The new Director of Education for the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is vowing to advocate for the needs of children and families in public education.
Sherri-Lynne Pharand, a Superintendent of Education with the Lakehead District School Board, will take over the top position with the local school board on January 21st.
“It’s always been known as an innovative board and I have a lot of respect for the work that they have done in education.”
Pharand says she believes passionately in improving learning for students and preparing them for their futures.
She notes “To accomplish this, it takes all our collective efforts: the leadership of trustees, the talents and learning of staff, the engagement of parents and families, and partnerships with communities.”
Pharand adds “I am looking forward to working together to ‘put our students first by creating a culture of learning’ and in doing so, supporting strong, northern communities.”
She says northern Ontario has its unique challenges in education and she is ready to tackle the issues head-on.
Her portfolios have included: School and System Improvement, Curriculum and Instruction (including Early Learning), School Effectiveness and Student Success, French and English as a Second Language Program, Indigenous Education, Information Technology, Leadership and Contract Motivation in Large Scale Assessment.
Some of her work led to the development and implementation of an Urban Aboriginal Education project.
Cecile Marcino is the Chair of the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.
Marcino says “We are pleased to welcome Sherri-Lynne to our Board. She brings with her a wealth of experience, including experience in education in the North, and we look forward to working with her as Director of Education.”
She adds “Her passion for education and putting students first was evident to us as Trustees and we are confident our students, staff and stakeholders of the KPDSB will be well served by her appointment.”
Sherri-Lynne Pharand takes over from Sean Monteith.
Monteith left in mid-August as the Director of Education for the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board.
Caryl Hron will remain on as Interim Director of Education until Pharand gets settled in.
