Rainbow Schools welcome new Principals

Some of the Rainbow District School Board’s elementary and secondary schools will welcome new Principals when classes resume on Tuesday, September 8, 2015. The Board has also appointed Principals of Special Education Programs and Services and Student Success.

Michael Bellrose
Principal
A.B. Ellis Public School (Kindergarten to Grade 8 – English)

Michael Bellrose is the new Principal of A.B. Ellis Public School in Espanola. An educator with Rainbow District School Board for 25 years, he served most recently as Principal of Algonquin Road Public School. Prior to that, he was Principal of C.R. Judd Public School. In addition to his senior leadership roles with the Board, Michael Bellrose has taught Junior Kindergarten, Grades 4, 5, 7, 8 and Early Reading Intervention.  He has also coached a number of elementary school sports. Principal Bellrose looks forward to working with the A.B. Ellis Public School community.

Cathy Nursall
Principal
Algonquin Road Public School (Kindergarten to Grade 8 – English)

Cathy Nursall has been appointed Principal of Algonquin Road Public School. She served as Principal of R.H. Murray Public School for the past three years. Prior to that, she was Principal of Wanup Public School. Cathy Nursall has taught all grades from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 at a number of Rainbow Schools, primarily in the French Immersion program. She began her teaching career in Toronto before moving to Sudbury in 1985. Principal Nursall looks forward to leading the team at Algonquin Road Public School.

Sherry Conroy
Principal
Chelmsford Public School (Kindergarten to Grade 6 – English / French Immersion)

Sherry Conroy is the new Principal at Chelmsford Public School. She served as Principal of Monetville Public School for the past two years. Prior to her appointment as Principal, she was Vice-Principal of Northeastern Elementary School and A.B. Ellis Public School.   Since joining the Board in 1992, Sherry Conroy has been a primary/junior and special education teacher. She also served as an Elementary Program Consultant for three years.  Principal Conroy looks forward to working with students and families in the Chelmsford area.

Christine Chisholm
Principal
Larchwood Public School (Kindergarten to Grade 8 – English)

Christine Chisholm has been promoted Principal of Larchwood Public School.  She has been Vice-Principal of Northeastern Elementary School for the past two years. Prior to that, she served as Vice-Principal of Cyril Varney Public School, Algonquin Road Public School/Long Lake Public School, Chelmsford Public School and Wembley Public School. Christine Chisholm has taught all grades in the French Immersion and English Programs from Kindergarten to Grade 8. She has also taught special education. She began her career in Timmins in 1996 and moved to Sudbury in 2006.

Lynn MacDonell
Principal
MacLeod Public School (Kindergarten to Grade 8 – English)

Lynn MacDonell welcomes the opportunity to be the Principal of MacLeod Public School. She comes from A.B. Ellis Public School in Espanola, where she has been Principal for the past five years.  She also served as Principal of Webbwood Public School. Prior to becoming an administrator, Lynn MacDonell taught all grades in the French Immersion and English programs, including Core French. She also taught special education.  Principal MacDonell looks forward to working with the students, staff, parents/guardians and community partners in the Board’s newest green school.

Kim Boulanger
Principal
Monetville Public School (Kindergarten to Grade 8 – English)

Kim Boulanger looks forward to working with students, staff, parents/guardians and the community in her new role as Principal of Monetville Public School. She has been Vice-Principal of Lansdowne Public School for the past five years. Prior to that, she served as Vice-Principal at Algonquin Road Public School and Long Lake Public School. Kim Boulanger joined the Board in 1998, teaching Grade 3 at Redwood Acres Public School. She then moved to Pinecrest Public School where she taught Grade 6 and served as the Literacy Resource Teacher.

Danielle Williamson
Principal
Princess Anne Public School (Kindergarten to Grade 8 – English)

Danielle Williamson is the new Principal of Princess Anne Public School. For the past three years, she was Principal of Chelmsford Public School. She also served as Principal of R.H. Murray Public School for two years. A versatile educator, Danielle Williamson has been a primary, junior and intermediate teacher in a number of Rainbow Schools since joining the Board in 2003. By building strong relationships with students, parents/guardians and community members, Principal Williamson looks forward to ensuring success for all at Princess Anne Public School.

Trevor Dewit
Principal
R.H. Murray Public School (Kindergarten to Grade 8 – English)

Trevor Dewit has been appointed Principal of R.H. Murray Public School. He has been Principal of Larchwood Public School for the past five years. Prior to this, he served as Vice-Principal of MacLeod Public School, Valley View Public School and Val Caron Public School. Since joining Rainbow District School Board in 2001, Trevor Dewit has taught a number of grades in the elementary panel and contributed to system-wide events for the benefit of all students. Principal Dewit looks forward to working with students, staff, parents/guardians and members of the public in the R.H. Murray Public School community.

Cori Pitre
Principal
S. Geiger Public School (Kindergarten to Grade 8 – English)
Webbwood Public School (Kindergarten to Grade 8 – English)

Cori Pitre has been appointed Principal of Webbwood Public School and S. Geiger Public School.  Cori Pitre began her career in the Rainbow District School Board in 1992 and has taught in both the elementary and secondary panels.  Prior to her new appointment, she served as Vice-Principal at Little Current Public School, Webbwood Public School, S. Geiger Public School and Northeastern Elementary School.  Cori Pitre is excited to be rejoining the exemplary teaching teams at both S. Geiger Public School and Webbwood Public School.

Kristina Rivard Gobbo
Principal
Barrydowne College (a re-engagement school for students ages 18 to 20)

Kristina Rivard Gobbo is the new Principal of Barrydowne College. For the past four years, she served as a Vice-Principal at Lockerby Composite School. A classroom teacher since 2006, Kristina Rivard Gobbo taught French, Italian and Science at Lasalle Secondary School prior to her appointment as a school administrator. She is currently working on her PhD with a focus on poverty, retention and pass rates. Principal Rivard Gobbo welcomes the opportunity to nurture success for all at Barrydowne College.

Maureen McNamara
Principal
Lasalle Secondary School (Grades 9 to 12 – English and French Immersion)

Principal Maureen McNamara returns to Lasalle Secondary School where she served as Vice-Principal from 2007 to 2011. Most recently, she has been Principal of Barrydowne College since its inception in September 2011. With 20 years of experience in secondary schools, Principal McNamara has a strong background in working with a diverse population of learners, including students with special needs.  She has taught Grades 9 to 12 History and Psychology and, prior to becoming a school administrator, held leadership positions in Literacy, Student Success and Social Sciences.

Craig Runciman
Principal
Lockerby Composite School (Grades 9 to 12 – English and French Immersion)

Craig Runciman has been appointed Principal of Lockerby Composite School. He has been Principal of Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School for the past six years.  Prior to that, he served as Principal of Lasalle Secondary School. Principal Runciman has resided in Sudbury’s south end for many years and looks forward to working with Lockerby students, staff, parents/guardians and community partners. Prior to his appointment as a school administrator, Craig Runciman taught History and Economics and served as Program Leader for Social Sciences.

Jeff McKibbon
Principal
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School (Grades 9 to 12 – English and French Immersion)

Jeff McKibbon returns to Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School where he served as Principal from 2002 to 2009.  He has been Principal of Lasalle Secondary School for the past six years.  He also served as Principal of Levack District High School and Confederation Secondary School. A classroom teacher since 1991, Jeff McKibbon taught Economics, Law, Accounting and History prior to his appointment as a school administrator. Principal McKibbon looks forward to working with the students, staff, parents/guardians and community of Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School.

Colleen McDonald
Principal of Special Education Programs and Services
Gord Ewin Centre for Education

Colleen McDonald has been appointed Principal of Special Education Programs and Services. She has been Principal of Princess Anne Public School for the past five years. Prior to this, she was Principal of Wembley Public School and Cyril Varney Public School. She also served as Vice-Principal of Churchill Public School. A versatile educator, Colleen McDonald has a strong background in literacy and special education. She has also been a provincial and regional trainer for the Ministry of Education’s literacy initiatives.

Heather Gaffney
Principal of Student Success
Gord Ewin Centre for Education

Heather Gaffney has been appointed Principal of Student Success.  Over the past seven years, she has served as Principal of Lockerby Composite School.  Prior to that, she was Vice-Principal of Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School and Lasalle Secondary School.  Heather Gaffney has taught at many schools in the Rainbow District School Board. She was a Guidance Counsellor at Sudbury Secondary School prior to becoming a school administrator. In her new role, Principal Gaffney will work with staff and students in all Rainbow Schools to nurture success.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.