SD73 appoints Ontario educator Mike St. John as new superintendent of schools

According to SD73, St. John has over 30 years of experience in education, which includes working in both urban and rural communities.

He is currently the Superintendent of Employee Services at the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) in Ontario, which operates 79 elementary schools and 18 secondary schools serving approximately 43,000 students across the Niagara region.

SD73 Board Chair Heather Grieve said the Board of Directors is confident that St. John is the “the right leader” for the future of SD73.

“His extensive experience, instructional knowledge, inclusive leadership practice, and an unwavering dedication to student achievement and well-being align perfectly with the priorities and values of our District Strategic Plan,” Grieve said.

In his statement, St. John also said he is “thrilled to be joining the Kamloops-Thompson School District.” During his time in Ontario, he’s held a number of different roles include system administrator, operations officer, school principal and vice-principal, inclusive education consultant and teacher.

St. John was also named recipient of Canada’s Outstanding Principal Award in 2012 during his time at Vimy Ridge Public School in Ajax, Ontario, located in the Greater Toronto Area.

“I am inspired by SD73’s values, priorities, and strategic actions towards helping students be good at learning and good at life,” St. John said.

“We will learn and lead together as we collectively create the most caring and engaging learning environments for students and staff, while expanding on the District’s solid foundation of connection, equity, well-being, and sustainability.”

St. John will take over from Rhonda Nixon, who departed SD73 after bullying allegations were levelled against her. Nixon has since joined Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools as superintendent.

Mike McKay, who was under contract to the end of this calendar year, will continue on as interim SD73 superintendent into the new year to facilitate the upcoming transition in senior leadership.

“Mike’s successes in various senior leadership portfolios in Ontario have demonstrated his commitment to supporting learners’ life chances,” McKay said in a statement.

SD73 will also be conducting interviews in the coming weeks as it works to fill the vacant Secretary-Treasurer role, following’s Trina Cassidy’s departure in October last year.

Cassidy was let go after an accounting error led to a $2.2-million shortfall in the SD73 budget. That error – and other budgetary shortfalls – led to several other job cuts at SD73.

Harold Cull will continue on as interim Secretary-Treasurer until a permanent replacement is found.

by Victor Kaisar

SD73 appoints Ontario educator Mike St. John as new superintendent of schools

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