SGDSB Appoints Nicole Morden Cormier as Interim Director of Education
Superior-Greenstone District School Board Chair, Pinky McRae, has announced the appointment of current Superintendent of Education Nicole Morden Cormier as Interim Director of Education. Morden Cormier will begin her new role September 1st 2018, and will serve until a new Director is named.
Current Director of Education, David Tamblyn announced, in December 2017, that he would be stepping down at the end of the school year after seven years as the administrative head of Superior-Greenstone District School Board.
Mrs. McRae explained that the Board of Trustees considered the political landscape as well as the difficulty of recruiting a chief executive officer to a remote northern community and after weighing the various options decided it would be best to prolong the search for a new Director. "After discussions with Morden Cormier,” McRae said, “the Board unanimously decided that she would be the ideal candidate to lead Superior-Greenstone as our Interim Director until the search for a new Director of Education is complete and Superior-Greenstone's next chief executive officer is appointed.”
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am very pleased that Ms. Morden Cormier accepted our invitation to fill this key role," added Ms. McRae. "During her ongoing and distinguished career at Superior-Greenstone, her passion for our board has been constant, particularly in her current role as Superintendent of Education."
Ms. Morden Cormier said she looks forward to the challenges that await her as Interim Director of Education, adding that, “I look forward to continuing to work collectively with our dedicated staff to reach our student achievement goals. I know that our district is committed to continuously enhancing programs according to the latest educational research and to ensuring that we continue to lead the way in serving small communities.”
As Interim Director of Education, Ms. Morden Cormier will work with the Board of Trustees to oversee Superior-Greenstone’s various initiatives and operations through the director’s transition period. The implementation of the board’s new strategic plan will be a central component of her action plan.
The role of Superintendent of Education will be aptly filled by Nancy Petrick who will return to her position with Superior-Greenstone after her secondment with the regional office of the Ministry of Education ends in July.
Ms. Morden Cormier’s career with Superior Greenstone District School Board began as a classroom teacher at George O’Neill Public School in 1995. She holds a Master of Education degree specializing in Educational Leadership and is regularly sought out for her professional expertise in Early Childhood Education and School Effectiveness.
Born and raised in Nipigon, she and her family reside in Dorion, where they relocated to as she began her career as a teacher. Morden Cormier believes that Superior-Greenstone District School Board is a key part of our region. “I am proud of the work that our team of dedicated, knowledgeable and passionate staff engage in to provide an educational experience that is responsive and positive for student, families, staff and our communities. As a community member and educator, I am committed to this region and to the education and well-being of our children”.
Morden Cormier brings a wide range of knowledge and experience to the position of Interim Director of Education, as she has dedicated her career to the school board, and thus has a keen understanding of the opportunities and the challenges that leading a small, northern board can present. During her career, Morden Cormier held the position of Vice-Principal of Dorion Public School, Principal of George O’Neill Public School, and was then promoted to the role of School Effectiveness Lead where she worked with teachers and administrators throughout the district supporting school improvement. In addition, Morden Cormier has held the position of Early Years Lead for the board. As such, she was instrumental in working with community partners to relocate The Family Place child care centre to the George O’Neill Public School Hub building in 2007 and in securing multi-million dollar funding for the relocation of the Geraldton Child Care and Early ON Centre into the B.A. Parker and Geraldton Composite High School complex. “In the North, it is important that our buildings increasingly becoming community hubs where families can access high quality programs and supports, from birth to adulthood. The Geraldton Hub Project is an excellent example of our commitment to this vision.” “These experiences and relationships, combined with her commitment to our region,” stated McRae, “make Nicole an ideal candidate for the role of Interim Director”.
As Interim Director, Morden Cormier plans to honour the work of her predecessor, David Tamblyn, as the school board implements their new strategic plan. “It is an honour and a privilege to continue the work of Mr. Tamblyn, as we focus on building relationships, positive well-being, student achievement, inclusion and equity.” Morden Cormier believes that, “establishing and maintaining strong relationships with families, staff, our community partners, our school board trustees as well as the Ministry of Education is vital to ensuring that our schools thrive and that we make a difference”.
A passion for Morden Cormier is to work towards achieving increased equity for children in the North. “I know that the opportunity to serve our communities and school board as Interim Director will not only allow me to expand my understanding of leading a school board, but will also provide me with the opportunity to further advocate for programs and services for our children and youth. While I truly love my role as Superintendent of Education as it allows me to stay connected to the classroom, I look forward to the learning that the directorship will bring.”
Chair of the Board, Pinky McRae, feels confident in this appointment. “Through the course of her career Ms. Morden Cormier has demonstrated her commitment to student achievement and her extensive experience will lend itself well in her role as Interim Director”.