Thomas Haney secondary principal Sean Nosek has moved to the West Vancouver school district with a promotion to director of instruction at the district office.
Nosek started his career as a teacher 24 years ago at Haney, and has spent 19 years in the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District.
Nosek is also the director of the Canadian Coalition for Self-Directed Learning.
Thomas Haney is a unique school where students decide their study schedule, in a innovative and flexible approach to education.
It has been a year of recognition for Nosek, as he was named one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals by the Learning Partnership.
“Sean will be a wonderful addition to our district leadership team, as he will bring fresh perspectives pushing us in our innovative learning and teaching in West Vancouver,” said district superintendent Chris Kennedy.
Nosek launched the first Grade 8 transitions program at Maple Ridge secondary, while working as a vice-principal 11 years ago.
It was a novel idea in its day, and now most schools in the district have a similar program to help bridge the gap between elementary and high school.
Nosek also founded the soccer academy at Westview secondary while he was principal there, and began a soccer exchange between the Westview teams and schools in Guadalajara, Mexico.
While he has been an Thomas Haney, it has gone from a school that had lots of room to one with a waiting list of students hoping to get it.
“It wasn’t that I was looking to leave,” he said.
The new position is a good match for his skill set, and “an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”
“It is very tough to leave,” added Nosek.
“But it was also important for me to feel like I’m going out on a high note, with the school on an upward trajectory.”
His last day on the job was July 8.
Effective Aug. 1, the new principal of Thomas Haney will be Grant Frend.
He has spent the past eight years at Garibaldi Secondary School as both vice-principal and principal.