Tanishi!

We are beginning a new year with the addition of a few new faces to the already extraordinary Exchange Met School family, mine being one of them. My name is Amber Brown and I am joining as the new principal of the Exchange Met School. 

I have been in the Seven Oaks School Division for just over two decades. From my beginnings as an educational assistant in CATEP (Community-Based Aboriginal Teacher Education Program), I have grown through the many roles I have held in Seven Oaks, moving from educational assistant to classroom teacher, learning support teacher, advisor, and now school leader. Each role has shaped my understanding of what it means to create spaces where students feel a sense of belonging, purpose, and possibility.

Although I am new to Exchange Met, I am not new to Met schools or Big Picture Learning. Before arriving here, I had the honour of serving as a Teacher Advisor at Maples Met. That experience required a great deal of unlearning as an educator. I learned to view learning differently, and with that came a newfound understanding of what becomes possible when students have voice, purpose, relationships, and meaningful connections to their communities. I found myself inspired by and learning from my students each and every day. I came to realize that project-based and community-based learning was not just an approach I valued, but a place where I felt at home as an educator. 

When I think about what sets Met Schools apart from others, it is our commitment to knowing each learner and supporting them in designing a learning path connected to their interests, strengths, and goals. Collaboration is key and here, learners work alongside advisors to connect their interests to curriculum, projects, and community experiences. Learning is relevant and connects students to the experts, professionals, and mentors who have the lived-experiences that guide authentic learning opportunities. The destination to graduation remains the same, but the approach looks different for every student - founded in relationships and one student at a time.

My journey has continued to bring me back to the importance of relationships: relationships with students and families, with colleagues and community, and with the places in which we learn. As I begin this new 

chapter at Exchange Met School, I am looking forward to listening, learning, and building relationships as we continue to create a school community where students can discover their own path and their Mamàhtawisiwin, the reason they walk.

Please take some time to meet our amazing faculty located on the Staff Directory and learn more about Exchange Met School in our About Me page.

Maarsii!

Amber Brown
Principal
Exchange Met School