Presentations
Director’s recognition for innovation and leadership
Innovation is the practice of developing and implementing new and relevant services or systems. Leadership is a set of behaviours used to help people align collective directions, execute strategic plans, and continually renew and improve an organization.
The new Director’s Recognition for Innovation and Leadership Award celebrates individuals in our system who have combined the characteristics of innovation and leadership to improve our system and advance the strategic direction goals of improving student learning and achievement, and fostering student and staff well-being. The award will be presented by the director of education, Wes Hahn, at each Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) Public Meeting of the Board. Hahn introduced this month’s recipient:
Cybersecurity and network infrastructure manager, Dwayne Raglin, has led a small team of dedicated individuals through a thorough review of board cybersecurity practices and the implementation of innovative solutions. Raglin’s innovation and leadership has contributed to the establishment of a learning and working environment which is safe, equitable, and open to all, and also promotes excellence in learning outcomes for our students.
CACE 2023 BRAVO! Award
Hahn recognized three individuals with a Canadian Association of Communicators in Education (CACE) BRAVO! Award, which recognizes and honours exemplary work in all aspects of marketing and engagement, communications, and school public relations each year. CACE is the only Canada-wide awards program specifically designed to recognize excellence in school board communications.
TLDSB put its work forward in the Communications Project category. Communications projects are full, complete projects that have a comprehensive, strategic communications plan with clear evidence of objective project/program evaluation. On October 29, TLDSB was presented with an Award of Distinction at the 2023 BRAVO! Awards Gala on October 29.
Congratulations to communications manager, Carolynne Bull, communications officer, Sinead Fegan, and e-learning design technician, Bryce Huskilson, for all your hard work!
Director’s report
Hahn provided an update to trustees that highlighted the recent achievements and work currently being done across the system to support the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan, including results from the annual parent/guardians fall survey, the creation of mental health champions in every TLDSB school, as well as the recent work of the G7 Student Senate who will be creating supports for student mental health.
Each of the superintendents of learning shared data from their 2022-2023 focus schools with trustees. Focus schools are identified schools where the administrator and superintendent explore advances that can be made at the school level. The superintendent works alongside the administration and teachers to look at their school data and provide suggestions and resources that they can use to advance student achievement at their school.
Acting associate superintendent of learning, Tanya Fraser, shared the Mental Health and Addiction Strategy, which focuses on five areas:
- Caring conditions for learning
- Social emotional learning skills
- Mental health knowledge
- Mental health support
- Strong service pathways
Fraser also noted that there was a shift last school year from student success and attendance counsellors (SSACs) to mental health counsellors last school year, as well as the implementation of a multi-tiered system of support.
Superintendent of Business Services, Tim Ellis, shared updates from Business Services such as the modification in school budgets to reflect local need, carbon neutral changes that have been made, and the opening of the child care centre at Glen Orchard Public School.
Superintendent of Human Resources Services, Traci Hubbert, provided trustees with some highlights from the department that included the work done to reach union agreements and ensuring there are staff in schools to support our system in times of high staff absenteeism.
Administrative report
Superintendent of learning, Jay MacJanet, presented trustees with the Math Achievement Action Plan – a directive that has come from the Ministry of Education Bill 98, Better Schools and Students Outcomes Act, 2023. MacJanet highlighted the three priorities:
- Ensuring fidelity of curriculum implementation, including the intentional use of proven strategies that support academic math achievement
- Engaging in ongoing leaning on math content knowledge for teaching
- Knowing the math learner, and ensuring math tasks and interventions, and supports are relevant and responsive
MacJanet highlighted the strategies already in place at elementary schools to support this plan, as well as alignment with the current TLDSB numeracy plan.
2023 Board meeting schedule
Board meetings are open to the public to attend at the host location in-person. For virtual access, the meetings are live-streamed and the link is made available on the tldsb.ca website on the day of the meeting.
| Meeting | Date | Time | Location |
| Organizational Meeting of the Board | December 5, 2023 | 6 p.m. | Muskoka Education Centre (MEC) |
The schedule for 2024 meetings will be approved at the December 5, Annual Organizational Meeting of the Board.
