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Mennonite Collegiate Institute's (MCI) new Principal is well into her first school year in the role.
Londa Backlund joined the faculty in July of this year, and brings an extensive education background including teaching at an independent Christian school in Winnipeg, and her hometown public school in MacGregor.
She has a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, alongside her Education degree from U of M with four teachable subjects including English, Math, Psychology and Religion.
"In my practicums, I taught in both an independent Christian School and in a public school," she shared.
"I loved both, but felt so free teaching in the Christian independent school, as I was allowed and encouraged to live out my faith and to integrate how God can be seen in math, connect life lessons and literature to scriptural truths, and disciple the students so freely. My first official teaching position was at a solid Christian independent school in Winnipeg where I taught high school students ELA, Math and Psychology and I loved it."
Eventually, her teaching career paused when she and her husband welcomed their first child into the family. Still, ultimately she returned to the classroom in her hometown public school in MacGregor and then returned to the classroom as a student where she attained her Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership.
And what led her to Gretna's MCI?
It began with her family praying about what season was next for it, and Backlund noticing the school was looking for a principal.
"Through much prayer and conversations with my family, with board members and MCI search committee, it became quite clear I had some unique training, as well as some professional and personal leadership experience that would be assets to MCI's current situation," she explained.
"When I noticed that connection, I started to see how God had been bulldozing a path for me to come to MCI, and I continued to watch him pave that path here for us. He simply took away any obstacle that could stop us from coming, and I've learned not to go against God's grain, so here we are."
Much conversation and info gathering since arrival
Backlund noted since arriving her goal has been to ask good questions, be curious about what has worked well, what has not, what the reasons are for both, and then ask those same questions to those who disagree on what has worked well and what has not, and learned their reasons for both.
"As I'm gathering these stories and data, God's giving our leadership team unity and clarity on who we are and who we are as a ministry," she said.
"He's giving us direction, purpose, mission and we're working together to return to the school's roots as a solid Biblical ministry, so this year is a reset in many ways."
Backlund is aware of how the area knows the school's history and has witnessed the decline in attendance and support over the last number of years. She admits no analogy works perfectly to describe the situation, but did offer this comparison.
"In some ways, I feel like MCI can relate to a forest fire," she started.
"It looks like there was massive destruction, and a few flames still blaze that our leadership team is working on putting out. I think it's been devastating for many people to see what they remember and treasure get singed, but after a fire is a forest succession. There's hope where there's new healthy growth seen, and I think we're getting ready to see that full lush colour where there's been darkness. I'm very hopeful."
Hopeful for the future of the school
She followed that by noting how thankful she is for past, present and maybe even future MCI people who have shared their stories and dreams for the future with her.
"We're anticipating amazing things spiritually, academically, relationally, community, all the good ways that you're supposed to grow," she stressed.
"The fun part of goals that align with Christ's mission, which we are intently listening to make sure we match, is that Paul reminds us in Ephesians that God is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine. My current expectation then would be to be amazed at all the good things that God's going to do at MCI. I think, when he's the center of things, he shows up in big ways, and I'm just super excited to see what he's going to do, and very humbled and very thankful to be a part of it."
- With files from Zack Driedger -