Wanda's still captain of this ship!

Wanda McQueen began her tenth year as Algoma District School Board Chair last night.

She was acclaimed along with Jennifer Sarlo as Vice-Chair.

The board also officially welcomed new member Joel Robert and new student member Jordan Knorz.

A short biography for McQueen, Sarlo and Robert follows as well as the full text of McQueen's speech.

************************* Algoma District School Board votes on chair and vice chair positions

Wanda McQueen

Wanda McQueen will once again be leading the Algoma District School Board (ADSB) as chairperson following elections at the ADSB inaugural meeting held on Tuesday, December 7 and Jennifer Sarlo will continue in her role as vice chair.

Wanda has been with the ADSB for 23 years consecutively, elected first as a trustee in November 1988.

She was vice chair for two years and in 2002 was chosen as chair of the Algoma District School Board, a position she has held for nine years, now entering her tenth year.

In her time as trustee, vice chair and chair, Wanda has served on numerous committees including teacher trustee relations, auditory advisory and transportation and has been liaison with the school council coordinating committee (SCCC).

She has acted as alternate board director for the Ontario Public School Board Association (OPSBA) and co-chaired the annual general meeting for OPSBA when it was held in Sault Ste. Marie.

It is Wanda's belief that trustees are advocates for students, parents and the public, working towards giving students every opportunity to obtain the education they will need to become independent learners, now and in the future.

Jennifer Sarlo

Jennifer Sarlo was first elected as a trustee for the Algoma District School Board in 2006 serving Ward One, Sault Ste. Marie.

In 2009, Jennifer became vice chair of the board.

In her four years with the board, Jennifer has taken an active role in the school effectiveness visits and has been on the new schools steering committee.

Prior to being elected trustee and then vice chair, Jennifer was the chair of the ADSB’s school council coordinating committee.

She was also the chair of Grand View Public School's school council.

She has always been very supportive and involved in the elementary and high schools her children attended (Grand View, Korah and White Pines).

Jennifer is also an involved and respected member of her community and her church.

************************* Goals for the next term

During their next one-year term, Wanda and Jennifer will be dealing with such initiatives as:

- Overseeing the implementation and results of the board's strategic and improvement plan.

- Supporting student achievement through many initiatives including the school effectiveness framework, safe schools, anti-bullying, character education, Aboriginal programs, Project ABCD and the Algoma Model.

- Overseeing the finalization of the construction of three new schools namely Superior Heights Collegiate & Vocational School, Francis H. Clergue French Immersion school (SSM) and the JK-12 school in Hornepayne

- Overseeing the implementation of many of the ministry's initiatives such as equity and inclusive education; transportation efficiency and effectiveness and establishing external audit committee among others.

************************* Algoma District School Board welcomes new trustee and student trustee

Trustee Joel Robert

Algoma District School Board's new trustee representing Central Algoma was introduced at the inaugural meeting held on Tuesday December 7.

Joel Robert was acclaimed as the board's trustee for Central Algoma in the November municipal election.

He replaces Trustee Brent Rankin who retired from the board to run for mayor of the Town of Thessalon, a position to which he was elected.

Joel was motivated to run for school board trustee in large part because of his first child's entry into full-time junior kindergarten this year.

Joel and his wife wanted to be involved parents and initially thought this would involve taking part in school council, parent-teacher committees, and local school events.

When the opportunity arose to run for school board trustee, Joel felt it was the perfect opportunity to not just become involved in his own children's education, but to also represent the interests of students, parents, and other stakeholders in his community.

He is looking forward to working with the other trustees, director, and board staff to ensure continuing quality education in Algoma.

Joel grew up in Manitou Park in Sault Ste. Marie.

He went to school to learn how to be an aircraft maintenance engineer and eventually ended up in aircraft maintenance quality assurance.

He currently works for Sault College in the Aviation Technology program.

Student Trustee Jordan Knorz

Student Trustee Jordan Knorz was also introduced to the board of trustees.

Jordan is a Grade 11 student from Michipicoten High School in Wawa.

He is described by school administration as an accomplished academic student, with one of the top averages in the school.

He is part of MHS's newly developed spirit council.

This year the school brought a number of groups together including student council and athletic council under one umbrella called spirit council.

Jordan is an integral part of this group.

He is an avid athlete, has been part of the student senate and has now been brought on as the student trustee representing the Northern part of the board.

************************* Chair McQueen's inaugural speech

I would like to thank Bob McEachren for the nomination of chair.

Congratulations to each of you for a successful campaign.

I am very honoured to have been your chair and proud of trustees as they have worked to uphold the highest standard for students to learn, succeed and reach their fullest potential.

I don't forget for a moment that all our schools and staff are doing great things for our students and I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the trustees to say thank you for the commitment of our administration, teachers, support staff, parents and volunteers.

We know you make a difference.

This year will be an exciting year, we will see the completion of three new schools and we will be proactive and look ahead, to what we and our communities would like to see our board look like for our students in the future being cognizant that declining enrolment and our large geographical area are factors in any decision we make.

I feel we are set for another positive year as we continue to work on early learning, school effectiveness framework, safe schools, anti-bullyng, our transportation consortia and character development.

New initiatives and policies that we are moving forward on are, equity and inclusion, violence in the workplace, the audit committee structure, and code of conduct for trustees.

Let's continue moving forward with our vision.

I consider it a privilege working with all of you.

Thank you again.

*************************