Photo by Whitehorse Star
Valerie Royle
Deputy minister of Education quits her job
The Yukon’s top civil servant in the Education department has resigned.
The Yukon’s top civil servant in the Education department has resigned.
The abrupt announcement that Valerie Royle stepped down Wednesday was made in a release this morning.
When contacted at home by the Star today, Royle declined comment on why she resigned and whether it was completely voluntary.
She will be replaced by interim deputy minister Judy Arnold on March 16.
“Ms. Arnold has many years of experience as an educator and as a senior public servant,” Premier Darrell Pasloski said in the release.
“Through her work in Yukon and elsewhere, she has shown a dedication to building relationships with all members of the community, which is crucial for delivering a strong education system.”
Arnold has slowly climbed the educational ladder, working for more than 20 years as a teacher, principal and district supervisor in Ontario.
She was a manager in the B.C. Education ministry between 2001 and 2009, moving to the Yukon in 2010 to take on a senior management position with the Department of Education.
Royle’s unexplained resignation happened to occur the same day that two of the four highest-ranking bureaucrats with the City of Whitehorse were fired.
Rob Fendrick, the former director of corporate services, and Brian Crist, former director of infrastructure and operations, were dismissed Wednesday “without cause,” by city manager Christine Smith.
Royle’s departure comes after just 2 1/2 years in the position and in the wake of a series of controversies in education over the last two years.
She steered the department through the controversy around Vanier Catholic Secondary School’s resistance to students’ ultimately successful push for a gay-straight alliance in 2013.
Royle presided over a new, digitally created school bus schedule that caused problems for some students looking for pickups and drop-offs last fall.
An icy relationship had also formed between Royle and the Yukon Teachers’ Association, which says the department “stonewalled” it on several issues over the past six months.
Most recently, she refused comment for weeks on the fact that Education’s assistant deputy minister of public schools sported a spurious PhD.
The department came under attack in late October 2014 after the Star revealed that Albert Trask, had obtained his doctorate from a “diploma mill.”
Eventually, Royle defended the academic credentials of Trask — who has since replaced the honorific “Dr.” with the name Noah on departmental documents — stating they were granted by an “accredited theological institution.”
Trask heads the teacher certification and qualification boards, bodies tasked with verifying the credentials of Yukon teachers.
The man tasked with keeping educators honest, upholding pedagogical standards for the territory and ensuring the authenticity of university degrees has obtained a questionable one himself, according to the Yukon Teachers’ Association.
Trask’s alma mater, Newburgh Theological Seminary and College of the Bible, is unrecognized in the U.S. by both the Council on Higher Education Accreditation and the federal Department of Education, nor by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. It is is therefore not peer-accepted as a valid degree source.
A deputy minister’s pay range stretches from $167,000 to $224,000.
With Royle working for the government since 2005 and severance capped at 24 months maximum, she may be receiving up to $400,000 in departure pay.
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Comments (44)
Up 8 Down 0
Start with an audit on Mar 18, 2015 at 4:35 pm
Minister Doug Graham if you want real change have an independent audit done to ascertain those that do or do not have legitimate degrees.
A good start would be Education as the salary scale is directly linked to years of education and academic credentials. I recognize we have a process in place but it is not working well. I would think being a former registrar at Yukon College you can see the merit in doing so.
What kind of person would acquire such paper qualifications? I am convinced that people know whether they are acquiring a legitimate degree or not from the onset. This is a disservice to everyone and undermines all of those that have worked hard to obtain real degrees not to mention the knowledge gained by actually doing the work to graduate with a legitimate degree.
What does this say to our students? Cheat, don't get caught and even if you do it won't really matter.
Up 16 Down 1
Education on Mar 18, 2015 at 1:45 pm
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
It is no secret that Doug Graham desperately wanted the portfolio of Education (to change things) and Pasloski finally obliged him. You will be remembered as the one that brought back Judith Arnold to Education.
Up 20 Down 1
Tom Stevens on Mar 18, 2015 at 9:19 am
Yukon Education is a gong show... the return of Judy Arnold...really... I love the Yukon Government and the craziness that occurs. Feeling sorry for the kids and parents that really want to learn. You can't make this kinda craziness up.... rotflmao...
Up 14 Down 2
Hiring suggestions on Mar 18, 2015 at 2:20 am
Some suggestions that are for those involved in government hiring: (after working here for a couple of decades I feel a need to share these)
1. If you are homesick for wherever you may have come to the Yukon, move back home rather than finding jobs for your friends and family here. If you must have them with you, let them find their own employment.
2. If an applicant has a Masters’ or PhD on their resume make sure it is legitimate before you bring the candidate here for an interview not after they have been hired. Even if you find the degree is legitimate, if it isn’t in the field you are hiring for; why would you pay for something the employer will get no benefit from?
3. If the person has already retired from somewhere else and only wishes to top up their pension in the Yukon for 2-5 years which is common here do not hire them. Someone whose motivation is primarily money is not a good choice. One could think these people bring a wealth of knowledge however that theory has been tested repeatedly in the Yukon and the results have been dismal.
4. Sincerely look to hire people from within before even contemplating bringing someone from elsewhere. There are people here already that may simply need mentoring or support them to get further education if that is required. This is called building capacity. In the long term that is cheaper and wiser. For people in senior roles all costs are covered so that is an extremely expensive hire when you already have qualified people here in the Yukon. Particularly for people topping up their pensions from elsewhere the government is paying for them to move here, a trip for the interview, another for house hunting and they are very likely earning an income that is far higher than they have ever made in their careers. They can come for two years, do the minimum, get a nice nest egg, get to explore the beautiful Yukon and go right back from where they came from. They can even get severence pay. What is there not to like for them but does the employer get what they paid for? Can the Yukon afford to subsidize people on work/holidays?
5. Check their references and no it is not sufficient to ask their friend the DM in another Dept. or that you met the person at a conference somewhere else in Canada and they sounded so nice.
6. Remember that being a shameless self promoter does not necessarily equate to someone who will be an excellent employee usually the opposite is true.
7. If you are hiring someone for a management role make sure they have skills in that area and don’t just take their word for it. Most importantly do they have common sense and are they skilled problem solvers rather than becoming the problem themselves. Can they build a team rather than fracture the workplace?
Do not assume that you can hire a senior manager with little in the way of education or experience to supervise people that are far better qualified. The employees being supervised will notice their newly appointed supervisor does not have the required knowledge or skills. People look for actions not what someone says they have or can do.
Up 1 Down 5
Mandeep Sidhu on Mar 18, 2015 at 12:57 am
Who is John Galt?
Up 8 Down 0
Acting DM yes or no? on Mar 17, 2015 at 5:41 pm
I had thought "Dr" Judith Arnold had been appointed as the new Acting Deputy Minister of Education but the government website states she is the DM of Education.
Does this mean when Minister Doug Graham realizes it was a mistake to bring her back (which could happen any day now) she will get a golden parachute to go back to Victoria? The difference between Acting DM and permanent is significant.
Up 19 Down 3
Wilf Carter How do we change the Yukon to get it going in the right direction on Mar 17, 2015 at 12:16 pm
How do we change the Yukon to get it going in the right direction? There are patches of messes in the Yukon Government and I am about to expose one soon. It will take the lawyers time to get ready.
In my case there are nine lawyers from the Yukon Government trying to stop me from exposing the truth and two lawyers from the Public Service Commission of Canada and Yukon Employees Union supporting them. That is all I can say.
One Yukon represented lawyer stated to me all the acts of the Yukon Government are there to protect the Yukon Government not its employees.
Yukon Union Employees Union supports the Yukon Government first and then their members.
This has to be stopped because I have been harmed and I see other being harmed.
Up 17 Down 2
iceberg on Mar 16, 2015 at 5:45 pm
Why would I post my name? I thought that was obvious. We use pseudonyms or monikers for very good reasons, we are among those that have everything to lose by identifying ourselves. BTW I use iceberg as in just the tip of a very large iceberg.
Have you read the many articles and comments that suggest workers cannot say what they think even when using the most diplomatic terms and have tried for years to affect change? I am not sure what difference it makes either what name is used just as with your name; I don’t know you and knowing your name tells me nothing. What is most important is whether what is said is valid. If it isn’t then you have every right to challenge the accuracy of anything said including myself.
Speaking of names, I suspect your references to Mr. Right is actually John Wright former principal of Elijah Smith. He has been a principal and VP in the Yukon for many years. I am not sure why I would speak to him about people who have come up through the system that want to be principals as if to suggest that he was denied his goals? What you might not be fully aware of is there are principals in the Yukon that make much more money as principals than they would working in the Dept. of Education, so there is little financial incentive for them to rise any higher. Also, if you love working with children, want to mentor other teachers and be a change agent the best place for that is in a school not the Dept. of Education. This is just some of the reasons why there is a huge number of people from outside the Yukon that come here to top up their pensions from other jurisdictions in Canada.
Think about it, why would anybody who have already retired elsewhere move to the Yukon? There are many people that retire here that were born here or have lived here for many years but how many do so that came here to top up their pensions from elsewhere? These people do not plan to make the Yukon their home in the future nor will they have to live with the consequences of how they performed their work for that $$$.
Up 1 Down 5
Wilf Carter Josey Wales I am not from Ontario on Mar 16, 2015 at 5:02 pm
Hi Josey forgot to tell you I am not from Ontario but the east coast where I was raised on fish brain food boy.
Up 8 Down 8
Josey Wales on Mar 16, 2015 at 4:34 pm
Hey Wilf...in regards to the real name request/tactic.
Speaking for merely myself, folks can up/down matters not to I...do that because we LIVE IN A FISH BOWL or for you Ontario folks...a wee town.
A wee VEEEEERY dysfunctional town ripe with narcissists, power trippers, axe grinders, uptight and homesick 'crats...often too they are ALL the same people.
Many of those "folks" WILL and DO absolutely use their office in the quest to stifle dissension.
Never in my decades up here have I seen it so ripe and obvious, the dysfunction and anger amongst the "citizens"...at least the ones here long enough to care.
May joy many to know I have no lil' Josey's, if I did?
They would never set foot in any of our public schools as they long ago were highjacked by freeze dried hippies/uber leftys and are now more like public indoctrination centers for the PC Crusaders and their minions.
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Wilf Carter icebery on Mar 16, 2015 at 4:08 pm
Why don't you put your name up so we all know who you are. I questioned all three leaders on issues in the Yukon Government by the administration that is harming employees which I have seen and experienced. It has to stop but no one is stopping it and 100's of Yukon Government employees have to go on leave not because they want but they have to.
Your points are good but there are people who have come up through the education system that want to be principals. Go talk to Mr. Right he just retired. Incredible person.
I have spent years developing people for management and careers. I have 100's upon 100's of employees.
You make very solid points on what government should and are not doing.
When I looked at the position and stance and track record of all three parties on economic social and application of programs all three parties had failures but the Yukon Party track record on economic and social has been the best by far.
The approach to managing public policy they all have failed; like fracking, the peel. The Liberals disappointed me when they joined the NDP.
If you go to the house and see what takes place it will make you sick - because of the behavior.
The big issue in Education is that teachers are not interested in moving up because of how the department is managed.
There are incredible people out there like the principal of Vanier.
Thanks for your comments.
Up 15 Down 0
iceberg on Mar 16, 2015 at 3:45 pm
@Wilf Carter
I am often left scratching my head at your posts. I would absolutely defend anyones’ right to their own opinion but it is a mystery to me sometimes how you have arrived at your conclusions. There are evaluations of senior management, code of ethics/behaviours in place specific to subject of this article on Education. It is not that these things do not exist; it is whether and how they are implemented. Most people are aware that the Yukon Government does Employment surveys, the data is collected but are the issues addressed in any meaningful way?
For instance, if you can have a principal fired from one school and ends up at a much larger school with an accompanied increase in pay what does that say as an example to others? If you have a principal that insists that their evaluation must be handed in directly to them personally and is backed up by the Dept. would you as a teacher be honest about how that person actually does their job? Who would know better than the people that work directly for that person? Try to identify someone in the system that has nothing to lose by being honest. If we have School Growth plan process in place that are little more than a make work process that provides the illusion of accountability what do you think is the outcome?
You also seem to assume that a good teacher would actually want to be a principal in the Yukon or have aspirations beyond their school to work at the Dept. of Education. Most do not and for very good reasons. If one only reads the newspapers (never mind having personal experiences); would you want to work there?
You write often about the dysfunction of a wide variety of Yukon Government Depts and this may all be justified; I do not know that myself. Correct me if I am wrong but at the same time you appear to be a strong supporter of the Yukon Party in power for a decade. Who is it that leads the Yukon Government, who it is that is expected to hold the Depts. accountable to the people? Who is it that appoints DMs for each of Yukon Government entities? Are those people appointed not also expected to lead their Dept? There are organizational charts that clearly define the reporting relationships. Who are the people that get elected to ensure a well functioning government? Yes, we have the right to vote but I don’t think most people vote just because they like a particular person, we do so in hopes that they will provide good governance. If we think they have not done a good job we can vote otherwise next time but that does not mean for 4-5 years at a time there is no accountability for them or the government they lead or there shouldn't be.
I have no desire to offend you at all, I just don't understand how you reconcile these apparent contradictions.
Up 4 Down 0
Accountability? on Mar 16, 2015 at 2:02 pm
@Tinsleytalena
You are quite right, my use of the word "resolve" was a poor choice in reference to Education controversies. What I should have said was that they disappeared from the news which does not in any way equate to a resolution or rational outcome. Good point.
Up 8 Down 0
PhD? on Mar 16, 2015 at 1:35 pm
@Joella
"If it's not part of the job requirements, it is okay to hire people with questionable PhDs."
So are you suggesting there should not be expectations of honesty & integrity for high ranking civil servants? Why would a person obtain a questionable PhD or any degree for that matter?
Up 7 Down 5
joella on Mar 15, 2015 at 9:50 pm
Oh, and I should have added, as long as they don't get paid extra for that supposed PhD
Up 8 Down 7
joella on Mar 15, 2015 at 9:49 pm
@PhD - If it's not part of the job requirements, it is okay to hire people with questionable PhDs. As long as they don't insist on being called "Dr".....
Up 12 Down 1
Tinsleytalena on Mar 15, 2015 at 1:02 pm
In reference to the following comment: 'Look at how long it took to resolve issues like the Vanier debacle, the “Dr” Trask fiasco, the Pelly School issues, the nonsense of YSIS to name but a few that hit the papers.'
I agree with everything you said in your piece except I don't really think all the above issues had a proper resolution. Noah Trask, aka Dr. Trask, is still in his position and as for Pelly Crossing, talk to the former staff who were either fired or forced to leave an untenable working environment.
Up 23 Down 1
PhD? on Mar 14, 2015 at 11:02 pm
The beauty of the internet these days is that it is easy to do a little research on virtually any topic.
http://media.proquest.com/media/pq/classic/doc/2066678601/fmt/ai/rep/NPDF?_s=JxPczkcGs42lmyVXoRtJ3GlUiWQ=
It appears that the newly appointed Acting DM of Education Judith Arnold's PhD dissertation is online as linked above and submitted to the University of Phoenix in 2009. The same university that many refer to as a "diploma mill" which is presently under investigation in the US. Canada has much higher standards for degree granting institutions.
As others have pointed out in this comments section it was odd that this time when Judith Arnold was being re-introduced to us in the government's press release this week the previously touted PhD was missing.
So, is it ok to continue to hire people with questionable degrees just as long as we don't tell anybody they have them? How many others are employed in Yukon Education that have obtained degrees from possible “diploma mills”?
Up 13 Down 1
yukon56 on Mar 14, 2015 at 9:11 pm
What option do we have as citizens except to wait for an election which just cost us all to change the faces. There has to be a better way.
Up 11 Down 6
Accountability? on Mar 14, 2015 at 6:08 pm
@Max Mack I have to disagree with you, yes the DMs were shuffled by the Yukon Party, that happens all the time in government and DMs are indeed political appointments. This does not mean they have no accountability for how they do their jobs.
An excerpt from the government’s press release regarding Royle’s move from Workers’ Compensation to Education:
“Education: Valerie Royle
Ms. Royle holds a master’s of business administration degree as well as the Certified Disability Management Professional designation. She worked previously with the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission of Newfoundland and Labrador as the executive director of Worker Services. In addition to working with many national boards, she teaches disability management and is an on-line lecturer in Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Faculty of Business Administration. Ms. Royle was appointed president and CEO of the Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board in October 2005.”
What was Premier Pasloski thinking one might ask? Now think about the various controversies in Education over her 2.5 years while Valerie Royle was the DM.
Look at how long it took to resolve issues like the Vanier debacle, the “Dr” Trask fiasco, the Pelly School issues, the nonsense of YSIS to name but a few that hit the papers. As long as she continued to pick up a pay cheque we all should expect more than what we got for that kind of income.
To have a DM of Education trying to excuse her ADM’s actions by saying she does not know what is involved in a PhD was ridiculous and if “Trask was her ultimate undoing” it is well deserved. She was nothing more than a party hack and said things that she couldn’t possibly believe herself. Ms Royle is a bean counter so how is it she ended up in Education? The outcome was predictable. I actually do not take issue with one's educational background not lining up exactly with the position but I do take issue with people making that kind of money and not doing a good job and so should the Yukon Party.
Up 10 Down 0
Wilf Carter lost in the Yukon good points on Mar 14, 2015 at 3:31 pm
The weakness in the Yukon Government system is recruitment and screening and hiring candidates.
Second, there is no process in the Yukon Government system to evaluate the management competence and results of these individuals.
There is no over-site or evaluation or accountability of senior management in the Yukon system so they can do what ever they want.
Third, there is no code of ethics or conduct or an independent committee that can oversee these issues and can be taken to, so these type of issues do not occur again and is dealt with properly.
Forth, the principal working at Vanier School now is incredible. Children, parents, teachers and the community like him.
He is very well respected in his profession and he has worked with both of my kids.
We just had Mr. Right retire who was incredible all around principal.
If you ever had time to talk to both of these individuals it would become apparent that they have the potential to be good leaders in education.
I have also met some younger teachers that have great potential but need to be developed so when change comes they are ready to take the challenge.
Lets face it, the Yukon Government has problems in patches of senior management and other department like justice, economic development, public service commission, human rights commission, Yukon Employees Union Public Alliance of Canada all have credible issues that are harming people that work in government and no one is doing anything about it and there is no system to stop the damage being done.
As people have stated, the kids are the ones that suffer.
Yukoners how do we bring forth positive change that is in all of our interest?
Up 11 Down 3
It seems standard practices for parts of the Yukon Government to put people in positions that don't have the education for the position on Mar 14, 2015 at 1:05 pm
When I read this I get sick. I have experience with one department that had three senior managers and from what they stated they had lots of education but what has come out is none of them had any degrees and one had attended university for one year. In two employee engagement surveys in 2010 and 2013 employees stated in both surveys that the senior management were not doing their jobs.
I think this is only the tip of the iceberg in people not having the education or experience in the positions they hold.
Up 41 Down 0
inquiring minds on Mar 14, 2015 at 12:21 pm
"The Yukon’s top civil servant in the Education department has resigned."
"With Royle working for the government since 2005 and severance capped at 24 months maximum, she may be receiving up to $400,000 in departure pay."
Am I missing something here? Severance pay for quitting her job? Mr. Reynolds could you please explain?
Up 32 Down 2
Accountability? on Mar 14, 2015 at 3:04 am
Sounds like the DM Valerie Royle butted heads with Minister Doug Graham. Two strong personalities and it didn't take long to see that outcome. One usually doesn't just quit without any notice so hardly a planned departure.
Her replacement Judith Arnold doesn't stand for anything at all so will be a wonderful puppet; just don't have any expectations for positive changes to Yukon Education. Remember she is the one that created that too funny job title of systems accountability.
Up 32 Down 4
A teacher on Mar 14, 2015 at 2:40 am
“The man tasked with keeping educators honest, upholding pedagogical standards for the territory and ensuring the authenticity of university degrees has obtained a questionable one himself, according to the Yukon Teachers’ Association.”
For anyone to defend Mr. Albert Trask such as the personal friend that posted in these comments give your head a shake. A PhD is not required to be the ADM of Yukon Education so why would someone insist on using such a title when obviously he did not deserve to do so and he clearly knew that? He did not voluntarily decide to stop lying and thus removed the title of Dr. because it was detracting from Yukon students, he was told to stop using Dr. and was publicly shamed in to doing so.
Someone who has as many degrees as Mr. Trask (he stated this week he has 5 degrees which has to include at least one that isn’t even legitimate) knows the difference between a legitimate PhD and one that is not. So why would the person effectively lie about qualifications that are not even required? The only thing I can think of is one giant ego and not much integrity. The man is in a position that requires credibility, honesty and is a role model to teachers and students yet he lied about something that was not even necessary so how is it he has retained his job? If it were any place but the Yukon the guy would have been fired on the spot for cause.
Up 28 Down 0
Tinsleytalena - Another questionable doctorate?? on Mar 13, 2015 at 8:32 pm
Tinsleytalena - Well, we must congratulate YTG's personnel who at least did a google search this time around and learned the newly appointed DM has a doctorate from another online university in the US that has their accreditation in libo, even by US standards. This is why her doctorate was not mentioned as part of her qualifications in the news release.
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/morning_call/2013/05/university-of-phoenix-may-lose.html
Canada sets the bar much higher than the US when evaluating the academic rigor of degrees, so it is likely her doctorate would not meet Canadian accreditation standards given the institution is under the microscope in the US. I guess the department decided not to wade into these muddy waters again.
We should wonder what her commitment to Yukon is this time around. During her last stint here she drove her car around Yukon for five years with her BC license plates. Kinda says it all, doesn't it?
Up 27 Down 4
fed up Yukoner on Mar 13, 2015 at 8:01 pm
It's enough to drive a person around the bend, what is going on with this government, there are so many incompetent people in charge its ridiculous. Just wait, Valerie Royle will turn up with some plum job somewhere else in the gov. Time for someone to grow a pair and turf all of these loafers, there has not been one new idea in the whole bunch for at least a decade. Everyone in the Yukon should familiarize themselves with the Peter Principle, we bring it to a new level in what used to be a great place to live.
Up 34 Down 0
north_of_60 on Mar 13, 2015 at 3:28 pm
Quit or be fired. The choice was obvious.
Up 20 Down 0
iceberg on Mar 13, 2015 at 3:27 pm
@Lost in the Yukon & Wilf Carter
I agree with your posts. The problem with hiring from within the Dept. is that too often those that have made it there have done so because they have screwed up somewhere else in the system, often Education itself. We have a history of moving people around where the more incompetent (peter principle) you are the higher you rise and the more money you make.
This is why the change in one such as with the DM Valerie Royle changes nothing in the end. We have a dysfunctional Dept. of Education and without cleaning house you will see little in the way of change ever.
If there is an interest in hiring from within whom could you choose, “Dr”. Albert Trask, one of the superintendents, one of the consultants/coordinators, or how about the Director of Student Achievement and Systems Accountability, Team Leader of the Virtual School or Immigation? Then ask yourself who are these people and how many of them are at the Dept. because of past controversy or that they no longer wish to actually work with children? Where are some former controversial principals and vice principals? You guessed it, they have fancy new titles, have maintained or increased their salaries and now work at the Dept. of Education.
Are there some individuals that work hard and are competent at the Dept. of Education, absolutely but is it the general rule, no?
What has been signalled loud and clear by the appointment of Judith Arnold as Acting DM is it is very much business as usual in Yukon Education and the only one that will benefit is Judith Arnold. If nothing else our government needs a better imagination!
Up 14 Down 10
Max Mack on Mar 13, 2015 at 3:25 pm
Let's remember that Royle, along with several other DMs, was shuffled into the Education portfolio so that YTG could ensure depth and cross-knowledge in leadership. So, let's not jump all over Royle for not having met expectations.
It seems that the YTA was gunning for her, and I can't help but wonder if Trask was her ultimate undoing. But, we also have a new minister of Education: Graham. Thoughts?
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Wilf Carter There needs to be a new Act for Yukon Government Just Like Alaska on Mar 13, 2015 at 12:14 pm
I talked to the head of development in Alaska years ago and one of visions/goals was to make sure all the jobs go to Alaskans. I asked him how he was going to accomplish that goal. By developing in house program where locasl will be trained for every job available, when some leaves or retires or gets fired. Another thing they put in place was a code of conduct, ethics and committee that is totally independent of government to implement. The Yukon does not have any code of conduct, ethics or system to enforce the codes. My experience is senior government officials can do what they want and no one will do anything to stop them. Also I have worked with some of the senior people that are brought in and they are not doing what is in the interest of Yukoners but only themselves.
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Something to Think About on Mar 13, 2015 at 11:50 am
The Canadian Oxford Dictionary defines "malign" as something "injurious." It also describes it transitively as "to speak ill of."
Ground rules request that commenters "refrain from maligning any individual or institution."
You can believe something is wrong without really knowing the details, especially when what is happening is clouded by comments and conjecture.
My husband and I have had the privilege of getting to know Albert and his wife. They came to the Yukon with excitement about life here and this new adventure.
Albert Trask has integrity and is passionate about whatever he does, whether he is volunteering or being paid for his time.
The degrees required for an ADM have not been questioned (they are not questionable).
But because Mr. Trask decided to further his theological studies, he pursued a doctorate--with a school that may be obscure to mainline schools but that confirmed its accreditation.
His education and experience all evidence a love for education.
Mr. Trask volunteered to remove his doctoral designation from documents so that nothing would distract from what was most important--Yukon students.
I would love to see other comments about this man's dedication and commitment, about his integrity, humility, or his compassion for others.
The real tragedy here would be if others do not rally around a man who is more than qualified to do his job.
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Lost in ther Yukon on Mar 13, 2015 at 10:20 am
When will people like Graham learn ... when will YG learn. They keep bringing these "experts" in from BC, Ontario, Newfoundland. They come in and act as if long term Yukoners are dunces and they will save the world. This latest appointment is another example ... lets go back a few years to an import that was given the job as ADM of Public Schools because of connections (she was a disaster), the DM of the day came from Nunavut because Darrell liked her, then there came the DM from Newfoundland and her friends and now this one from BC who was brought by the aforementioned ADM.
Are there really no Yukoner's smart enough for the job! What a disaster. Doug Graham you continue to be a big disappointment.
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ChildrenFirst - do your research on Mar 12, 2015 at 7:52 pm
You want early retirement in the department of education? You are replacing a DM with one that is at least two decades older than Val Royle. Sheesh
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ChildrenFirst - Early retirement? on Mar 12, 2015 at 7:19 pm
Bringing back an employee who has been re-employed from her third "retirement" is hardly a rejuvenation for education. We are talking three generations behind the present student population. This is not a step forward, but a dive into history. Her salary will not doubt reek havoc with her Old Age Security Pension but the Yukon government salary will mitigate the loss by a long shot.
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Tinsleytalena on Mar 12, 2015 at 6:29 pm
The news release stated that Ms. Arnold has a Master's Degree. I was told she has a doctorate degree. Interesting! Surely the Department of Education knows when someone has or hasn't a Doctorate degree. Lol
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Need other DM, ADM and Directors senior staff to resign on Mar 12, 2015 at 6:29 pm
Need other DM ADM's Directors and other staff to resign plus some professional staff. Start with Economic Development clean out, Department of Justice, Public Service Commission, Human Rights Commission, Community Services, Tourism just to name some. I wish we had EMR and HWP type deputies in place. The head DM in the cabinet office also needs to be changed just like the COW has done.
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A teacher on Mar 12, 2015 at 6:10 pm
Valerie Royle knew nothing about Education and now you have replaced her with someone even worse in Judith Arnold. Peter Principle at its finest.
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iceberg on Mar 12, 2015 at 6:07 pm
I would have given Doug Graham more credit than that to bring back Judith Arnold from BC. What are you thinking?
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iceberg on Mar 12, 2015 at 6:04 pm
Royle's departure is long overdue as should never have been in Education at all.
Bringing back Judith Arnold to Yukon Education is a huge mistake. She already topped up her BC pension here for 5 years with nothing to show for it but a bigger bank account for herself.
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Making room for your friends? on Mar 12, 2015 at 4:34 pm
Is that what's really happening Christine?
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In the know... on Mar 12, 2015 at 4:33 pm
Darrell - is your plan to destroy Yukon education completely? The woman was pushed out of BC but manged to top up her pension with five years in Yukon as a consultant. Now you are bringing her back? No one should be surprised - this one has a nice alliance with Doug Graham!!!!!
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ChildrenFirst on Mar 12, 2015 at 3:56 pm
Its a start, and arguably a long overdue one. Her position has been untenable for months and not just because of the Trask fiasco. Education would benefit from several additional early retirements as a means of re-establishing trust and credibility with parents and educators. Other embedded functions within the Department, notably the Immigration/Nominee Program administrators, should be looking very closely at their own performance criteria in the past twelve to twenty-four months. Time to cut out the deadwood and freshen the future outlook for our next generation of Yukoners.
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Anon on Mar 12, 2015 at 3:38 pm
About time.