Call it a nice bouquet to mark the retirement from a 40-year career in public education.
Kevin Kaardal, who stepped down last month as superintendent/CEO of Central Okanagan Public Schools, was awarded the Nelson Excellence in Leadership Award from the Canadian Association of School System Administrators (CASSA-ACGCS).
Kaardal received the national award at CASSA's annual Leadership Conference in St. John's, Nfld., held July 3-5.
"This was a tremendous honour to end my professional career," said Kaardal.
"It is a humbling experience to stand alongside brilliant educators who were also considered and receive this distinction from educational leaders I admire from across Canada."
The award is sponsored by K-12 educational publisher Nelson Canada and given to CASSA members who have exhibited exemplary leadership ability and who have enhanced school administration through exemplary service to their professional associations and made significant contributions to the field of education, making them a role model and teacher to others.
"Kevin's leadership and legacy in Central Okanagan education alone make him deserve this award," said Jon Rever, Central Okanagan school superintendent.
"This distinction among so many other system leaders in Canada underlines how much he brought to our district and how fortunate we were to have him."
