Gustafson retires after leading BSD through years of change

Brandon School Division Supt. Mathew Gustafson has retired after more than five years, ending a tenure marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, rapid student enrolment growth and ongoing pressures on school capacity.

Gustafson officially stepped into the superintendent’s role in an acting capacity in January 2021 before being permanently appointed later that year.

As he handed over leadership to Jon Zilkey last Tuesday, Gustafson reflected on the challenges, accomplishments and lessons that shaped his time in office.

Gustafson said the experience was both rewarding and humbling.

“The five years have been excellent,” he told the Sun.

“It’s not to say there weren’t challenges and things to work on, but in this role you get to work with so many wonderful people — students, parents, families and staff. When everybody is focused on students, it makes the job that much more enjoyable and rewarding.”

His tenure began at one of the most difficult periods in modern education as schools grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Classrooms were reconfigured to meet public health requirements, with students learning both in person and remotely, he said.

“Our work was largely focused on managing those outside factors like COVID and trying to create some normality while enriching learning experiences for students,” Gustafson said in an interview.

As the pandemic eased, another challenge quickly emerged.

Brandon School Division experienced unprecedented enrolment growth, placing significant pressure on school capacity, staffing and budgets.

“We started seeing enrolment growth that was about three times higher than what we would normally see,” he said. “We have more classes than we have classrooms right now.”

Despite those pressures, Gustafson said the collective effort of teachers, principals, parents and the broader community helped to find creative solutions.

“Our principals and teachers found innovative ways to address those challenges while showing understanding and empathy for students and families,” he said. “The support from families and the community has been tremendous.”

He also credited Brandon’s collaborative spirit as one of the city’s greatest strengths.

“We’re the second-largest city in Manitoba, but we still have that small-town desire to work together on common goals,” he said. “Whether it’s the city, the chamber, the university, the college, the YMCA or many other organizations, there is a willingness to support schools and students.”

Among the continuing challenges facing the division, Gustafson said it is the aging school buildings, increasing student needs, staffing shortages and growing infrastructure demands. He said collaboration helped the division navigate issues such as substitute teacher shortages while continuing to support students through provincial nutrition and community school initiatives.

Although proud of the division’s accomplishments, Gustafson said leadership is about continuous improvement rather than perfection.

“It’s not about trying to achieve perfection,” he said. “It’s about the pursuit of improvement and growth. Not everything goes smoothly, and sometimes there isn’t a solution that meets everyone’s needs. What’s important is reflecting, learning and continuing to improve.”

One of the most meaningful lessons from his career, he said, came not from policy decisions but from handwritten notes he has kept over the years.

He maintains a folder he calls his “gifts,” containing thank-you cards from students, parents and staff. Two in particular remain memorable: one from a student who thanked him for helping them become a better person, and another from a student who remarked that he always looked like “the happiest man in the world.”

“Those notes remind me that how we do the work is as important as the work we do,” Gustafson said. “When your internal compass drives your work, that’s when you’re authentic and when you make a tangible impact on people.”

Before becoming an educator, Gustafson worked as a heavy-duty mechanic. He entered education in 1995 in Killarney and says watching former students now raise children of their own has been among the greatest rewards of a career spanning more than three decades.

“The importance of relationships and people working together to support children never changes,” he said. “I loved my time as a mechanic, but I feel blessed to have had my time as an educator.”

Retirement, however, will not begin with a detailed itinerary.

For now, he plans to spend time at home, help on the family farm during harvest and possibly return to woodworking, a hobby.

“I’ll find ways to volunteer and give back to the community because the community has given so much to me,” he said.

His successor, Zilkey, who has worked alongside Gustafson, said the retiring superintendent leaves behind a strong legacy.

“Mathew has been excellent to work with,” Zilkey told the Sun. “He is always thinking of both the future and the present. He is hardworking and thoughtful in his decisions and interactions.”

Zilkey said one quality he hopes to emulate is Gustafson’s ability to carefully analyze challenges while never losing sight of students.

“I’ve learned a great deal from him,” he said in an email. “The ability to be analytical when examining challenges while keeping students foremost in mind is something that stands out.”

He said that Gustafson’s leadership combined practical decision-making with genuine compassion.

“He’ll certainly be missed,” Zilkey said. “He has years of educational knowledge, particularly within Brandon School Division. He is pragmatic in thinking about the division’s future while also being a caring and fair person.”

As he prepares to lead the division, Zilkey said he intends to build on Gustafson’s work by continuing to advocate for adequate funding, addressing staffing challenges and ensuring the division’s growing needs remain a priority.

For Gustafson, the legacy he hopes to leave is not tied to a single initiative but to the relationships built over a lifetime in education.

“I’ve been honoured to work with so many wonderful people,” he said. “When everyone is focused on students, that’s when the best work happens.”

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