DDSB appoints three new superintendents
The Durham District School Board (DDSB) has appointed three new superintendents.
The three new positions, two superintendents and one acting superintendent, will fill current vacancies at the board.
Gary Crossdale will become the superintendent of education. He will be responsible for the Safe Schools portfolio and will assume responsibility for the Maxwell Heights SS and Eastdale CVI family of schools.
Crossdale brings more than 30 years of experience, spending the last 25 years at the Toronto District School Board. Most recently, he has been the central principal of the Caring and Safe Schools program since 2013, and prior to that, spent 17 years as an elementary teacher and administrator in Toronto’s Regent Park community.
Crossdale’s focus on equity, anti-racism and anti-oppression has resulted in stronger educational connections and engagement by students, parents and community members to school spaces. His work has been instrumental in helping to reduce suspensions and expulsions while developing collaborative and positive relationships with school administrators.
Erin Elmhurst will be acting superintendent of education behind Acting Associate Director of Academic Services Jim Markovski.
Elmhurst will be responsible for the Early Years and Poverty Strategy portfolios and will be sharing responsibility for Indigenous Education with Superintendent Mohamed Hamid. She will also assume responsibility for the Dunbarton HS and Pine Ridge SS family of schools.
Elmhurst has been an educator for 22 years, 12 of which were spent as an administrator with the DDSB.
Most recently, she has spent the past four years as the education officer for Indigenous, ESL, and Outdoor Education, where she built a robust and collaborative ESL team from a department of four to 24 after examining the needs and adjusting the service delivery model.
Jack Nigro will become superintendent of education, responsible for the Elementary Curriculum portfolio and will be working with Superintendent Stephen Nevills for a Kindergarten to Grade 12 focus on curriculum. He will also assume responsibility for the RS McLaughlin and GL Roberts CVI family of schools.
Having worked in education for 30 years, Nigro has served in various roles as a teacher, education officer with the ministry of education, superintendent of curriculum at the Halton Catholic District School Board, and most recently as superintendent of education, including family of schools, student achievement, Indigenous education, and equity and inclusion at the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board.
Nigro was appointed as the 2020-21 president elect of the Ontario Public Supervisory Officers’ Association, where he previously served as co-chair of the Professional Learning Committee and Equity Committee.
“The Board of Trustees is excited to welcome Gary Crossdale, Erin Elmhurst and Jack Nigro in their new leadership roles,” says DDSB Board Chair Chris Braney. “Their expertise and dedication to public education will make them tremendous additions to the senior leadership team.”
All three superintendents were selected following an extensive search to create a superintendent hiring pool with candidates applying from across the country. They will be starting by Aug. 24.
“We are lucky to be adding three exceptional education leaders to our team who have the experience needed to contribute right away as we work to manage the changes brought on upon us by COVID-19,” says Active Director of Education Norah Marsh. “They will also help us continue moving forward on our strategic priorities and operational goals, with a strong emphasis on equity and inclusion to support student success and well-being.”