Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools welcome new associate superintendent

Times Contributor    

 

Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools welcomes Bonnie Annicchiarico as associate superintendent, July 1. Currently a principal at St. Joseph’s Collegiate in Brooks, Annicchiarico has been an educator for more than 30 years, and has been St. Joseph’s principal for 17 years.

Scott Morrison, Christ the Redeemer superintendent, said Annicchiarico “has a special gift for sharing leadership with those she serves,” and that she’s “highly respected by her colleagues in administration.” Above all, he said, Annicchiarico views all issues through the lens of her deep faith.

Annicchiarico, who’ll complete her doctorate from the University of Calgary this summer, said her studies have emphasized “how critical it is for us as leaders to live our faith in (our) interactions.

“My faith is the perspective I bring to all of my interactions and everything I do in my life, and so that begins with relationships with other people. (That means) working from a perspective of passion, love, value of the other person, the dignity of all human beings. The goodness of all human beings.

“(Kids) have unique gifts and abilities. I like to do whatever I can to realize their potential.” 

Parents, teachers and administrators share that goal, she said, although they target it in different ways. She seeks “to see God in the moment, in the situation. To see God in the child or the family, always believing there’s more to this world than meets the eye.”

Annicchiarico’s faith has even shaped her leadership style. 

“I think leadership in a school, and a Catholic school in particular, is best characterized by servant leadership,” she said. As associate superintendent, she’ll have “a similar perspective, just with different stake-holders.”

The perspective of leading by serving will define the role itself. 

“I’ll be involved in investing in leadership in all different levels of the division,” she said, “providing support to any of the schools and whatever their needs are.” 

She wants to “support the schools so their principals and teachers can meet the needs of their community.

“My hardest task is leaving the school. It’s time for me to do that, because I think I can serve a different need right now, but that’s going to be hard (to leave).” 

She’ll enjoy meeting new colleagues in the division and around the province, but she said there’s nothing better than hanging out with teenagers.

She also believes she’s serving by creating space for new leaders.

“I really believe in building capacity for leadership,” she said. “I’m excited to see other teachers and leaders in our school have a chance to take on leadership roles.”

Annicchiarico brings to her new role a broad background as a Language Arts teacher, particularly in Junior High and with those whose first language is not English. 

“Literacy is a focus in our school division too and one of my particular passions,” she said. “Especially reaching the adolescent readers and writers, and those that might be at risk or reluctant.

“I really love working with parents. I often will turn to parents and go, ‘What should we do about this?’ And the more we do that, the stronger our education system will be.”

In everything, Annicchiarico’s desire to serve shines through. 

“I just want to give back in whatever way I can to the schools,” she said. “Schools are there to support parents, and parents are there to support schools. I’ve experienced that partnership (as a parent), so I hope I can be a part of reinforcing other parents who are now raising their children.”

Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools serves over 9,300 students in 18 schools, in Okotoks, High River, Strathmore, Brooks, Canmore, Drumheller, and Oyen.