Remi Poliquin
Counsel
A Quiet Act of Belief
by Dan Mullins
For over two decades, Nancy Battet forged partnerships and changed educational trajectories throughout the Lester B. Pearson School Board. As she celebrated her retirement this June, students and colleagues reflected on a 22-year career marked by her belief in the tremendous value of human connection.
Hired initially for a six-month contract, Battet’s role as Pearson Partnership Liaison evolved into a long-term mission linking partners from the professional world with students in the classroom. She consistently worked to infuse the LBPSB curriculum with real-world experiences, making classroom learning truly authentic. Whether organizing massive career days or facilitating “seeing is believing” tours for grade seven students to explore skilled trades, Battet ensured that both high-achieving students and those searching for direction could envision where their education might lead them.
However, it was Battet’s profound ability to listen and foster genuine relationships that defined her tenure. Colleague Lilah Sacco recalled how Battet’s workspace became a haven for the entire department. “Nancy had a chair in her tiny cubicle where people constantly gathered to talk, share, vent and yes, sometimes gossip a little,” Sacco noted in a speech at Battet’s retirement party. “We affectionately called it ‘the confession chair.’ Somehow, that little corner became a place where people felt heard and supported, and that says everything about who Nancy is”.
That supportive nature extended deeply into the student body. One former student in the Work-Oriented Training Path, who completed a work stage with Battet after a chance meeting during a birdhouse-building project, emphasized the life-changing nature of her mentorship. “She is the sun that shines through on a cloudy day, a diamond in a pile of rocks, the light at the he end of a dark tunnel,” the student wrote. The student added, “I call her mama Nancy for a reason: because she was there when I needed guidance, or a hand to lead the way”.
Battet’s advocacy often altered the trajectory of students’ lives on a massive scale. Dr. Nicholas Nadeau traces his current success as an engineer and entrepreneur directly back to her decision to send him to an International Space Summit in Alabama. “You changed what I thought I was allowed to want,” Dr. Nadeau shared in a heartfelt letter to Battet. “Everything since then rests on that quiet act of belief”.
This community-focused approach has been present since her very first projects. When former Center of Educational Excellence director Suzanne Tiemann envisioned an event for the centenary of flight, she encouraged Battet to aim high. Tiemann suggested Battet call John Scholefield, a local aviation partner, to see if they could bring “a few kids” out to his airport to learn about airplanes. That single call ultimately resulted in a massive Space Day event hosting thousands of students.
Battet brought this ambitious, outward-looking perspective from her previous 15-year career in public relations with CP Rail and her time working in marketing for Fairmont Hotels. She successfully used this corporate background to introduce concepts like the “Four Ps of Marketing” to students, guiding them as they designed their own hotel concepts and proving that creativity and business go hand in hand.
Ultimately, her educational philosophy is best summarized by a principle she actively champions. She encourages educators not to ask students what they want to be when they grow up, but rather to ask them what problem they want to solve. As she steps away from the Board, she leaves behind a legacy of empathy, a thriving entrepreneurial spirit in the schools, and an enduring reminder that nothing of value is ever accomplished without first valuing the people alongside you.
Check out the podcast insterview of Nancy Battet on Frank Caracciolo’s The Blank Canvas here.
3 Responses
Congratulations Nancy! I always enjoyed the time we spent together brainstorming and putting together entrepreneurial projects! Enjoy your next adventure!❤️
Lori Marchitello🤗
So glad to see Nancy finally retiring and getting a much-deserved fairwell tribute. Worked along her side for many of those years on many projects always for the benefit of our students. Wishing you a happy retirement. Ton ami Mario !!
Merci Nancy pour m’avoir mise en relation avec des partenaires pour mes projets STEAM.