Alumni spotlight: Lisa Leclerc

Lisa Leclerc’s career in education was shaped by her time at Vancouver Island University. While completing her Bachelor of Education and then her Master of Education in Educational Leadership, Lisa found VIU’s small, supportive learning environment helped her grow both personally and professionally.

As she steps into a new role as Associate Superintendent with the Sooke School District, she credits VIU for giving her the skills, confidence and relationships needed to lead in K–12 education.

We caught up with Lisa to learn more about her journey.

Why did you choose VIU for your education?

I wanted a program that felt small and personal, where students and staff could really get to know each other. I also wanted a learning environment that was close to my family and all the natural places I like to spend time in when I am not studying or working. 

Where were you in your life when you realized education would help you achieve your goals?

I had been working as a forest technician for several years and the ebbs and flows of the industry were beginning to feel unstable for my future. Then I got a job as an uncertified teacher teaching on-call in a small community in BC, where I was called to work for a day in a French immersion elementary school. I knew the moment I stepped into the classroom that day that teaching was my calling.

Tell us a bit about your experience at VIU and in your program.

I had spent a year abroad when I had completed my first undergraduate degree and my grades were “pass/fail” for that year on my transcript. No other university I applied to would consider my application complete until I had provided a detailed course syllabus and letters from my instructors abroad. VIU looked at my application in a more global way and valued the experience my time abroad had provided me. My experience started off personalized and it continued to be as I moved through my course work with different amazing instructors and practicum supervisors. Our small cohort made making connections and friendships easy too.

Were there any unexpected benefits you discovered after becoming a student?
 

I realized that learning close to home made finding employment after graduating much easier. We were connected to local schools and the community so we got to know teachers and administrators who would eventually become colleagues.
 

How did your program prepare you for your current role?

To this day, I reference the amazing experience I had doing my master’s at VIU. Our small cohort was amazing and our instructors gave us such valuable tools for navigating the complexities of our various leadership roles in K-12 education. I still reference some of the materials we explored and keep in touch with some of my instructors and past classmates.
 

Can you share an experience where one of your profs made an impact on your learning experience? 

During one of my terms in the master’s program, I got to work with Judy Halbert and Linda Kaser. Learning about the Spirals of Inquiry and from educators with the level of both national and international knowledge they had and shared with us, while making us all feel valued as changemakers in our fields, was probably the most inspiring experience I have ever had in my life. To this day, I continue to reference their work and follow them on social media. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to have them as instructors.
 

What’s next for you?

I am starting as an Associate Superintendent for the first time and want to focus on the now and be present in the learning to come for the foreseeable future.

What are you most proud of since completing your program at VIU?

I am most proud of my commitment to continuous improvement and the great relationships and networks I've been part of and involved in creating.

What advice would you give VIU students following a similar trajectory as yourself?

Always keep students at the core of the “why” behind any learning or career choices you make in education. By focusing on “why” it matters, you will always find fulfillment in your career path even when the road you are navigating is challenging. Small or great, there are always opportunities to have a positive impact in the life of a student if you listen carefully.