KnoxNews-Dec2021

THE STORY OF
DR. DAVID WARD
By Arusha Vegt, Development Director
Dr. David Ward playing foosball with secondary students
Dr. David Ward has taken on the
new role of superintendent at John
Knox Christian School this year. With
700 students, 110 staff, and two growing
campuses, this is a vital role as JKCS
looks ahead to a future that is firmly
rooted in God’s word and prepares
students for a life of service and
transformation. Along with the addition
of the new role of superintendent, the
JKCS administration team has grown
with some familiar faces and some
wonderful new additions.
David’s lengthy post-secondary
education started at Trinity Western
University and ended with a PhD from
UBC. Before joining the JKCS community
5 years ago, David was the director of the
elementary education program at Lewis
and Clark College in Portland, Oregon
where he taught literacy courses while
also observing teachers and schools
across the state.
Having made his home in North
Vancouver with his wife Ariana, a BC
crown prosecutor, David spends his
time writing books, playing hockey and
“old man” soccer, and connecting with
their three children. Their 21-year-old
son, Owen, studies health sciences at
the University of Toronto as well as
participates in theatre and hockey. Holly
is a freshman at the University of Texas
where she received a scholarship to
play soccer as a Longhorn beside fellow
Canadian Julia Grosso (who is known for
scoring the gold medal winning penalty
kick in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics). Grade
10 student, Tessa, studies at a French
immersion school, a particular joy for
David who was born in Quebec.
Their family is excited to have everyone
together for Christmas where they
will continue Ward family Christmas
traditions including Advent Conspiracy,
started at their former church in
Portland, which encourages people to
love more and spend less.
David sat down with us to share his
thoughts on his role at JKCS today,
his plans for the future, and what this
administrative team means to him.
Superintendent is a new position
at JKCS. What do you see as your
main responsibilities?
I see my main task as being the overall
running and setting the overall trajectory
of our faith-based school. But really it
is the health of the school. We’re not
just any old school, we’re a Christian
school which means you’re looking at a
Christian community inside and outside.
It’s the spiritual component that changes
the whole game.
One of the biggest delights and biggest
challenges is that we have such diverse
4 | Knox News - December 2021