District Principal – Learning Support Services and Safer Communities

School District 23: Central Okanagan

Canada:  British Columbia | North America

Sherri Roche is honoured to live and work on the traditional, unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan People in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. She currently serves as a district-level school administrator with over 30 years of experience in education.

A visionary leader and compassionate advocate, Sherri is committed to creating inclusive, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed learning environments. Her philosophy and framework are grounded in Compassionate Systems Leadership, intentionally balancing self-awareness, relational trust, and systemic influence to foster cultures where both students and staff can flourish.

She has led the design and implementation of innovative programs and services for diverse learners, including the Honouring Resiliency in Vulnerable Youth (HRVY) initiative—a community-based model providing proactive wraparound supports for youth on the pathway to gang association, criminality, and exploitation. She has also co-developed programs for students with complex mental health challenges and championed peer-led mentorship models that prioritize connection and belonging.

Sherri’s work extends beyond schools, fostering multi-agency partnerships with community organizations, law enforcement, and mental health services to create integrated systems of care for youth and families. Guided by the belief that youth voice must be central in shaping programs that serve them, she strives to build authentic spaces of belonging and empowerment.

She brings integrity, humility, and a steadfast commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and well-being in all aspects of her work. Grateful to be part of the Compassionate Systems global community, Sherri continues to learn, practice, and lead with compassion and courage.

Outside of her professional role, Sherri treasures time with her family. She is a proud mother of two adult children and loves sharing time with them and her husband. She finds joy in travelling, yoga, Pilates, golf, and being near the water—whether a lake, river, or ocean—as those moments nurture her heart and soul.