​​​当Karena Munroe被加拿大校长协会提名为年度优秀校长​时，这一消息引发了庆祝，不仅因为奖项本身，更因为它所代表的意义。 

Karena目前是大卫·汤普森学校的校长，之前在谢尔伍德学校任职。她以提升学生的发声权、建立有意义的伙伴关系以及她的信念而闻名，即公共教育是民主的核心，建设学生愿意学习、教师愿意工作的学校是一种共同责任。 

回顾她的人生旅程，她分享道：“如果有人告诉我15岁时辍学的自己，有一天会成为一个国家级公认的校长，我肯定是会笑的。但现在的我，已经实现了这一切。” 

尽管她通往学校领导岗位的道路并不寻常，但这些经历为她的创造性、以学生为中心和协作的理念奠定了基础。这项国家级的认可是对她多年来为学校改进做出贡献以及与敬业的教育工作者和慷慨的合作伙伴并肩前行的庆祝。 

在谢尔伍德学校，Karena与教职员工合作，大幅提高了阅读成绩，特别是四五年级的成绩，在学校文化参与度和九年级的PAT成绩都有所提高。她与YCC奥格登、当地教堂以及教育思想领袖合作，为一个篮球场的建设、社区项目的展开以及协调卡尔加里警察局监督学校舞会筹集了资金。 

如今在大卫·汤普森学校，她继续将有意义的学习体验置于创造力、文化和学生发声的核心位置。在公布获奖消息后，同事们通过分享他们目前的成功学生多样性项目来表达祝贺：“你会喜欢这个，”他们说。 

她将她早期领导一支街头剧团和教授戏剧的经历归功于塑造了她参与式领导风格。 

“当你出现，保持人性，让其他人闪耀，学生的成功就成为一种共同体验。”

对于Munroe来说，这个奖项不仅是个人成就的认可，更是对集体韧性、创造力以及信念的庆祝，即学校是每个声音都重要的社区。

Munroe对未来的教育工作者有何寄语？

“对于那些觉得自己不符合传统领导模式的人 —— 坚持下去，”她说。“相信自己。我们需要的领导者和以往不同。”

​​​When Karena Munroe was named Canada’s Distinguished Principal of the Year​ by the Canadian Association of Principals, the news was met with celebration, not only for the award itself but for what it represents. 

Currently principal at David Thompson School and formerly at Sherwood School, Karena is known for elevating student voice, building meaningful partnerships, and her conviction that public education is the heart of democracy and that building schools students want to learn at and teachers want to work at is a shared responsibility. 

Reflecting on her journey, she shared, “If you’d told my 15-year-old self, who had just dropped out of high school, that I’d one day be a nationally recognized principal, I’d have laughed. But here we are.” 

While her path to school leadership was unconventional, the experiences laid the groundwork for her creative, student-centered and collaborative philosophy. This national recognition celebrates years of contributing to school improvement and walking alongside dedicated educators and generous collaborators. 

At Sherwood School, Karena worked with staff to dramatically improve reading outcomes, especially in Grades 4 and 5, participation in school culture and boost Grade 9 PAT scores. She partnered with YCC Ogden, local churches, and Educational Thought Leaders to secure funding for a basketball court, run community programs, and engage the Calgary Police Services to supervise school dances. 

Now at David Thompson School, she continues to prioritize meaningful learning experiences rooted in creativity, culture, and student voice. After the announcement, colleagues offered their congratulations, by sharing their current successful student diversity projects. “You’ll love this,” they said. 

She credits her early experiences directing a street theatre troupe and teaching drama for shaping her participatory approach to leadership. 

“When you show up, stay human, and make space for others to shine, student success is a shared experience.”

For Munroe, this award is a recognition of personal achievement and a celebration of collective resilience, creativity and the belief that schools are communities where every voice matters.

Munroe’s message to future educators?

“For those who don’t feel like they fit the traditional leadership mold  — stay in it,” she said. “Believe in yourself. We need leadership that looks different than it used to.”