HPEDSB Director of Education resigns

Sean Monteith

Hastings Prince Edward District School Board Director Sean Monteith has resigned to pursue other professional and career opportunities.

“At this time, and with a few good years ahead, the prospect of being part of system-level change in support of Indigenous communities, and in continued support of marginalized and racialized students, is one that I am looking forward to,” stated Monteith. “I am grateful for the opportunity to have been part of the HPEDSB family and wish the organization nothing but the best.”

Board chair Lucille Kyle thanked Monteith for the work accomplished since he was named director in July 2019.

“I respect your desire to focus on your family’s, and your personal, best interests,” she stated in a media release Wednesday morning.

The board of trustees accepted the resignation effective June 30, 2021 and will begin its search for a new Director of Education in the coming weeks.

“Upon accepting the director’s decision to resign from HPEDSB, I would like to extend my best wishes to Sean Monteith as he pursues other professional and career opportunities,” stated Kyle, chair of the board.

“Among his accomplishments were his actions of increasing meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities in HPEDSB, working with the board to develop a five-year strategic plan with a focus on equity, developing board structures intended to improve efficiency in delivering education for our students, and facilitating a fluid response to the significant and ongoing challenges of delivering education in the time of pandemic.

Monteith, who has been an Ontario Director of Education since 2013, and with HPEDSB since 2019, thanked staff, students and families of school board “for allowing me the privilege and honour to serve”.

“I am proud of the fact that we created together a brand-new strategic plan that enforces principles of equity, student achievement, and outcomes for all of our learners. The board’s commitment to reconciliation with First Nation partners is commendable and underscores the desire to be champions of equity and social justice.”