FSD takes a bold step toward resilient rural schools and communities
Foothills School Division is shaping the future of education and community connection with the launch of the Fast Forward Implementation Plan.
The project, titled Fast Forward to a Flourishing CommUNITY, was developed to answer the question, ‘what would have to be true for rural schools and communities to flourish?’ In seeking the answer, FSD coordinated working groups of employees, high school students, school leaders, and parents/guardians who met from January to May to explore this question through the lens of organizational culture, resilience, and belonging, student support, community, advocacy, and emerging technology. The feedback from the separate groups were collated and then synthesized into a cohesive 3-year framework: the Fast Forward Implementation Plan.
Built as a companion to the Division’s 2024–2029 Education Plan, this project enhances the Division’s Year 3 priorities and aligns its operational actions with long-term outcomes—ensuring that initiatives are intentional, measurable, and responsive to the needs of rural communities while also strengthening engagement, deepening support, and assuring success for every learner. At its core, the Fast Forward to a Flourishing CommUNITY reinforces the Division’s belief that education sits at the centre of a flourishing community, where every student is supported to discover and develop their unique gifts and abilities.
Through a phased, three-year approach, the plan outlines the research, design, and piloting of initiatives to best determine sustainable, system-wide impacts. The plan is evergreen, and will be adjusted to meet the needs of students, staff, and community.
The implementation focuses on six interconnected priority streams, including advocacy and engagement, technology and innovation, belonging and culture, community activation, student support, and digital independence.
Together, these priorities are designed to create:
- professional relationships across schools and communities
- improved access to learning and community supports
- increased trust and confidence in the education system
- meaningful opportunities for student and parent voice to inform decisions and shape education
Central to the plan is a commitment to safeguarding rural schools and the communities they serve. For the next stage of the Fast Forward project, the Division is engaging with the Foothills community to expand the concept into all sectors that serve our communities. The first community partner engagement session took place on May 15, 2026, to review the project and gather ideas on how we can build a more cohesive and resilient community. With 70 partners from across the Foothills region in attendance at the first meeting, the Division looks forward to the next session in October to see how the project and community connections will grow.
Flourish Forward recognizes that strong relationships and a sense of belonging are essential to student success and community well-being. By proactively addressing challenges and working together, we are collectively reinforcing schools as anchors of safe, caring, and inclusive, connected communities.
This collaborative approach will continue throughout the project stages, with a strong focus on co-design and partnership within schools, the Division, community, and across the region.
“Fast Forward to a Flourishing CommUNITY represents our collective commitment to every student experiencing meaningful engagement, strong support, and success in life,” said Christopher Fuzessy, Superintendent of Schools for Foothills School Division. “By working alongside our community partners and focusing on intentional design, we are building a resilient system that is responsive, innovative, and grounded in relationships, destined to withstand the fluctuations of external pressures.”
As the Division moves into implementation, Fast Forward provides a clear and coordinated path forward that advances the established educational goals of the Division, while also bridging connections with the community and fostering stronger relationships between students, families, schools, and community partners. Fast Forward to a Flourishing CommUNITY is an enhancement to the safe and caring learning environments that is shaping tomorrow’s leaders.
Are we there yet, did we flourish? Flourishing isn’t a destination, but an aspiration in which all members of a community are supported and well. Evaluating the impact of this project will be ongoing, and measured not only by successful implementations, but also by the lived experiences of students, families, staff, and community members. Foothills School Division is committed to transparency and assuring the voice of students, families, and staff are included in decision-making. The progress of this project will be documented in the Division’s Annual Education Results Report (AERR).
By investing in collaboration, intentional design, and community connection alongside dedicated community partners, Foothills School Division is not only advancing its Education Plan—but creating the conditions for every learner and every community to truly flourish.
View the plan and learn more at foothillsschooldivision.ca/ff-flourishing-community
