www.sd76.ab.ca
41073721•05/25/12
Reagan Weeks
Walking into the century-old Elm Street School – complete with its separate boys’ and girls’ entrances and creaky floors – you might expect to be greeted by a graying old principal. Maybe even a secretary brandishing a ruler.
Instead, Reagan Weeks comes out of her roomy office dressed in skinny jeans and a flowy shirt. School’s out for Easter break, but Reagan is in her bright office catching up on paper work.
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“When you come into this building, you really feel a community connection,” says Reagan, who has been the principal of the school for a year.
Nestled in the heart
of one of Medicine Hat’s oldest communities, Elm Street also happens to be one of the city’s original schools. Established in 1911, the school serves 150 kids from Kindergarten to Grade 6. “Everybody knows everybody here,” Reagan says.
Armed with a Bachelor of Education degree and a Master’s degree, Reagan broke into education in 2001. Before
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landing her job at Elm Street, she was a teacher at both Southview and River Heights schools. Besides a lot of energy, Reagan brings a love of partnerships and collaboration to Elm Street. Sure she spends a lot of time in the classroom, but she’s also managed to foster strong community partnerships with the local church, the Medicine Hat College and other elementary schools.
“It’s definitely a team environment here,” says Reagan, quickly deflecting any personal accolades. “We couldn’t do what we do here without our great teachers and staff and the community involvement.”
And while it’s obvious Reagan is passionate about her work, the job is not without its challenges. Many of the students come to the school without breakfast, or a snack or even lunch. But the school’s tiny kitchen is stocked with food – thanks to donations from places like Christ the King church, the Northlands Flats Association and many local businesses. Five fridges and two freezers house everything from pizza buns to milk to fresh fruit – because every student receives a mid-day snack every day. And sometimes more.
“If you’re hungry, we feed you,” says Reagan pointedly. “The kitchen is small, but we make miracles happen in there.”
And after a long day – one that typically starts at 7:15 am – Regan heads home to her kids, ages 4 and 6. “You come home and say: ‘Wow, I’ve made a difference today.’ That’s a pretty good feeling.”
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