CASS President’s Message

The College of Alberta School Superintendents (CASS) is the professional voice of Alberta’s system educational leaders, whose mission is to build system leadership excellence to ensure quality school leadership, quality teaching, and optimum learning for all students in Alberta.

In the spring of 2021 Bill 55, the College of Alberta School Superintendents Act, received royal assent and the College of Alberta School Superintendents was granted professional status within legislation for full implementation in September 2022. On behalf of the CASS Board of Directors, I wish to express appreciation to the hundreds of school system leaders, beginning in the 1960’s, that have laid the foundation for CASS to realize this long held aspiration. In particular, we hold a debt of gratitude to those visionary leaders who had the idea to begin operating as a professional organization long before CASS was given formal recognition in legislation. These leaders drafted bylaws and developed other governance structures that gave the association gravitas.

CASS operates using a zone system, with most zones meeting three to four times a year. Most zones organize themselves into role-alike communities of reflection and practice, and the opportunity for professional collaboration is often the most cited benefit of membership by the system leaders that participate. The Board of Directors consists of 10 individuals with representation from each of the zones, Alberta’s First Nations, Métis, and Inuit schools, and Alberta’s Francophone schools. Beginning in 2022, CASS will also have a public member appointed by the Minister of Education.

CASS works to foster system excellence by strengthening the knowledge and skills of its members and collaborating with the Ministry and other partner organizations to maintain Alberta’s world-class education system. CASS is committed to building the proficiency of system leaders to meet the Leadership Quality Standard and the Superintendent Leadership Quality standard.

On behalf of the CASS Board of Directors, I would like to thank all CASS members, past and present, who have contributed both to CASS and to educational excellence in the province of Alberta.

Sincerely,
Dr. Scott Morrison