After 13 years of dedicated leadership at Venture Heights School, Principal Ron Biberdorf is stepping down, but not slowing down. This fall, he’ll begin an exciting new chapter as an academic teacher at an academy in Saskatoon with a curriculum based around hockey, blending his passion for education and athletics in a unique, student-centered environment.
While he refers to his departure as a form of retirement from Venture Heights, Biberdorf admits taking it easy wasn’t quite the right fit.
“I was originally thinking about taking a year off to relax,” he shared. “But I knew I’d get bored. This opportunity felt like the perfect fit. It’s better to be busy with something that feels right than not busy at all.”
His new role marks a return to his teaching roots. At the academy, Biberdorf will lead the academic side of a specialized Grade 8 and 9 program, while athletic trainers handle on-ice development.
“One of the best parts of my day at Venture was coaching kids,” he said. “So to have that built right into the rhythm of each day is a great opportunity.”
What sets the academy apart is its blended model, integrating academics and elite hockey training into one seamless experience, all under the same roof.
“A lot of programs separate the two, but here, everything is designed to flow together,” he explained. “It’s actually quite similar to what we did with the Arts Academy at Venture, building curriculum around student passions.”
Biberdorf’s 32-year career in education has taken him to numerous locations, with stops in Osler, Lloydminster, Pontiex, Flin Flon, and even Curaçao. But Venture Heights has been his longest tenure.
“It’s the longest I’ve stayed at one school. What I’ve loved most is how our staff worked together to build amazing programs, whether it was arts, tech integration, or enrichment. Everyone stepped up and took on leadership roles.”
He’s proud of the many milestones achieved during his time at the school, including six Prairie Spirit School Division track-and-field titles and a memorable Grade 8 volleyball championship win over older Grade 9 teams.
“That volleyball team was something special. A lot of those girls are still playing today and some are looking at post-secondary opportunities. That’s what it’s all about.”
Beyond the awards and accolades, it’s the people and relationships that Biberdorf says he’ll miss most. “I’ve truly appreciated the support of the Martensville community, and the relationships built with families. I’ll miss coaching here, but I plan to come back and visit. I’ll always feel like part of this place.”
He credits his early mentors, teachers who also happened to be his hockey teammates, with inspiring him to pursue a career in education. “Even in Grade 10 or 11, I was playing senior hockey with teachers from my school. They mentored me both in class and on the ice. That stuck with me.”
As he steps into this new opportunity, Brent Guenther, currently the principal in Dundurn, will succeed Biberdorf as principal at Venture Heights.
Biberdorf credits much of his appreciation for the past 13 years in Martensville to the staff he was able to work alongside.
“They’ve been incredible to work with. We built some truly special things together, programs that made a difference for kids. I couldn’t have asked for a better team. I would definitely say the biggest strength at Venture Heights is its staff.”
