Region Day: The Importance of Teamwork and Team Spirit
by Marilyn Santucci
On February 7th, staff from across the Lester B. Pearson School Board participated in Region Day, a professional development event organized by regional directors from all areas. This year, the workshop was held both in person at PCHS and online.
The day began with a welcome message from Deborah Dixon, Regional Director for elementary schools in the east. Kathleen O’Reilly, Regional Director for secondary schools, followed with a territorial acknowledgment.
Attendees then welcomed Todd Smith to the stage, where he delivered a powerful poem/song in honor of Black History Month. Smith, a talented songwriter, recording artist, and entertainer, has been a valued member of the LBPSB community since 2012. He first joined as an integration aide and now serves as a lunchtime supervisor at Allion Elementary.
David Chisholm, Regional Director for elementary schools in the west, then introduced the keynote speaker, Sébastien Sasseville. A Canadian endurance athlete living with type 1 diabetes, Sasseville has achieved extraordinary feats, including summiting Mount Everest, running across the Sahara Desert, and cycling 21 hours a day for 12 consecutive days across the United States in the world’s toughest ultra-cycling race—all while managing his chronic condition.
His 90-minute presentation focused on:
• Mission-centered leadership,
• Change, agility, and transformation
• Teamwork and performance
• Team spirit
Attendees went on a journey through the Himalayas, across Canada from coast to coast, and through numerous states in the U.S. Sasseville shared personal stories to illustrate his approach, demonstrating how his experiences as an athlete translate to the corporate world. He drew parallels between his athletic career and the work of educators, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and collective spirit. He reinforced the idea that success is a shared effort and that seeking support from others is not a weakness, but a strength.
Learn more about Sebastien: https://sebinspire.com/en/
