The local English Catholic school board has decided on its next director of education.
The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board announced at its trustees' meeting on Tuesday night its appointment of Emelda Byrne to the post. Byrne will succeed Terry Lyons, who earlier announced his retirement after 32 years in education.
Byrne will be the first female director of education in the board's history.
"I’m humbled and honoured that our trustees have the confidence in me to assume this position," said Byrne in a media release. "We have an excellent team that has managed the past year’s uncertainties exceptionally well. We'll continue to guide our way through this in the best interests of our students, their families and our staff, and will look forward to the day when things start returning to normal."
Byrne began her education career in 1987 as a teacher with the Simcoe-Muskoka Catholic District School Board, before moving to the WECDSB the following year. She had been a teacher in every division and served as a vice-principal at the former St. Bernard Catholic Elementary School. She was then a principal at St. Maria Goretti, St. Pius X, and St. John the Baptist Catholic Elementary Schools.
Since 2007, Byrne had worked in administration, as a supervising principal, superintendent, executive Superintendent and most recently, Associate Director of Education. Board chairman Fulvio Valentinis said the decision to name Byrne was an easy one.
"Time and again she has shown her commitment to Catholic education, her dedication to the betterment of our students and their families, and her tremendous leadership abilities," said Valentinis. "She continues to inspire us with her tireless work ethic, her professionalism and poise, her faith, and her passion for lifelong learning. She's been with us all the way and we have the greatest confidence that she’s going to be an extremely effective director."
Byrne will begin her new job on August 1.