Wednesday October 29, 2025 | LANGFORD, BC [Posted at 1:55 pm PT]
by Mary P Brooke, Editor | Island Social Trends
Professional Development (Pro-D) Days give educators the dedicated time they need to grow in their practice, says Sooke School District SD62 Superintendent Paul Block.
As part of his Superintendent’s Report at the October 28, 2025 SD62 public board meeting, he acknowledged that Pro-D Days may not always be convenient for families — though they are popular with students who get a day off from school.
Block says that Pro-D Days “play a vital role in ensuring high-quality education for all learners”.
“Education is dynamic, constantly evolving with new research, technologies and teaching practices,” says Block, who himself has been a teacher who joined the SD62 Administration about 15 years ago and rising to the role of Superintendent in January 2024.
“Our educators dedicate these days to strengthening their knowledge, refining their skills, and learning new methods to better support students,” says Block.
“The reality is that school days for staff are long, and most of their time is devoted to classroom work, planning and supporting students,” says Block, adding that the work often extends into evenings and weekends.
At last night’s SD62 board meeting the representative for the Sooke Teachers Association (STA) delicately stated that more teachers than ever are experiencing burnout (being seen earlier this year than in previous years) and that requests are medical leave are increasing.
Block also noted during the meeting that he’s concerned about an increase in the number of comments from parents and community about land claims and sexual orientation issues. “We’re in some pretty tough times right now,” said Block.
Keeping up to date:
Pro-D Days give educators the dedicated time their need to grow in their practice.
“We wouldn’t want anyone in our classrooms relying solely on what they learned 10, 20 or 30 years ago,” says Block
“Ongoing learning ensures our teachers remain responseve to the changing educational landscape and, at its core, this continued growth directly benefits our students,” said Block in his October 28 Superintendent’s Report.
Long meeting:
Due to the October 28, 2025 public board meeting being extremely long into the night (public portion 7 pm to 11:15 pm, followed by an in-camera session), Block chose to not deliver his report verbally.
Other aspects of Superintendent Block’s report:
In addition to leading with the importance of professional development, SD62 Superintendent Paul Block also reported on:
- How adjustments have been made following the retirement of Associate Superintendent David Strange;
- Halloween costumes in school on October 31 (participate safely in this festive day) and a reminder to motorists to drive safely on Halloween night; [ See Halloween News | Halloween Events ]
- Take Our Kids to Work Day;
- Career education (150 students in the Youth Work in Trades program; Grade 11 and 12 students in post-secondary level courses);
- Student & Trustee Forum (held on October 23);
- Parent & Trustee Forum (will be held in mid-November, date tba);
- Upcoming Parent/Caregiver Education Session (at Journey Middle School, date tba);
- New Hires – Manager of Internal Controls (Daisy Yan) and new District VP in Indigenous Education (Connie Swan);
- New Secondary School – Official announcement of the North Langford Secondary School on October 1. Projected to open in September 2030. Block posthumously thanked the late John Horgan “whose commitment to public education and support for the Sooke School District left a listing legacy” and also local MLA Ravi Parmar (Langford-Highlands) “who has continued this important work and remains a strong advocate for our District”.
SD62 Board of Education:
The SD62 Board has seven trustees: four from the west shore region for residents in Langford, Colwood, Highlands and Metchosin (Cendra Beaton, Russ Chipps, Christine Lervold and Trudy Spiller) and three from the Sooke region (Amanda Dowhy, Ebony Logins and Allison Watson).
Dowhy is currently the board chair, with Lervold currently as vice-chair.
Last night’s board meeting was attended in person by all trustees except Chipps, who was absent from the meeting.
ABOUT THE WRITER:
Island Social Trends Editor Mary P Brooke has been covering SD62 news since 2014 (Island Social Trends 2020 to present; West Shore Voice News 2024-2020)– as a commitment to community through journalism.
Ms Brooke covers regional, provincial and national news, and reports alongside the BC Legislative Press Gallery.
Mary P Brooke received a King Charles III Coronation Medal in January 2025 in recognition of her enduring commitment to community journalism.
Mary is the parent of four grown children who benefited variably through public education. Ms Brooke applies journalism to explaining issues to the public and guiding discussion as to where improvements might be found.
=====RELATED:
- How schools get built: dollars, politics and school districts (October 3, 2025)
- A second high school for Langford announced by Premier Eby (October 1, 2025)
- John Horgan commemorative plaque unveiled at Royal Roads Langford campus (September 15, 2025)
- Infrastructure & Education ministers attend opening of new SD62 elementary school in Langford (August 27, 2025)
- Dave Strange retires from Sooke School District 62 (July 6, 2025)
- SD62 launches 2025 with new board leadership (January 4, 2025)
- SD62 gets land for new middle school in North Langford (August 19, 2024)
- New SD62 superintendent Paul Block is building partnerships (May 22, 2024)
- SD62 ushering in Paul Block as their next superintendent starting 2024 (July 3, 2023)
- NEWS SECTIONS: SOOKE SCHOOL DISTRICT 62 – WESTSHORE & SOOKE | K-12 EDUCATION