Background Information and Candidate Profile Director of Education

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Background Information and Candidate Profile

           Director of Education

             Approved: June 1, 2021

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The Rainbow District School Board:

Rainbow District School Board is the largest school board in Northern Ontario with 31 elementary schools
and 9 secondary schools in diverse district communities over a large geographic area including Sudbury,
Espanola and Manitoulin Island. The Board has formal agreements with a number of vibrant First
Nations communities. The Board offers English language and French Immersion programs to students
from Kindergarten to Grade 12, including Indigenous learners and learners with special needs.

At Rainbow, a strong circle of care supports student success and well-being. The board is proud of the
multitude of programs, including special education and mental health, which support the unique needs of
very diverse learners. It has made the re-engagement of struggling students a high priority and has
sought community partners to support non-traditional and innovative approaches.

Vision:           We are leaders in learning, inspiring success for all students by reaching minds and
                  touching hearts.

Mission:          We bring learning to life, enabling students to fulfil their aspirations.

Values:
    ➢     Honesty
    ➢     Respect
    ➢     Empathy
    ➢     Responsibility
    ➢     Integrity
    ➢     Courtesy
    ➢     Resilience
    ➢     Acceptance
    ➢     Courage
    ➢     Co-operation

Priorities:

    Reaching minds.
        • Provide authentic and engaging learning opportunities.
        • Set high expectations and create excitement for learning.
        • Support students to reach their potential.
        • Foster 21st century skills and competencies.
        • Deepen literacy and numeracy skills.

    Touching hearts.
        • Nurture physical, mental, social and emotional well-being.
        • Forge strong relationships and build resiliency.
        • Honour diversity and enhance cultural understanding.
        • Value student, staff, parent/guardian and partner voice.
        • Celebrate student, staff, school and system success.

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Reporting Structure:

Rainbow District School Board is comprised of 8 elected trustees and 1 First Nations trustee.
The current Board of Trustees term is December 1, 2018 to November 14, 2022.
Elected trustees are as follows:

•   Doreen Dewar (Board Chair). Trustee for Sudbury, Area 5, Wards 9 and 10
•   Dena Morrison (Board Vice Chair). Trustee for Sudbury, Area 4, Wards 7 and 8
•   Bob Clement. Trustee for Espanola, Area 8
•   Linda Debassige. First Nations Trustee
•   Anita Gibson. Trustee for Sudbury, Area 2, Wards 3 and 4
•   Judy Hunda. Trustee for Sudbury, Area 6, Wards 11 and 12
•   Judy Kosmerly. Trustee for Sudbury, Area 3, Wards 5 and 6
•   Kerrie St. Jean. Trustee for Sudbury, Area 1, Wards 1 and 2
•   Margaret Stringer. Trustee for Manitoulin, Area 7

The current Student Trustees is Ava Lafrance (Confederation Secondary School).

Senior Staff:

Reporting to the Director of Education are the following members of the Senior Team:

•   Dennis Bazinet Superintendent of Business
•   Bruce Bourget; Superintendent of Schools
•   Judy Noble; Superintendent of Schools
•   Kathy Wachnuk; Superintendent of Schools

For additional information on Rainbow DSB, please visit: https://www.rainbowschools.ca/

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Position Overview:

The Director of Education and Secretary to the Board (“The Director”) reports directly to the Board of
elected Trustees. The Director is the chief education officer and chief executive officer of the Board. The
Director shall perform their duties in accordance with the Vision of the Rainbow District School Board.

Candidates for the position of Director of Education should be well-versed in the provisions of Part XI of
the Education Act, R.S.O. 1990 (“Education Act”) Sections 278 to 287, with particular attention to Section
283.1(1) which outlines additional duties for a Director of Education. For information, please refer to:
https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90e02#BK513

Key Leadership Priorities

•   Well-being and Mental Health: The Director will articulate a way forward that is clear in its
    determination that all student needs are viewed through the lens of social/emotional/psychological
    health and well-being. They will provide visible and intentional leadership which ensures that all
    Rainbow students are in learning environments that care first about their well-being and mental
    health as critical to achievement.

•   Literacy and Numeracy: The Director will ensure an unwavering focus on literacy and numeracy as
    foundational to the achievement of all students. All students shall have the opportunity and support
    to achieve their full potential and success. They will lead and champion continuous innovation and
    excellence in teaching and learning in RDSB. They will possess the skills to move the district in new,
    creative and innovative directions as necessary in order to prepare students for the future. The
    Director will provide strategic leadership to ensure a robust and planned approach to changing
    realities including the impact of climate change on the future of students.

•   Equity, diversity and inclusion: The Director will provide visionary leadership to champion a strategy
    and plan which moves the district from intent to action, achieving equitable outcomes using
    frameworks of anti-racism and anti-oppression, and in promoting systemic processes that
    demonstrate a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion across the organization. They will
    support all educators in their work of addressing achievement gaps for all students.

•   Indigenous Education: The Director will ensure that the RDSB Truth and Reconciliation: Commitment
    to Action Plan is supported, implemented and monitored. They will articulate a commitment to
    ensuring that Indigenous knowledge is embedded throughout the curriculum and will take
    courageous actions to make this part of the fabric of every student’s learning within Rainbow.
    Indigenous communities will be engaged in building the trust and support necessary for indigenous
    students to succeed.

•   Governance: The Director will establish a positive and respectful relationship with the Board of
    Trustees to ensure mutual trust and confidence. They will have demonstrated understanding of and
    respect for the role of the board in ensuring student success and well-being. They will ensure the
    provision of timely, accurate and relevant information to the Board of Trustees to support good
    governance and decision-making. They will review and recommend policies to the Board, as well as
    develop and implement effective procedures and processes to ensure sound management of RDSB.
    The Director of Education will support the Board to enable effective governance, productive working
    relationships among trustees, and common goals.

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•   Strategic Leadership and Management: The Director will provide leadership in developing,
    implementing and monitoring the new strategic directions of RDSB. They will empower and work
    collaboratively with others to operationalize the collective vision while holding them self and others
    accountable. They will ensure that the process of developing a new strategic plan is intentional and
    will engage and reflect the diverse voices throughout its district communities.

•   Continuous improvement and innovation. The Director will champion and support innovation across
    the system to ensure that the RDSB is well positioned to successfully navigate, adapt, and respond to
    changing expectations of public education systems. The Director will empower staff throughout the
    district to meet the unique and changing needs of their communities and students.

•   Human resource and leadership development: The Director will value all staff and will ensure strong
    internal leadership and enable effective performance management at all levels of RDSB. They will
    provide collaborative and strategic leadership in the development of comprehensive and transparent
    succession planning approaches throughout the whole system that reflects the boards commitment
    to equity.

•   Employee relations and Staff Well-Being: The Director will lead and model a strong and vibrant
    RDSB that fosters high levels of staff engagement, success, satisfaction, wellness, well-being and
    morale at all levels of the organization.

•   Operational Stewardship: The Director will work collaboratively with the Board, senior business
    officials and the Ministry of Education to ensure sound financial accountability and a balanced
    budget. They will identify and make recommendations to the Board regarding real or potential risks
    and provide sound advice to mitigate and/or address these risks. The Director will provide leadership
    in engaging the board, its employees and community in meeting future needs as well as addressing
    challenges related to the changing funding landscape. The Director will demonstrate ethical
    stewardship of human and financial resources, ensuring that all operations of the RDSB are aligned
    with the board’s main goal of student achievement and well-being.

•   Environmental Stewardship: The Director will champion environmental stewardship from both an
    academic and an operational perspective. They will encourage and support the intersection of
    student leadership, environmental stewardship and indigenous knowledge. They will seek the
    ongoing support of the board through the strategic directions. The Director will seek accountability
    through sustainable and ethical choices.

•   Public Confidence and Communication: The Director will implement a comprehensive
    communication strategy which is open, transparent and proactive. They will promote and model
    effective use of social media/digital platforms which reflect the changing demographic of the district.
    The Director will strive to ensure a positive public profile and “brand” for RDSB with parents,
    government, community partners and other stakeholders. They will articulate a clear vision and path
    forward to sustain the robustness of public education in meeting the future needs of students,
    parents and communities in a post-2021 era. They will engage and inspire others to promote and
    champion the vision and mission of RDSB, to ensure strong public confidence, trust and “community-
    building”.

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Ideal Candidate Profile

The following leadership competencies and characteristics were identified as important by a variety of
individuals consulted across the system and will be sought in the new Director of Education of the
Rainbow District School Board. The Board recognizes that no one candidate may meet ALL elements
equally, but these attributes and competencies will be used in the assessment of candidates throughout
the search and selection process.

Qualifications and Experience:
•   Requisite qualifications to assume the Director of Education role in Ontario as per the Education Act.
    The following is a link to Section 279 of the Education Act regarding Directors of Education and
    Supervisory Officers: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90e02#BK515
•   Demonstrated progressive senior educational leadership experience within a publicly funded school
    board, demonstrating breadth and depth of portfolios.

Skills, Knowledge and Competencies:
•   A deep appreciation for Northern Ontario and the opportunities and challenges it presents.
•   Understanding of the unique relationship between First Nations and Non-First Nations populations
    and communities. Unequivocally committed to building respectful and productive relationships with
    First Nations communities.
•   Demonstrated experience with and commitment to meeting the needs of Indigenous communities
    and students. Demonstrates the courage to address difficult issues in order to improve outcomes for
    First Nations students. Understands the significance of the Truth and Reconciliation “Calls to Action”
    as a framework for building on the shared history and strengths of all students and communities
    within RDSB.
•   Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. Will be a strong public voice to ensure that RDSB’s
    students, families and communities see themselves represented in all areas of the organization.
•   Highly developed interpersonal and relational skills. Models high emotional intelligence, confidence
    and self-awareness.
•   Deep knowledge and commitment to teaching and learning and instructional leadership as
    foundational to the board’s achievement of its goals.
•   Demonstrated experience leading organizational change, including Equity as a foundational pillar. Can
    inspire changes which removes barriers to equity. Demonstrated leadership in the creation of
    inclusive learning environments and in addressing achievement and opportunity gaps.
•   Ability to articulate a clear strategic vision that is messaged frequently and monitored often. Ability
    to provide leadership to engage the entire district renew RDSB’s strategic vision and directions into
    the future. Results-oriented, and able to successfully operationalize strategic vision and plans into
    reality with measurable outcomes.
•   Ability to support innovation and creative risk-taking while ensuring a safe and supportive
    environment that will enhance student learning and well-being.

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•   Capable of making difficult decisions and accepting accountability. Will ensure collaborative, evidence-
    and data-based decision-making.
•   Proven and effective leadership and management of unionized and non-unionized staff. Will model a
    deep respect for the power and importance of the whole senior team to provide system-wide
    leadership. Successfully mediates and resolves conflicts, as required.
•   Sound fiscal management skills and business acumen. Will ensure effective stewardship and oversight
    of all RDSB resources and assets.
•   Excellent organizational skills. Will be able to prioritize and successfully manage multiple and
    simultaneous priorities and demands. Capable of delegating to others but will remain and hold others
    accountable.
•   Excellent political acuity. Has the ability to successfully work with and relate to elected officials
    (trustees). Understands the role of the Director as secretary of the board. Will be responsive and
    knowledgeable about key issues that could impact RDSB. Will foster confidence, mutual respect and
    trust between the board of trustees and senior administration.
•   Will support effective policy governance and structures to ensure that RDSB is compliant with all
    legal, Ministerial and board mandates and requirements.

Qualities:
•   A servant leader who will empower others to lead and innovate in their work for students while
    engendering trust at all levels. Promotes the development of leadership in students and staff, as well
    as positive employee engagement, morale and satisfaction at all levels.
•   Models an open, honest, compassionate and flexible leadership style to foster a climate of mutual
    respect, transparency, trust and collaboration.
•   A courageous leader capable of engendering a sense of value among all employees and communities.
    Committed to renewing and bringing the whole district together as it moves forward.
•   Personal and professional integrity. Will be a credible, trustworthy, emotionally intelligent and ethical
    leader who is, and will be respected by others.

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Key Search Milestones:

Deadline to submit applications to Promeus:           June 14, 2021 to resumes@promeus.ca
Long List Presented to Board:                         June 28, 2021
Short List Interviews:
         ➢ First Round                                July 12/13, 2021
         ➢ Second Round                               July 19/20, 2021
New Director of Education starts:                     September 1, 2021

We thank all applicants for their interest and wish to advise that only those candidates selected for an
interview will be contacted.

For Further Information, please contact:

Marilyn Gouthro, Associate Partner                    Jordene Lyttle, Partner
Promeus, Inc.                                         Promeus Inc.
mgouthro@tbaytel.net                                  Jordene.lyttle@promeus.ca
(807) 983-3232                                        (416) 850-1650

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Promeus Inc. (and The Rainbow District School Board) are committed to employment equity, diversity and
inclusion. We welcome interest and/or applications from all qualified candidates, with a diversity of
backgrounds, without exception. Promeus Inc. is committed to an inclusive, barrier-free selection
process. Please advise us of any accommodation measures you may require during our selection process.
Information received relating to accommodation needs of applicants will be addressed confidentially.

Privacy and Confidentiality
Promeus Inc. respects the privacy and confidentiality of all personal information provided by candidates
throughout the course of our search assignments. In accordance with the Personal Information
Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), a copy of our Privacy Policy is available for review on
our web site at www.promeus.ca.