I want to thank those of you who have taken the time to write me about how you value education. I have always encouraged thoughtful advocacy for education and have no desire to ever discourage it, especially at this critical time. Indeed, over the past year, we have had several broad public discussions about the value and future of education (including Inspiring Education, Setting the Direction for Special Education, and Speak Out Alberta). We've also engaged organizations like the teachers' association and the school boards' association in the most extensive pre-budget discussions ever held.

In recent months, I have had hundreds of conversations and received thousands letters and emails from concerned Albertans who, like you and I, believe that learning is the foundation on which a vibrant and prosperous future is built.

These conversations illustrate one thing: that the overwhelming majority of Albertans — not just those with children in school — want to ensure the children of Alberta have access to the highest quality education possible. It is unfortunate that this deep-seated appreciation for education often only comes to the forefront when some believe it is threatened.

Regardless of the circumstances that have prompted it, this galvanizing of public opinion presents us with a unique opportunity to engage Alberta's families and communities in preparing for the future of learning. We have the focus, energy and desire to chart a different course for education, now and in the decades to come. We can do that by demonstrating the same attributes we wish to instill in Alberta's children: creativity, problem solving, collaboration and cooperation.

Inspiring Education has signaled that education is not the preserve of any one segment of society. Learning does not, and cannot, stand apart from our families and communities. We all invest in the education system and we all benefit from it. And we all have a responsibility for ensuring that it does what we need it and want it to do for our children.

Our government's appreciation of the importance of learning is clear. We are dedicated to ensuring that each and every student can learn to his or her fullest extent, without exception. You do not need to take my word about our commitment — the respected British magazine The Economist has noted that "over the past 30 years Alberta has quietly built the finest public education system in Canada."

I firmly believe that one of the key reasons why Alberta's education system does so well is that we embrace change and adapt to new circumstances. That is why our discussions must not be about how much time or money we have, but what we do with it. Education is, of course, one of the best investments we can make in our future — and with that comes the obligation to use that money where it will make the biggest difference for students. What is a great system today, recognized around the world, will not meet the test of tomorrow.

I know personally how hard our teachers work. My wife is a principal, my son is a Grade 3 teacher, my sister was a teacher, and my mother was a teacher. I am the last person who would ask them to do more and more with no additional support. However, in my time as Minister, I have seen first-hand many cases where using time and money in different, better ways has changed students' and teachers' lives.

For example, a teacher participating in the Emerge One-to-One Laptop program told me that she felt re-energized and was delaying retirement because she had rediscovered what teaching was truly about. In another case, the entire community in a small town told me that their mental health project had made such a difference to their students, schools and neighbourhoods that they would not want to go back to the way they worked before.

To me, the lesson is clear: thinking through how we use our resources in education and changing what we do if it means our teachers and school staff will be better able to do their work and, most importantly, that their students are better able to fulfill their potential.

However, our teachers cannot do their work alone. The personal contributions of citizens like you are critical to our success. You can volunteer in a school, or your business can provide a hands-on learning experience for a student. You can become a mentor and a role model. You can join your local school council and make your thoughts and ideas for improvement known. You can connect with your school trustees to help them meet the needs of your family and build your community, or you can seek the nomination to run in trustee elections next fall.

As we look at what the next twenty years will bring, let's not lose this moment of opportunity. Let's commit to putting all our energies into giving our students the best possible learning experiences.

I look forward to hearing your ideas about how we can make a real difference in education.

Let's start the change now.