THE COAST Mountains School District has hired someone from northern Vancouver Island to replace Nancy Wells as its schools superintendent.
Katherine McIntosh, now the assistant superintendent for School District 85 based in Port Hardy, starts her new job in the spring.
“She is an outstanding educator who already deeply understands the diverse and unique educational needs of our urban and rural learners, schools and communities,” said school board chair Art Erasmus yesterday of McIntosh.
Wells was initially brought in after the sudden departure of Rob Greenwood in the fall of 2010 and while it was never her plan to stay for a long term, her contract was extended while the board searched for a permanent replacement.
McIntosh’s background includes work in five school districts in two provinces.
Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta and a Master of Education degree in Educational Administration and Leadership from the University of British Columbia.
McIntosh’s hiring continues a series of senior personnel changes within the school district.
Long-term educator Agnes Casgrain, current principal of Kildala Elementary School in Kitimat, will become the district’s new aboriginal education principal, effective Feb. 1.
And Cam MacKay began as the district’s new human resources director Jan. 1.
He had been the principal at Caledonia Secondary School, a job now filled by Keith Axelson who moves up from being a vice principal.
In turn, Axelson was replaced by Todd Hollett who had been principal at Uplands Elementary. Hollett’s replacement is expected to be named soon.
The district also needs to hire a director of instruction, replacing Brent Speidel who is now at Northwest Community College in Terrace.
The Coast Mountains School District takes in schools in the Hazeltons, Stewart, Terrace and Kitimat.
