The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board will have a new Director of Education when students go back this fall.
Sean Monteith will leave his current role on August 15th, and will become the Director of Education with the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board in Belleville, Ontario.
Monteith has been with the public board for 25 years as a teacher and principal, six as the Director of Education.
Current Superintendent of Education, Caryl Hron, will step into the role of interim Director of Education and will remain in the position until a new Director is officially appointed.
Monteith admits it will be tough to leave, but he doesn’t want to have any regrets with what could have been.
“It’s a bigger board than Keewatin-Patricia on a number of levels. More schools, approximately 18,000-20,000 students.”
He notes this is an opportunity to do more good work and calls it a new challenge.
Monteith says there are many highlights over his tenure, including the restructuring of the organization.
“Probably most proud that the Board adopted, in my first year as Director, a ‘Students Come First’ stance and that has really become a mantra for us. It’s the standard for which we operate. It’s all about kids. We operate from a child centre principle.”
Monteith will be known for establishing agreements and partnerships with agencies and First Nations, particularly Nishnawbe Aski Nation and the Lac Seul First Nation.
He established the provincially recognized Four Directions Graduation Coach Program and Rapid Response Northern Support Team and created the province’s first-ever Hockey Canada Skills Academy.
Trustees will begin their search for a replacement this Fall.
