SGDSB Announces Newly Appointed Educators in Marathon, Manitouwadge, Nakina & Red Rock
MARATHON, ON – Exciting changes in staffing is in the works at Superior-Greenstone District School Board. After an intensive recruitment drive over the course of the summer the school board has announced a number of appointments to fill vacancies in administration at both the school and system level. The vacancies were the result of retirements and staff secondments to postings with the Ministry of Education and the Education Quality and Accountability Office.
According to Director of Education, David Tamblyn, “Our highly trained staff is in high demand throughout the province and although it is wonderful that they are able to take advantage of these opportunities it does create a brain drain for us. Fortunately we have a pool of highly qualified individuals to draw upon to fill these positions.”
SGDSB’s Aboriginal Liaison Nicole Richmond
Among the new hires Nicole Richmond has been appointed the Aboriginal Liaison for the school board. A member of Pic River First Nation Richmond grew up in Marathon where she attended Marathon High School.
In 2006 she graduated from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law and was called to the Bar by the Law Society of Upper Canada in 2007. Richmond practiced law for eight years during which time she specializing in personal injury, children’s aid, and employment litigation as well as treaty settlements. Richmond returned to Marathon to settle in the community. She is looking forward to building stronger ties between the school board and the nine First Nation Communities it serves within the RobinsonSuperior and Treaty 9 territories.
“I want our Aboriginal youth to see themselves reflected in their education system – I have an opportunity to provide our students with mentorship and support to ensure their success.” said Richmond who is looking forward to working with students.
Richmond will be working out of the board office in Marathon.
SGDSB in NAKINA
Nakina Public School Principal Kathleen Schram
Kathleen Schram has been appointed Principal of Nakina Public School with the system responsibility of being the Numeracy Facilitator for the school board. Schram graduated from Lakehead University’s Faculty of Education’s concurrent program with a bachelor degree in Arts and Education. Schram holds additional qualifications in French, Special Education, Reading and Information Technology as well as a Specialist’s in Mathematics.
“I have lived here since I was a child and have a very strong connection and commitment to the community and the families.” explained Schram, a graduate of Nakina Public School, of her strong ties to the community. She added “I look forward to collectively working together with families, community and staff of Nakina Public School to continue to enhance our learning environment. I am also excited to be able to continue to work to support our system in the area of numeracy. That has always been a passion of mine and I am thrilled to be able to continue to work in this capacity supporting the educators within our board.”
Her experiences as an educator, numeracy-coach, Student Work Study Teacher, Numeracy Facilitator and System Lead has allowed her to foster open relationships and build capacity through job-embedded professional learning.
SGDSB in MANITOUWADGE
Manitouwadge Public School Vice-Principal Jody Kuczynski
Jody Kuczynski has been appointed Vice-Principal of Manitouwadge Public School.
Kuczynski started her career in education as an educational assistant before returning to university to pursue her degree in education. In 2010, she graduated from Lakehead University with a Bachelor Degree in Science and Education. Kucyzynski holds additional qualifications in Special Education, Reading and Math.
In 2013, Kuczynski was appointed as a Student Work Study Teacher with the school board. In this capacity she worked with both administrators and classroom teachers to dig deeper into student understanding, using student work in conjunction with current research and classroom practices as guides toward greater student achievement.
Kuczynski is currently completing her principal’s qualifications.
SGDSB in RED ROCK & NIPIGON
Red Rock Public School & Nipigon-Red Rock District High School Vice-Principal Hillary Freeburn
Hillary Freeburn has been appointed Vice-Principal at Red Rock Public School and Nipigon-Red Rock District High School.
Since 2009 Freeburn has worked as a Teacher Diagnostician with Rural Children Education Services. In this capacity she has developed and fostered positive relationships to ensure collaboration between schools, families and outside service providers. Through her experience teaching within elementary and secondary alternative learning environments, Freeburn has demonstrated the ability to modify and deliver curriculum in an engaging, interactive fashion, while simultaneously providing behavior and social skill programming.
According to Freeburn, “While working with high risk youth I was able to meet their needs and introduce them to learning experiences that were positive, relevant and engaging.”
In 2013, Freeburn received a Master of Education degree from Lakehead University. She is qualified to teach at the senior level in English and holds qualifications in primary, junior and intermediate divisions. She also has specialist qualifications in Special Education and is currently completing he principal’s qualifications.
SGDSB’s Student Success Coordinator Carole Leroux
Carole Leroux has been appointed the Student Success Coordinator for the 2015-16 school year. Leroux will temporarily leave her current teaching position in the English Department at Nipigon Red Rock District High School to take on her new role. Leroux is a graduate of the Concurrent Education Program at Lakehead University with a major in Psychology and English. She holds additional qualifications in Reading and is eligible to teach in the junior division through the senior level. She has participated in the assessment of the provincial literacy test and has taught alternative education programs as a Student Success teacher.
With over 12 years’ experience in the field of education Leroux is excited to be a member of the board’s leadership team, “I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to work within a team of highly qualified individuals in a position where I can support and facilitate innovative ways to engage our students and successfully prepare them for this fast-changing world.”
Leroux will work out of Red Rock Public School.
Director of Education, David Tamblyn stated that he is very pleased to welcome Nicole Richmond, Kathleen Schram, Jody Kuczynski, Hillary Freeburn and Carole Leroux to the leadership team of school administration and system responsibility.
“Each of these individuals is highly qualified and offer a skill set that will be valued both at the school and district level. Combined with their strong interpersonal skills and their demonstrated commitment to student achievement they are well suited to these leadership roles.”
