Trustees of the Halton District School Board have announced the appointment of Curtis Ennis as the new Director of Education, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary to the Board. The appointment will take effect from August 1, 2021.
The career portfolio of Ennis during the past 22 years includes a variety of senior leadership posts with the Toronto District School Board, Canada’s biggest school board, and the Ontario Ministry of Education.
Ennis started his career as a primary teacher and grew through various leadership roles as a Superintendent of Education with rising responsibilities. Currently, he is the Associate Director, Equity, Well-Being and School Improvement (Interim). He has led many strategic planning initiatives in the TDSB, and has also gained leadership experience with the Ministry of Education’s Toronto and Area Regional Office. Ennis possesses Bachelor of Business Management (Accounting/Finance), Bachelor of Education and Master of Education (Language, Culture & Teaching) from York University.
After the retirement announcement of the current Director of Education, Stuart Miller, trustees started a search process in December 2020. With the support of Joan M. Green and Associates/Lough Barnes Consulting Group (LBCG), a thorough consultation took place. During the search, stakeholders in the education community including HDSB staff, local unions, trustees, students, community partners and beyond were consulted to develop the Halton-specific Director position profile.
HDSB Chair Andréa Grebenc said: “The Trustees of the Halton District School Board (HDSB) were impressed with, and grateful for, the strong show of interest and outstanding qualifications of the candidates who applied for the position of Director of Education.
“We are excited to welcome Curtis Ennis as the HDSB’s incoming Director. Curtis brings a wealth of knowledge gained through senior leadership roles in the Ontario education sector. He has diverse experiences that will be invaluable in building strong relationships with students, staff, families and community members, as the HDSB continues its journey to fulfilling the goals outlined in the 2020-2024 Multi-Year Strategic Plan, and providing outstanding opportunities for every student.”
While talking about the appointment, Ennis said: “I am truly honoured and excited to be joining the Halton District School Board as Director of Education.
“I am grateful to the Trustees for their confidence in me and I look forward to leading and learning with the students, staff, families and community partners of Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville in the years ahead. Leadership for me has always been about service and I am deeply committed to working with all staff and the Board to carry on the Halton tradition of excellence in education while being acutely mindful of those who have been historically underserved and have faced barriers to positive outcomes. Working collaboratively with students, staff, trustees and communities, I will be intentional and focused on ensuring the success and well-being of students of all identities in HDSB.”
