Karen Yamada (C21 Canada Ambassador), Kelli Boklaschuk (C21 Canada Shifting Minds Award Recipient), Greg Malazdrewic (Brandon School Division Associate Superintendent) and David Roberts (C21 Canada President).
The 2015 C21 Canada Shifting Minds Award in the individual category was presented to Kelli Boklaschuk from the Brandon School Division on January 29, 2015. Award recipients were nominated and selected by a process inviting 21st century learning and innovation practices from coast to coast.
Kelli is an incredibly creative and talented educator and visionary. She had a profound impact with staff and students in the Saskatoon Catholic Board prior to arriving in Brandon. Since coming to the Brandon Division Kelli has been responsible for a complete overhaul of the external web picture of the Brandon School Division and has instituted the portal design which has helped enormously with both internal and external communication. Currently Kelli is responsible for the leadership of personalized learning through technology in Brandon schools. Her ability to work with teachers and community members is enabling this work to become a reality in the Brandon Division.
David Roberts, President of C21 Canada said, “I’ve had the opportunity on a personal level to work with Kelli on several occasions. Her capacity to cut through the clutter, see the bigger picture and have people follow her to places they wouldn’t normally go on their own is always inspiring to be around. The former Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington once said that if he had the right player he would build a winning team around him. He drafted Wayne Gretzgy and the rest is history. I think the same can be said about Kelli (without Gretskys salary). Her ability to engage and her capacity to focus on the right steps forward assure Brandon of a winning team.
Brandon School Division is under the progressive leadership of Dr. Donna Michaels. Her ability to change the culture and engage staff in an agenda of change and innovation continues to be a success. Dr. Michaels is also a member of the C21 Canada CEO Academy, a by invitation only professional learning consortium of divisional and district CEOs committed to setting Canadian standards for 21st century learning, innovation and technology.