Former, present Korah principals announce retirement

Bob Cole, superintendent of education with the Algoma District School Board and a former principal of Korah Collegiate, will retire in June, ending a 37-year educational career.

Cole's retirement was announced at a meeting of trustees tonight at Elliot Lake Secondary School.

Before becoming a superintendent five years ago, he served as principal of Korah for 11 years.

Cole was a science teacher and department head at Lakeway and Korah and a vice principal at Bawating, Lakeway and Korah.

He spearheaded a successful drive to bring the prestigious International Bacccalaureate program to Korah and he also launched that school's independent study program for students at risk.

As superintendent, his innovations included the Student Success initiatives, Lighthouse programs and Learning to 18 programs.

In 2002, Cole was presented with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation Excellence in Education Award.

Holly Wickett, too

Trustees also learned tonight that Holly Wickett, the present principal at Korah, is retiring effective the end of this year.

Originally hired as a physical education teacher at the old Sault Collegiate, Wickett also served as a guidance counsellor at Bawating and a vice principal at White Pines.

She was regarded as one of the premier principals in the Algoma public school system during her five years as Korah principal, Director of Education Mario Turco said at tonight's meeting.