How the Explorations Program Supports the Next Generation of School Leaders

On a recent cold drizzly morning, where the damp seeps through every layer, a friend asked if I would join her for the first paddle in her brand-new kayak. It was so new, the price tag was still attached. We drove out toward Indian Arm, me silently curious about what was ahead on this grey and wet day.

As we slid the kayak into the water, I casually asked, “So… have you ever kayaked before?”

With complete confidence she replied, “No.”

I grew up in a community surrounded by lakes and ocean, where we learned early to swim, kayak, sail, paddleboard, and handle ourselves on the water. Water safety was as much a prerequisite there as knowing Vancouver’s street map is here. Armed with this new information, I held the kayak steady while she placed her feet and settled in. I talked her through foot placement, paddle strokes, and the rudder. “There’s a rudder?!” she exclaimed.

And with that, we were off.

An hour of paddling later,  we pulled the kayak up onto a sandy shoreline, followed a small trail into the woods, found a narrow rocky ledge overlooking the inlet, and settled in for lunch. From that vantage point, the landscape looked entirely different. I could see what was ahead of us: a tougher paddle back, a good chance of heavier rain, and the wind — now stronger — definitely not at our backs.

I have thought a lot about that moment since: the wobbly launch, the hike, the pause, the new view, the hard going ahead.

It reminded me so much of the early days of leadership.

 Leadership Begins Long Before the Title

In every district I visit, I meet teachers who feel something unnamed pulling them toward leadership. You can see it in how they support colleagues, how they think about whole-school solutions, or how they instinctively take responsibility.

An educator stepping into leadership can be like someone stepping into that kayak for the first time — excited, maybe overconfident, perhaps unsure, curious but cautious, hopeful but not entirely convinced they won’t tip over, and surrounded by people with experience who are ready to help guide.

Because – just like on the water –  mentors are there to steady the kayak and teach the basics.

Explorations for Aspiring School Leaders was designed for exactly that moment.

 Exploring Without Pressure

One of the things I appreciate most about Explorations is that it doesn’t push anyone into the role. It simply opens the door.

It gives participants a chance to:

·         explore who they are as leaders

·         understand the realities of the work

·         learn from people who are living the role every day

·         reflect on values, communication, and relationships

·         connect with others who are asking the same questions

It’s not about committing to becoming a Principal or Vice-Principal. It’s about saying, “Maybe. Let me see what this actually feels like.”
 It’s dipping your paddle in the water to see if the inlet is calling.

Some participants complete the program ready to apply. Others finish with the realization they are not quite ready. Both are equally successful outcomes,  because they are grounded in honesty, not pressure.

 A New View of Leadership

Just like sitting on that ledge overlooking the inlet, Explorations offers a new vantage point.

From that higher view, leadership looks different:

·         You see the joy in supporting a whole community

·         You see the calm beneath the surface

·         You see the purpose behind the work

·         You see that perfection isn’t required — just willingness and reflection

Districts tell me that Explorations participants come back more grounded, more confident, and more connected to their “why”.

 Growing BC’s Leaders With Intention

We all know the pressures facing educational leadership in BC: sustainability, succession planning, complexity, and burnout. Explorations is one of the ways we steady the boat for future leaders, long before they take the first official stroke.

It builds:

·         stronger leadership

·         better-prepared candidates

·         leaders who understand equity and belonging from day one

·         confidence rooted in self-awareness

·         a healthier, more sustainable system

This is how we ensure BC has the leaders our students deserve.

 An Invitation Forward

A leadership journey often begins the same way our kayak trip did: with uncertainty, a deep breath, a bit of courage, and a decision to keep paddling.

Explorations offers the invitation — and the vantage point — to the next generation of leaders who are already here in the system, feeling ready to launch something new. I am looking forward to seeing you there!