LRSD superintendent to retire

Southeast

When the bell rings at the end of the 2025-26 school year in June, it will mark the end of an area for a leading figure in the city’s education system.

Christian Michalik, Louis Riel School Division superintendent and CEO, is set to officially retire in August, after 37 years working in public education.

“What I’m feeling now … is how grateful I am,” Michalik, 62, said. “My journey has really been about learning from others — from the very start, as a teacher, and later on as a school principal, and then working in the board office. It’s been about listening and learning from others.”

Michalik said he has learned that important decisions are ultimately shaped by students.

“It’s about knowing their lived experience and listening to that and paying attention to that and honouring that,” he said. “It’s that lived experience where they truly feel they have agency and feel heard. We have way to go yet, but I think they know their voices are ever-present when it comes to important decisions.”

“This has been an amazing opportunity to learn from so many people — students, caregivers, families and colleagues. I can’t imagine the teaching profession not being about that,” Michalik added. “I’ve been thinking about who I’ve learned from, and this also includes grandparents, Indigenous elders, and knowledge keepers.”

Emphasizing that education is a collective act, Michalik said he’s grateful to all who have trusted him through the years. One of the things he’s most proud of is LRSD’s 2023-2027 multi-year strategic plan, which stresses four strategic priorities and 25 actions which guide the division’s community.

Michalik began his teaching career in 1989 as a middle years teacher at École Golden Gate School in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division, and joined what was then the St. Vital School Division (one of LRSD’s legacy divisions) in 1994.

He was also a teacher and consultant, and then principal at Collège Jeanne-Sauvé, before he joined the LRSD office as director of school and community support. Michalik was an assistant superintendent, acting superintendent, and was officially appointed superintendent on Jan. 1, 2019. Significantly, he led the division through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sandy Nemeth, chair of the LRSD board of trustees, said Michalik’s leadership, intellect, vision and humility helped him create a culture in the school community that will have a long-lasting impact.

“Christian is incredibly accomplished, highly regarded, and well-respected,” Nemeth said, highlighting that one of his strengths is embracing data to monitor progress and make decisions.

“He’s constantly thinking about things that are way down the road and laying the groundwork for them. He’s very transparent with us as a board … and he’s a learner himself and demonstrates that constantly,” added Nemeth, a past-president of the Manitoba School Boards Association. “He’s a private guy, but when it comes to protecting LRSD and ensuring staff and students have what they need, he can be relentless in his pursuit of this. We’ve been very lucky.”

Nemeth said another part of Michalik’s legacy is his commitment to French-language and French immersion programming in the division: “He’s worked very, very hard to ensure francophone culture is alive and well in LRSD.”

Michalik said he plans to spend more time with his family in his retirement and plans to stay involved with the community.

“It will be all about family, and spending more time with them than I’m able to afford right now,” he said.

“And I want to stay involved with the community in a way that keeps me part of the journey.”