Today, the Honourable Krista Lynn Howell, Minister of Education, announced the creation of Education Accord NL. Education Accord NL, which will be co-chaired by Dr. Anne Burke and Dr. Karen Goodnough, will develop a targeted approach to transforming and modernizing Newfoundland and Labrador’s education system.
Minister Howell will be available to media to discuss the Education Accord today (Thursday, January 25) at 1:00 p.m. in the NLSchools board room at 95 Elizabeth Avenue, St. John’s. Minister Howell will be joined Dr. Burke and Dr. Goodnough, Co-Chairs of the Education Accord NL Advisory Team.
Dedicated to supporting a modern educational experience for all students in Newfoundland and Labrador, Education Accord NL will reimagine the education system to ensure students and learners at all levels receive the educational services they need in the classroom, are prepared for the modern global economy, and develop strong decision-making skills to foster positive health and well-being.
The Accord aims to create better outcomes for students and learners while also supporting the Provincial Government’s goal of becoming one of Canada’s healthiest provinces by 2031.
Education Accord NL will focus on four pillars:
- Early learning and childhood development;
- Education engagement and transformation;
- Health and well-being in education environments; and,
- Post-secondary education and learning across the life span.
The Accord will be developed in consultation with stakeholders and will incorporate research garnered through the extensive engagement and consultation process of Health Accord NL.
Education Accord NL will focus on delivering a 10-Year Education Accord with short, medium, and long-term goals for an education system that better meets the needs of students and learners in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Accord will be delivered to government by December 31, 2024.
Biographies for Dr. Burke and Dr. Goodnough can be found in the backgrounder below.
Quotes
“The current education system needs to evolve to ensure we are best preparing our students and our province for success. The Education Accord will contribute to improved educational outcomes and support the well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians now and into the future. I look forward to supporting the work of Dr. Burke and Dr. Goodnough as they lead this important project.”
Honourable Krista Lynn Howell
Minister of Education
“Delivering a modernized and holistic education, and ensuring our students are ready to participate in the global economy, has never been more important. I look forward to working with many stakeholders to include a diversity of voices, concerns and ideas, all of which will be critical to the success of this Accord. I am excited to help lead this new initiative, as we reimagine the Newfoundland and Labrador education system as an empowered society embracing education across the lifespan.”
Dr. Anne Burke
Co-Chair, Education Accord Advisory Team
“I am very excited about this opportunity to work with individuals, groups and stakeholders, to develop a shared vision for education, at all levels, in the province. The Accord will provide a means to build on our strengths and foster excellence in learning and teaching.”
Dr. Karen Goodnough
Co-Chair, Education Accord Advisory Team
-30-
Learn more
Provincial Government Completes Integration of English School District
Teachers Think Tank to be Held in New Year to Inform Recruitment and Retention Initiatives
Provincial Government Updates Progress on Early Learning and Child Care Initiatives
Provincial Government to Introduce New Model of Assessment and Evaluation for High School Students
Follow us on X @GovNL and @EDU_GovNL
Like us on Facebook
BACKGROUNDER
Biographies of the Co-Chairs of the Education Accord Advisory Team
Dr. Anne Burke
Dr. Anne Burke is a Professor in Literacy Education and Digital Learning at Memorial University’s Faculty of Education, where she is also the Project Lead for the Discovery Play Centre. Dr. Burke’s extensive scholarship focuses on the interface of equity, social inclusion and the well-being of children through research that supports broader socio-cultural perspectives on literacy education delivery in culturally diverse K-12 classrooms. Much of her international interdisciplinary research in Canada, Finland and U.K. is public engagement-oriented, showing a broad mastery of partnerships with schools, NGOs, cultural institutions, artistic industries and governments. Dr. Burke has received awards for her scholarship, teaching and public engagement partnerships. She has a passion for researching in classrooms alongside teachers, youth and children always advocating for young people’s voices, agency and well- being.
Dr. Karen Goodnough
Dr. Karen Goodnough is a well-established national and international scholar and former dean of the Faculty of Education, Memorial University. She also completed a three-year appointment as an associate dean (undergraduate programs) in the Faculty of Education. Prior to arriving at Memorial, she held faculty appointments at the University of New Brunswick and the University of Rochester, New York. During her academic career, she has been involved in scholarship and research focused on collaborative action research, inclusive science education, pre-service teacher education, and professional learning in teacher education and higher education. Dr. Goodnough received Memorial’s 2016 President’s Award for Outstanding Research in recognition of her contributions to community partnership development; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education; and the “teacher as researcher” movement. She holds a PhD from the University of Toronto, as well as three degrees from Memorial (M.Ed., B.Ed. and B.Sc.). She was a high school science teacher and post-secondary instructor before moving into academia.