Celebrating Influential Women in the Langley School District
March 8, 2021
The Langley School District is proud to have a strong team of influential women who work hard behind the scenes to help our students reach their full potential. For International Women’s Day 2021, we wanted to highlight five amazing and inspirational individuals who make a difference in the lives of others and help make our District an innovative, inspiring and unified learning community. As this is only a snapshot of some of our great leaders, we want to recognize all staff for their continued dedication. Read, learn and celebrate with us in this Q & A below.
Dawne Tomlinson
Director of Instruction
What’s your job with the District?
I am the Director of Instruction in Langley Schools, and my responsibility is to oversee and support the instruction, curriculum and assessment in all schools in Langley.
What has your career journey been so far?
I was trained as a primary teacher and started out my teaching career 4 years teaching primary. I decided I really wanted to teach high school, and landed a job teaching Science, Drama and Film in a high school in Langley. I taught Film for the last 7 years of my career as a high school teacher and then was lured into post-secondary to take a position as a Program Director (Art Institute of Vancouver) where I oversaw the Film, Acting and Recording Arts Programs. After 2 years, I was promoted to be the Associate Dean at the College overseeing all of the programs. After 5 years, I returned to Langley as a Vice Principal and then Principal of a high school before becoming the Director of Instruction.
What’s a time that you felt you really made a difference?
As a high school principal, I was often asked whether I missed working with students. I worked hard as a principal to build and maintain rich connections with students, in particular with students who were disenfranchised from school and not typically connected in a positive way to a person in “authority”. My relationships with these students were important to me and I always strived to come from a place of respect and understanding with a bit of “tough love” tossed in. I took every opportunity to spend time with the students so that when they walked across the graduation stage, I knew each of their stories and they felt seen and heard and with a strong sense of belonging and accomplishment. I bring that to my new position in terms of ensuring that every one of our students in the Langley School District has a sense of belonging both academically and socially through learning opportunities that foster hope, efficacy and achievement.
What advice do you have for young women looking forward to their future careers?
Believe in yourself. Believe you can be anything you want to be, but also know there is not always a straight career path and you will likely change careers several times. Keep all doors open for potential opportunities but do not always look for the next step “up” – instead, look for a career that will give you a strong sense of purpose and when you find it, be the best person you can be in that position. Actions speak louder than words.
Michelle Guillou
Director of Human Resources
What’s your job with the District?
As the Director of Human Resources for the Langley School District my team and I support over 3,000 employees in their work, wellness and careers. Some of the areas I oversee include recruitment, hiring, retention strategies, health and wellness, health and safety, and TTOC and EOC dispatching. I also liaise with our unions to support employees through contractual procedures and bargaining. My role also allows me the opportunity to assist administrators and managers by providing workshops, and I am a member of the District’s Strategic Planning Team which works to move the District’s goals forward.
What has your career journey been so far?
I began my teaching career in the small northern B.C. community of Fort St. James, and I’ve had the privilege of working in a number of communities in B.C. and Alberta teaching grades K to 7 and French as a Second Language. I was a Vice Principal and Principal for ten years in the District prior to joining Human Resources as a District Principal before assuming my current role as the Director of Human Resources.
What’s a time that you felt you really made a difference?
Human Resource work about helping people and the times that felt like I truly made a difference in the District always revolved around outcomes for individual employees. I know that every time I help an employee navigate a difficult situation, find a solution, and see it through, I am not only making a difference for them and their students, but for the District as a whole.
What advice do you have for young women looking forward to their future careers?
If you are an early career teacher, I encourage you to continue to learn, to try new things and to believe you can make a difference in education. You can be a leader wherever you are – you don’t need to be in a defined leadership position to make a difference in people’s lives. Leadership is about service, relationships and connecting with others, and doing this with purpose will not only enhance the lives and work of the people who surround you, it will define you as a true leader.
Elizabeth Beacom
IT Manager of Infrastructure and Security
What’s your job with the District?
I am the IT Manager of Infrastructure and Security. I am responsible for the team that looks after internet, servers, email, MS Teams, and numerous other core IT services within the District.
What has your career journey been so far?
I graduated from KPU with a bachelor’s degree in information technology. Prior to working for the District I worked as a software developer. Since starting with the District I have held several roles within the IT department, eventually landing in my current role.
What’s a time that you felt you really made a difference?
Last March my team had to pivot and deploy MS Teams across the District to keep students connected and learning. Much of the work had already been planned for during the summer; however, the immediate shift to online learning required us to act quickly.
What advice do you have for young women looking forward to their future careers?
I am a huge advocate for Women in STEM, so please consider careers there. For any young women who are interested in IT, search out and connect with groups like Girls Who Code, WiCyS, or WCS2. The soft skills of networking with people or organizations are a great resource and can develop into career opportunities.
Laurie Huston
Manager of Building Trades
What’s your job with the District?
My role here at Langley school is as the Manager of Building Trades at the maintenance facility. I take care of the Carpentry, Painting, Roofing and Glazing in our District.
What has your career journey been so far?
I began my career in construction, and worked through my painting and decorating apprenticeship. I came to the Langley School District as a Painting Tradesperson, working my way up to a Lead Hand and Foreperson position prior to moving into my current role.
What’s a time that you felt you really made a difference?
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is the opportunity to work with the schools and my crews to help complete student led projects. I enjoy the team aspect of all parties working together to achieve something.
What advice do you have for young women looking forward to their future careers?
My advice would be to believe in yourself, if someone tells you it can’t be done, that’s your chance to prove them wrong!
Gordana Vuckovic
Facilities Manager Services
What’s your job with the District?
As the Facilities Manager Services, I plan and manage custodial resources required to ensure the development, supervision, and implementation of programs to deliver safe and well maintained schools and other School District facilities.
What has your career journey been so far?
It all started when I got my first job as Custodian at British Columbia Legislature Buildings, and then I worked towards becoming Supervisor Services at The Ledge. I then advanced to Regional Service Delivery Leader for Provincial Government Buildings and Properties Management.
What’s a time that you felt you really made a difference?
I work on establishing and maintaining effective and collaborative working relationships with District administrators and District custodial staff on implementing and maintaining clean and safe schools. I want to share a big thank you to our custodial department who are supportive of new and innovative ideas.
What advice do you have for young women looking forward to their future careers?
Whatever you decide to do do it well – that was advice my mother gave me, and I can’t think of better advice for young entrepreneurs.