Leaving a Legacy: Retirement and Service Awards 2023
June 15, 2023
As the end of the 2022-2023 school year nears, the Langley School District hosted its annual Retirement and Service awards, honouring long-term staff.
Staff members – including teachers, administrators, District and support staff – were honoured for 20, 30 and 40 years of service, while dozens of retiring employees were also recognized for their years of dedication to the District.
Throughout the evening, which was held at Newlands Golf and Country Club, employees’ stories were shared, often drawing laughter and even tears from those in attendance. Each story told exemplified the core values that the Langley School District holds in high regard: integrity, excellence, courage and community.
As well, all those recognized have, in their own way, positively impacted the lives of students.
The District honours all of our staff and shares some of their stories below.
Throughout an educational career spanning five decades, Magdy Ghobrial has consistently used his heart and mind to serve others, from the start of his career as a special education assistant in the Delta School District through to his role as District Principal of Safe Schools and Wellness. Prior to taking on his role as District Principal, he also served as a music and choir teacher at Langley Fine Arts, where he also spent 10 years as a vice-principal; vice-principal at Aldergrove Community Secondary, principal at R.E. Mountain Secondary and as an administrator at the Langley Education Centre.
Since 1996, Mitch Quinn led the Langley School District’s ‘Wrap Around Program’ – a unique, alternative program within the District. He spent his entire career – all 29 years – at the same school, Vanguard Secondary, where his unwavering loyalty, and dedication to humanity has made him “the heart” of Vanguard Secondary.
Retiring after 33 years, Brigitte de Baat has spent the last decade or so working in Office Services, mainly focusing on facility rental requests for the District. Supporting the District’s value of ‘Community,’ she has ensured access to community youth groups was her priority, and she also has fielded many requests from location managers in the film and television industry.
Carol Osborne retires after serving students and schools in the Langley School District for 35 years, where she has contributed in a variety of roles: teaching at Shortreed Community, Blacklock, Peterson Road and RC Garnett Demonstration Elementary schools, while also working as a vice-principal and principal throughout the District. As well, she has been a big supporter of student-athletes, as a cross-country and track-and-field coach. For the last five years, she returned to teaching at Langley Meadows Elementary, while also serving as a mentor to other staff members.
To see more photos from the celebration, see slideshow below: