School District 63 is pleased to welcome its new Superintendent of Schools and Chief Executive Officer, Dave Eberwein, and he is very excited to make Vancouver Island his home.
“(It’s) a very exciting community of learners both staff and students, and it really excited me that I thought it really fit my values and what I believe in strongly,” Eberwein told the PNR in a recent phone interview from Vancouver.
Eberwein will replace Keven Elder, who is set to retire in July.
Currently Eberwein serves as the Deputy Superintendent of schools in School District 45 (West Vancouver).
Born in Vancouver, most of his time was spent in Toronto and Calgary.
After completing his two undergraduate degrees at the University of Calgary, he moved out to B.C. for employment in 1988, starting as a substitute teacher in both Burnaby and the West Vancouver School District. He later proceeded to obtain his master’s degree at Simon Fraser University.
“After a year of substitute teaching I moved into a contract position in Burnaby and worked my way through the schools as a secondary science and math teacher, became a science department head, then a vice principal, principal, a director of instruction and then had the good fortune to land an assistant superintendent position here in West Vancouver six years ago.”
He’s held that position for the last six years and is excited to come out to the island.
He said when the opportunity came up, it was something that really peaked his interest as the values that Saanich has in its system for creativity and innovation was where he wanted to be.
“I thought, this is something that means a lot to me and it seems to be a good fit. I love the size of the Saanich School District too, it’s very similar to the one I’m currently working in, and it’s an ability to get to know people on a personal basis and to make those connections which I really value,” said Eberwein.
He said what drives him every day is making connections with people.
“When I was in the classroom, it was about making connections with the students. In my role in administration, both at the school and the district office it’s about making connections with the people who make a difference whether it be teachers, support staff, parents, board office staff, it’s about building those relationships. I take a lot of joy in that,” he said.
Excited for his new position, Eberwein and his wife will be popping in periodically over the next few months, leading up to his start date.
“We want to take our time. We plan to make Saanich our home for a long, long time, so we want to make sure we get it right,” he said.
He and his wife’s extended family have a cottage just north of Qualicum Beach, and after spending many holidays and summers there, Eberwein said they fell in love with the idea of moving to the island.
“My wife is also a teacher and we have talked repeatedly over the last number of years about retiring over to the island.”
Eberwein has two children, both of which are in university in the province.
He will begin his position July 1.