The school year has officially come to an end for the Interlake School Division (ISD), marking the end of long careers for several retiring staff members.
After dedicating many years to enriching students’ lives, several employees are retiring, with some celebrating more than 20 years of service.
Margaret Ward
Margaret Ward
Margaret Ward has retired as superintendent for the division. She worked with ISD for 36 years in many roles, including assistant superintendent, principal, vice-principal, senior years curriculum co-ordinator, and high school math and science teacher.
Her career in education began in Thompson before she accepted a position at Collège Stonewall Collegiate. She said her passion for teaching stemmed from her time after graduating from high school.
“As a university student I discovered a love for tutoring high school students in math and physics,” she said. “A career in education provides a continuous opportunity to make a difference. Every school year is a new beginning with the opportunity to have an impact on students’ paths forward.”
Over time, she witnessed the impact developing technology has had on students, but said the philosophy behind education has remained the same.
“Helping students uncover their strengths, work through their challenges, and develop into good community members is what it’s always been about,” she added.
She is grateful for the support she received from colleagues throughout her career and is looking forward to exploring new hobbies and spending more time with friends and family in retirement.
But just because she is retired does not mean her story is finished.
“Once a teacher, always a teacher,” she said. “I am sure I will find ways to stay involved in our community while cheering on my colleagues from the sidelines.”
Pat Williamson-Crockatt
Pat Williamson-Crockatt said she is fortunate to have spent the last four decades working with ISD.
“Each role helped to shape my beliefs and enhance my practice as an educator,” she said. “I think I always knew I wanted to be a teacher.”
From a young age, she enjoyed coaching, teaching and inspiring others — all values she carried into her teaching career.
Her first role was as a part-time itinerant music teacher and educational assistant at Kelsey and Rosser schools, positions that proved teaching was her calling.
After completing her education degree, she was hired as a Grade 6 classroom teacher and Grades 1 to 6 music teacher at Warren Elementary School.
“Music has always been a special passion of mine,” she added. “Some of my favourite memories involve school concerts, productions, and helping students discover confidence through the arts.”
She later transitioned into leadership roles as principal at Prairie Blossom School and Kelsey School before becoming an ISD administrator for Hutterian Schools and alternative education for 14 years.
“Those years shaped me profoundly as an educator and leader,” she said. “Working alongside Hutterian communities and students in alternative education taught me the importance of relationships, cultural understanding, and meeting learners where they are. In alternative education, specifically, I was privileged to work with many students who overcame significant challenges and adversity to find a path forward and build successful futures.”
Over time, she developed a love for literacy and its connection to student success, participating in extensive professional learning opportunities, mentoring staff, and supporting literacy initiatives and improvement efforts across the division. In 2024, she received the Manitoba Reading Association’s Crocus Award for Administrators.
Her final position brought her back to ERWBB as principal for the past six years — a position she told herself she would hold for only two years after considering retirement before accepting the role.
“The opportunity to lead a K–4 school and further share my beliefs about leadership, literacy, learning and student success was too good to pass up,” she added.
Arriving during the height of the pandemic, she said she witnessed the strength and resilience of staff, students and families. She also saw how literacy could create a culture of belonging while providing students with a place to thrive, in addition to reconnecting with her musical roots.
“Every role brought opportunities to make a difference in the lives of students, support families, and work alongside dedicated colleagues,” she said, describing her motivation throughout her career. “That sense of purpose never left me.”
As she closes this chapter, she is most proud of the people she has met, both young and old.
“Education has allowed me to make a difference in the lives of others, but those same people have also made a profound difference in mine.”
Entering retirement with a mixture of excitement and sadness, she is looking forward to spending more time with her family, travelling and playing golf.
If she has one takeaway from her career, it is that education is about people.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, every educator can continue to grow, and every school can be a place where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to succeed,” she added. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have spent my career contributing to that work. After all these years as an educator, I am grateful to be able to say that I have never had a job that I didn’t love.”
Nadine Coolidge
Nadine Coolidge is retiring after a 27-year career with the division. She first worked at Warren Elementary as a lunch-hour supervisor and support staff substitute before becoming an educational assistant at Woodlands School for four years. She later became an early-years teacher at Grosse Isle, Rosser, Rock Lake and the Hutterian Schools. She also served as teaching principal at Rock Lake School for five years before ending her career as a learning support and guidance teacher at the Hutterian Schools for the last 10 years.
“I think teaching is in our blood as several of my family members are in the education system,” she said. “However, I became serious about pursuing my teaching degree/career after a friend and colleague suggested and encouraged me to ‘go for it’ when I was working as an EA and I never looked back—thank you, Jennifer.”
Motivated simply by her love of teaching, she said the support of her colleagues and the division helped her become the best teacher she could be, describing them as feeling like family.
Her proudest moments came from watching her students grow up, often first meeting them in kindergarten and eventually seeing them receive their high school diplomas. She cherishes every opportunity to reconnect with former students and is proud to see them thrive in adulthood.
She is also honoured to have received the “Yes, I Can! Outstanding Educator of the Year Award” in 2025.
Now retired, she has time to check off items on her long to-do list, spend more time with family and friends, leisurely sip her morning coffee and drive a clean car.
When asked about staying involved in education, she replied, “Never say never.”
“As I am excited to embark on the next chapter, I know I will truly miss working with my wonderful colleagues and friends, but most of all seeing the kids,” she added. “I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside amazing colleagues and mentors who have become close friends, building many happy memories.”
Describing much of her career as a privilege, she said she is blessed to have found her home within ISD.
“A great deal has changed over my time with the division, challenging me to grow both professionally and personally, making for many gratifying and rewarding experiences,” she said. “I am proud of all we have accomplished together.”
Tricia Proctor
After 27 years, Tricia Proctor is retiring as a treatment worker and educational assistant. She spent much of her career at Collège Stonewall Collegiate, although her history with ISD began in 1997 at ERWBB as a volunteer, serving as a computer supervisor, needle cuddler, PAC member, book fair mascot, and helping with lunch days and field trips.
“I became an EA and treatment worker because superintendent Wendell Sparks had told me, ‘If you want to see a difference, be the difference,’” she said. “He got me a job at Bobby Bend and I never left the division.”
When she first arrived at Collège Stonewall Collegiate, she never expected to stay more than a year — let alone more than 20.
“High school students wormed their way into my heart and I never looked back,” she said. “I have been so blessed to participate in the students’ lives. To watch them grow, mature and become productive citizens has been my honour.”
She said she knows her career has been meaningful when she is able to interact with students outside school hours and appreciates every wave, hug and hello she receives from current and former students.
“I have learned as much from the students as they have from me. We made mistakes and we helped each other. We were all learning together and they taught me they have so much to give.”
Highlights of her career included watching students transform from young teens into young adults. She said it has been a privilege to watch them grow up.
Now retired, she is excited to garden, go camping and spend more time with her family.
“I also have a closet full of books — maybe I’ll find time to finally read,” she added.
Alana Bruce
Alana Bruce’s career began in 2005 as an educational assistant at Centennial School. Early in her career, she transitioned to Stonewall Collegiate, then Stony Mountain School and eventually Balmoral School as a library clerk.
She is retiring as the library clerk at Balmoral School and École R.W. Bobby Bend School and plans to continue working as a substitute divisional library clerk in retirement.
Other honourable mentions
John Bock — 24 years of service as a program support/curriculum staff member.
Wendy Enstrom — 36 years of service as an administrative assistant.
Karen Kelpin — 24 years of service as an administrative assistant.
