The Supervisor of Peel District School Board, Bruce Rodrigues has appointed Colleen Russell-Rawlins as the permanent Interim Director of Peel board. Russell-Rawlins, who at present is an Associate Director of Equity, Well-Being, Early Years and School Improvement with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), will assume office on Aug. 5, 2020.
While talking about Colleen’s appointment, Rodrigues said: “We are confident that Ms. Russell-Rawlins possesses all the necessary attributes to move the Peel board forward.
“She brings with her a strong commitment to student learning and success, an exceptional background in addressing issues of anti-Black, African and Caribbean racism, anti-oppression and equity. We are delighted to have her and look forward to working with her”.
Colleen Russell-Rawlins in her reaction to her appointment expressed her honour and promised to create an environment where children will thrive. She said: “I am honoured to serve as the Interim Director of the Peel board at this pivotal point in its efforts to achieve racial equity and dismantle anti-Black racism. I look forward to learning from and with the Peel community in pursuit of these goals and improving all other aspects of education.
“Whether we work or send our children to schools in the Peel board, we all have an important role to play in student success. We all share in the leadership, the responsibility and accountability for creating the conditions where all of our children, regardless of their identity, can thrive.”
Colleen has occupied many roles in education as Teacher, Principal, Consultant and Superintendent.
She recently put up a proposal to create The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement in TDSB, the first of its kind in Canada. Colleen values collaborative work with staff, 12 Superintendents and an Executive Superintendent that are responsible for 50 percent of the schools in TDSB and she has created respectful and trusting relationships with the Parent Involvement Committee and the Black Student Achievement Community Advisory Committee where she operates as the Staff Lead.
She served as the President of the Ontario Supervisory Officers’ Association in 2018 and most she was recently recognized as one of the 100 Accomplished Black Women in Canada in 2020.
The Peel board caters for 155,000 students in kindergarten to the end of secondary school and adult learners. The board is the largest employer in Peel as it operates 257 schools in the municipalities of Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga with an annual budget just over $1.9 billion.
