UCDSB names next Director of Education

Trustees of the Upper Canada District School Board are pleased to announce that Ron Ferguson has been selected as the new Director of Education and Secretary to the Board for the Upper Canada District School Board.

Ferguson has been a student, teacher and principal within the UCDSB, and currently holds the position of Superintendent of Human Resources, with School Superintendent responsibilities to the South Grenville family of schools. 

“The Board of Trustees was impressed with the quality of applicants we had for this position,” says Chair of the Board John McAllister. “A Director of Education needs to have a high level of personal and professional integrity, have a student-first mindset, be collaborative, compassionate, decisive and accountable. Ron has demonstrated these qualities time and time again through his teaching and progressive leadership with our board. We are confident that with Ron at the helm of the organization, we will be able to effectively navigate through the rest of this pandemic and continue to prepare all students for a successful life.”  

Ferguson has spent 18 years with the UCDSB and has won several awards of distinction during that time for innovative teaching practices and going above and beyond for his students. He taught in multiple schools within the school board before moving into leadership roles in the Perth and Almonte area schools as a Vice-Principal in 2010 and then Principal in 2011. In 2017, Ferguson joined the UCDSB senior leadership team as a Superintendent of Schools where his portfolios have spanned from equity and inclusion, school operations and safe schools, special education and wellness, to currently, human resources.

“The UCDSB is at the core of who I am. I’ve learned from our teachers, I’ve worked side-by-side with our principals and our senior leadership team, and I’ve had great guidance along the way,” says Ferguson. “I’m looking forward to taking all that I’ve learned and to continue to provide innovative, transparent and effective leadership to our organization.”  

Ferguson will take over the role of Director of Education from Stephen Sliwa, who is retiring on June 30, 2021.

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Author: Hometown News