Students return to school in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows in less than two weeks. As they get reacquainted with their school teachers and staff, many will notice there have been changes at the top.
A change at the district office was the first domino to fall, as Stewart Sonne has taken an early retirement. He has been replaced by Shannon Derinzy as the new director of instruction for secondary and adult education.
This year the school district has been divided into two zones for administrative purposes. The responsibility for secondary and elementary schools is now divided equally between two directors of instruction – David Vandergugten and Derinzy. Derinzy will oversee all the west schools, while Vandergugten will be responsible for the institutions in the east.
Derinzy was the principal of Maple Ridge Secondary. She will be replaced by Trevor Connor, who moves to MRSS from the principalship at Westview Secondary.
The vacancy at Westview, created by Connor’s move, will be filled by the promotion of Patricia Giesinger, who had been working as a vice-principal at Thomas Haney.
In addition to these changes, principal Mike Keenan will be leaving Samuel Robertson Technical (SRT), effectively switching jobs with Pitt Meadows secondary principal Dennis Dickson.