New Superintendent of Schools Appointed at Catholic Board
Footnote: Written by: Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board
Joan Carragher has been a dedicated professional in Catholic education for over 21 years. Her educational career began in 1990 with the Toronto Catholic District School Board before coming to the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board in 1999. Her progressive experience is characterized by a distinguished role as a teacher, followed by promotions to Vice-principal at St. Elizabeth Catholic Elementary School in Bowmanville and Principal positions at St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School in Cobourg, and St. Alphonsus Catholic Elementary School in Peterborough, prior to this appointment.
A respected educator with the Board, Joan Carragher has held a number of positions of added responsibility. Most recently, she has provided system leadership as Chair of the Building Capacity Committee, Principal Lead of the Leading Student Achievement - Literacy/Numeracy Secretariat, and was a Mentor to system Vice-Principals and Principals. In addition, she worked with the Ministry of Education Assessment Branch to produce Assessment Resources and served on numerous Board committees including the Catholic Parent Engagement Committee, Family Life and Religious Education Committee, Stewards of Catholic Education Committee, System Learning Day Committee, United Way Committee and the Catholic Virtues into Action Resource Development Group.
Ms. Carragher holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) from Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Prince Edward Island. In addition, she acquired a Masters of Education, with a focus in Comparative International and Development Education, from the University of Toronto and holds additional certifications in Religious Education, Principal Qualification, Leadership Courses and Supervisory Officer Certification.
"In keeping with our Catholic district's vision, we are extremely pleased to have the passion and exemplary leadership Joan has demonstrated in her role as Principal, expanded to the role of Superintendent", says Dave Bernier, Board Chairperson. "She is an inspired educator and possesses a skill set that complements the needs of our Catholic district and the priorities of this Board. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we welcome Joan to her new position and look forward to working with her to ensure the continued success of all our Catholic students."
In her new position, Joan will be reporting to the Director of Education and be responsible for the system-wide Special Education, Equity and Inclusive Education portfolio in addition to a family of secondary and elementary schools. She will be leaving her position as Principal of St. Alphonsus Catholic Elementary School in Peterborough.
"We are well aware of the caliber of leadership that Joan Carragher will bring to her new position and I'm confident Joan's instructional strengths and leadership experience will help move our new strategic directions forward," states Greg Reeves, Director of Education. "Joan is an exemplary Catholic leader with the knowledge, experience, dedication and expertise to continue to move our catholic schools in the direction that best serves our students and our Catholic school communities. The Board invited applications from qualified candidates and selected an extremely competent and experienced Principal for the position."
"I am tremendously honoured and looking forward to the challenges that will be presented by this new opportunity", says Joan Carragher. "I understand the system scope of this position and the responsibilities it carries with it as I join a group of individuals who give passionate and dedicated service to Catholic education. I feel that the various positions I have held over the years have afforded me the range of insights and experiences that will help me take forward the vision and work of our Catholic District School Board. I look forward to working in partnership with our staff, our trustees, our families, our parishes, and our education partners to ensure our students receive the best in Catholic education."
Ms. Carragher resides in Peterborough with her husband, Michael Montgomery, and daughters Charlotte, who attends Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School, and Emma, who attends St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School, in Peterborough.
The Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board provides Catholic education to over 14,000 students in 31 elementary and six secondary schools and has a total operating and capital budget of $179,450,610 million.
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