LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Twenty-three years ago Nolan Swartzentruber left his job as the principal of Thomas Simpson School and Bompas Elementary School to take the challenging position as the Deh Cho's superintendent of education.

Nolan Swartzentruber, the superintendent of the Dehcho Divisional Education Council, is the inaugural winner of the Northwest Territories Superintendents' Association Distinguished Service Award which recognizes his significant contributions to public education in the territory. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

At the time Kakisa didn't have a school, the school in Trout Lake didn't have electricity and three of the schools in the Deh Cho relied on radio phones that didn't always work.

"That was quite different then. Now they have high speed Internet," he said.

Swartzentruber is currently the longest-serving school board superintendent in the Northwest Territories. His colleagues in the Northwest Territories Superintendents' Association recently honoured his achievements by naming him the inaugural winner of the NWTSA Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented to a member of the association who has made significant contributions to public education in the territory.

"(Swartzentruber is) not just an effective administrator but also an educational leader focused on what's best for kids,' said Curtis Brown, the superintendent of the South Slave Divisional Education Council.

Brown, who has known Swartzentruber for nearly 20 years, said he cares deeply about public education in the territory.

"He speaks with clarity and passion to important issues and when he disagrees he does so with dignity," said Brown.

"He's a role model for us all."

Metro Huculak, the superintendent of Yellowknife Public Education District One said Swartzentruber is a deserving winner of the first award.

"He's always going to bat for public education in the North for students as well as staff. He always wants what's best for them," said Huculak.

Swartzentruber said the award was a complete surprise.

"It's very humbling," he said.

Swartzentruber has been involved in education in the North for 36 years.

Originally from Kitchener, Ont. Swartzentruber said he pursued a career in education because he was hoping to make a difference for children. After teaching for two years in and around Strathroy, Ont. Swartzentruber and his wife Fanny moved to Nunavut in 1974 where they spent nine years teaching in Sanikiluaq and Iqaluit.

"We were just looking for something a little more challenging than just being where we grew up, never really thinking we'd be here 36 years," he said.

In 1984, the couple came to Fort Simpson after Swartzentruber was asked if he'd like to be the principal of the two schools in the village.

Since becoming the superintendent in 1986, Swartzentruber said there's been some significant changes to education in the region.

The foundation of education is now language and culture. Although there's room to improve every school has a language and culture program and takes trips on the land, he said.

There's also been a significant increase in the number of kids staying in school and being successful, said Swartzentruber.

In 1984, all students were still finishing their high school grades in Yellowknife and only approximately five youth from the Deh Cho graduated each year. Now three communities offer K to 12 schooling and there have been between 30 to 35 graduates yearly in the region over the last several years, he said.

Swartzentruber attributes part of the success to the establishment of the Dehcho Divisional Education Council. Prior to the council residents didn't have a voice in the education system but now the values of the people can be included, he said.

Swartzentruber said the success he's had as superintendent comes from the support of a number of people, particularly his wife Fanny.

"She should be receiving the award as well, really," he said.

Even after 23 years Swartzentruber said he has no immediate plans to retire. Swartzentruber will be presented with the award at the NWTSA's next meeting in Inuvik on Nov. 17.