From Delhi to BC: Threads That Connect Us in Leadership
In late September, I had the privilege of joining school leaders from around the globe at the International Confederation of Principals (ICP) Annual Council Meeting in Delhi, India. To stand alongside more than 150 Principals, Vice-Principals, and education leaders from dozens of nations is both humbling and energizing. Gatherings like this remind us that while we may be separated by geography, culture, and context, the work of school leadership is a thread that connects us all.
The opening keynote speaker – Harpal Singh, Trustee, Salwan Education Trust – reminded us of a deeply resonant truth: education is one of the most powerful threads binding people across nations, cultures, and communities. In a world facing division and uncertainty, the role of Principals and Vice-Principals is not just to manage schools, but to build bridges of connection, equity, and hope. That message set the tone for the days ahead, with a focus on learning, sharing, and reaffirming the global importance of our work.
As the sessions unfolded, I was struck by how often the meeting themes echoed the very conversations we are having in British Columbia. Striving for equity, well-being, and leadership development, and ensuring that educational leaders’ voices are heard in public education: these are not just “our” challenges, they are global ones. In fact, Principals from across continents spoke of their common priorities: how do we care for the adults in our schools so they can care for children? How do we prepare the next generation of leaders to step into increasingly complex roles? How do we ensure that equity and reconciliation are not just words, but actions embedded in every decision we make?
What I found most powerful is how international collaboration shines a light on our shared humanity. When an educator from South Africa describes the struggle of supporting schools in rural, under-resourced communities, there can be parallels to what we hear from colleagues in Haida Gwaii or the Kootenays. When a Principal from Finland speaks of the need for teacher and leader well-being, it aligns with the stories of exhaustion and resilience we hear from BC’s school leaders. The contexts differ, but the heart of the work is the same.
For the BCPVPA, this is both affirming and inspiring. It affirms that our strategic priorities — leadership development, employment equity, member health and well-being, reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and amplifying our voice in public education — are not isolated goals. They connect to a larger global movement to strengthen education by investing in the people who lead it. It also inspires us to think bigger: how can we, as a provincial Association, contribute not just to BC’s system, but to the international dialogue on effective and compassionate school leadership?
While in Delhi, I was reminded that leadership in education is not about hierarchy. It is about weaving relationships, and passing those threads across classrooms, across districts, and – yes – even across oceans. Each decision we make, each connection we foster, each moment of courage and compassion we demonstrate contributes to a much larger tapestry of hope and opportunity for students everywhere.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have represented the BCPVPA in this space, alongside President-elect Sid Jawanda (SD57, Prince George) and Deputy Executive Director Magdalena Kassis, and I look forward to sharing insights that will strengthen our collective work. Most of all, I am grateful for you — our members — whose daily leadership in schools and communities ensures that the threads of education remain strong and vibrant.
Throughout the council meeting, I held close the reminder that we are not alone in this work. We are part of something much bigger: a global community of leaders committed to equity, well-being, and the belief that education has the power to weave together a more just and inclusive future for BC, and for the world.