Michael Datura will be joining the Cortes Island School this year as the new principal.

Datura has 14 years of experience in outdoor learning, social justice, and imaginative education and says Cortes is his ‘favorite place on earth.’" He adds that he's community-focused and has a mission.

“One of my goals and mandates is to make the school a more community-oriented place where people feel welcome to drop by and chat and hang out, or volunteer and organize events.”

The new principal began his journey in education on Cortes in 2004, attending the Linnaea garden program and working as a Zilla for Power of Hope. Datura just completed his PhD in environmental education at SFU last February. 

Datura told CKTZ about his initial expectations around outreach.

“I think being a principal of a community is always a complex role," he says. "And I think particularly within a community like Cortes, it's really important to to get feedback and maintain open lines of communication.”

“As is the case whenever any principal leaves, there's this sort of period of flexibility and fluid re-imagination right now," he adds. "So it's a good time to get your two cents in.”

Datura is hosting a public gathering on Sept. 2 at 5 p.m. at Smelt Bay for community members to stop by and offer input as to how the school can be more community oriented.

To hear more about this new chapter at the Cortes Island School, listen to the CKTZ News Update below: