Starting Sept. 1, the Upper Grand District School Board will have a new director of education.
The board appointed Peter Sovran, currently an associate director at the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. He is also said to be one of the longest serving associate directors of education in the province.
“I am very humbled and excited about the opportunity to work with the dedicated trustees, staff, and community partners that serve the students of the Upper Grand District School Board,” said Sovran in a news release.
“Together, we will ensure that UGDSB continues its well-established position as a leader in learning, service excellence, environmental literacy and is proudly reflective of the distinct communities in its boundaries.”
Sovran will replace Martha Rogers, who led the board for 26 years.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am happy to welcome Peter to the Upper Grand District School Board. He is eager to get to know everyone in our system and to begin our work together. Peter’s range of experiences at both the board level and at the ministry of education will serve him well in his new position,” said Martha MacNeil, chair of the board.
The UGDSB said given the long-standing tenure of Rogers, the search process for a new director was a very large undertaking and involved consultation with stakeholders in the educational community including union groups, senior staff, parent advisory groups, student senate and community partners.
Sovran’s career portfolio over the past 27 years has included a variety of senior leadership positions with the Hamilton-Wentworth, York Region and Toronto District School Boards and the Ministry of Education.
Prior to his current role, Sovran was an executive superintendent and a superintendent of student achievement, a senior manager and senior policy advisor with the Ministry of Education, an elementary school principal and vice-principal and has taught in all grades, including adult education.
The UGDSB said Sovran has a proven track-record of strategic, transformative leadership that has resulted in impactful changes to public education in Ontario. His commitment to addressing the gaps in student learning that exist due to systemic and historic barriers was further cemented during his two years working with the Anishinaabeg of Kabapikotawangag Resource Council First Nations School in north-western Ontario.
