Norm Blaseg appointed Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board

Rainbow District School Board Chair Tyler Campbell is pleased to announce the appointment of Superintendent Norm Blaseg to the position of Director of Education. Trustees unanimously approved the appointment at the regular Board meeting on Monday, May 17th, 2010. Superintendent Blaseg will succeed Jean Hanson when she retires at the end of the school year.

“A long-time employee of the Board, Superintendent Blaseg has served in a number of positions of added responsibility,” said Board Chair Tyler Campbell. “He is well prepared to assume this leadership role and we look forward to working with him. As Director of Education, he will ensure that student needs and student achievement continue to be our primary focus.”

“I welcome the opportunity to lead Rainbow Schools, building on our rich tradition of excellence in education,” said Superintendent Blaseg. “Working together, I am committed to nurturing a culture of understanding, cohesion and common vision among trustees, staff, students and parents, unions/federations and the community, with students first and foremost.”

After teaching for four years in Attawapiskat and Southern Ontario, Norm Blaseg joined the Board in 1990. He quickly assumed positions of added responsibility, including Assistant Principal, Vice-Principal and Principal. He was appointed Superintendent of Schools in 2004.

In his current role, Superintendent Blaseg is responsible for special education in Rainbow Schools in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin. This includes the provision of all programs and services for students with special needs as well as the delivery of education at Cecil Facer, Frank Flowers, Senga House and the Ruth MacMillan Centre. He also oversees ten elementary schools, three secondary schools and four alternative school programs.

Over the past six years, Norm Blaseg has served as Superintendent at most of the Board’s schools and his portfolio as a Superintendent has touched on all areas of the Board including First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education, Best Start, Welcome to Kindergarten, the Parent Involvement Committee, negotiations and employee relations, health and safety, accommodation reviews, attendance, strategic planning, transportation and home schooling. He has also led Framework schools and district reviews, with a focus on improving literacy and numeracy.

Born and raised in Sudbury, Superintendent Blaseg has a Bachelor of Arts degree (Honours) from Laurentian University as well as a Master of Education and Bachelor of Education from Nipissing University.

Superintendent Blaseg is currently a member of the Inter-ministerial Mental Health Review Committee. He has served as a Board Member for Child Care Resources and an executive member of the Ontario Principal’s Council, the Rainbow District Principals’ Council, and the Ontario Public School Teachers Federation. For his contribution to children and the community, Norm Blaseg received a Council for Exceptional Children Award in 1992 and a United Way Volunteer Recognition Award in 1995.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette,

Senior Advisor, Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,

Rainbow District School Board, 705.674.3171, ext. 7217.