On Wednesday, September 4, Mr. Falk was invited to our school assembly where students and staff recognized him and wished him well on his retirement. Mr. Don Falk, who became superintendent of New Horizons Schools in the 2012-2013 school year retired on August 29, 2019.
Mr. Falk’s leadership and guidance helped move New Horizons School forward on so many levels, the most visible being our move back to Sherwood Park and into a facility that allowed us to broaden our programming and accommodate growth. He played an integral role in our recent modernization.
Mr. Falk’s leadership helped guide our school on a path of continuous improvement on a variety of fronts including parental involvement, streamlining Board policy, formalizing processes, and, of course, all with the focus on student learning. His skill set was valued beyond New Horizons School as he was also the co-chair The Alberta Association of Public Charter Schools. Mr. Falk was proud of our school and a proponent of gifted education and the Alberta charter school concept.
Mr. Falk always valued the people with whom he worked and served. Above all, he always had the interests of students and learning as his focus. Mr. Falk was a welcomed visitor to classrooms, and he always found time to attend special events, Nighthawks games, and school performances.
After 44 years of making a positive difference in the lives of students in British Columbia and Alberta as a teacher, vice-principal, principal, deputy superintendent and two superintendencies (Red Deer Public and New Horizons Charter School Society), Mr. Falk is now spending his time and energy focusing on his wife, four children, seven grandchildren and parents. We thank Mr. Falk for all of the “too many to mention” things he has accomplished for our school, and wish him nothing but the best in his retirement.
