Fort Liard (Aug 25/06) - Students returning to Echo Dene school in Fort Liard were met by a number of new faces on Aug. 23, including that of the principal.

Alphonse Janvier has more than 25 years of experience in education, and said it was the promise of a challenge that brought him to Fort Liard.

"Nothing brings me anywhere except a challenge," said Janvier.

Janvier belongs to the Dene Nation. He was born and raised in the bush in La Loche in northern Saskatchewan and speaks the Densoline dialect.

Janvier said he entered the field of education because he wanted to make a difference for aboriginal people.

Education has taken Janvier to a number of different cities and small communities including Driftpile First Nation and Dene Tha' First Nation, both in northern Alberta.

He spent 18 months at each as a director of education.

He also spent 10 years with English River First Nation in Saskatchewan as a director of education and a principal.

Two additional years were spent there as an adult educator. Before arriving in Fort Liard, Janvier spent a year teaching Grades 10 to 12 with the Chipewyan Prairie First Nation in northern Alberta.

As a teacher and a facilitator, quality of education is of the top importance, said Janvier. Coming out of a meeting with school staff on Aug. 22, the day before school started, Janvier said he's already designing ways to improve the quality of education in the community.

Staff discussed attendance, parental and community involvement.

"The school is more than the building," said Janvier.

Janvier said his philosophy is that the school is open to all parents because it's a community organization.

"In order to make it a successful school we need the support of the community," he said.

The success of the school doesn't depend on the students or the teachers, but on how well the community stands behind them, said Janvier.

Other new faces at Echo Dene school include David and Judy Bishop.

David is a program support teacher and Judy will teach the split class of Grades 2 and 3.

Both started teaching in Newfoundland from 1975-2002 before moving to Paulatuk to teach for a year and then onto Tsiigehtchic for three.

"We're both looking forward to the next school year in Fort Liard," said the Bishops.