music ministry and the development of comprehensive school retreat programs have helped diversify programs in Alberta Catholic schools.

He pointed out that educating children is a ministry to assist parents, who are the primary teachers.

Both superintendents obtained education degrees from the University of Alberta. Keohane earned a master of education degree from San Diego State University while Hoppins obtained his from the University of Calgary.

Greater St. Albert division has 19 schools in St. Albert, Morinville and Legal. East Central has eight in Wainwright, Castor, Halkirk, Provost and Vermilion.

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