York Region school board’s new director is known as a ‘really good learner’
Louise Sirisko, a former Peel Region school superintendent, is known for work in equity, inclusion, says Minister of Education Mitzie Hunter

TheStar.com
Nov. 27, 2017
Kristin Rushowy and Noor Javed

The embattled York Region school board has appointed a new director — a special education expert described as someone willing to listen, and learn. And after a tumultuous two years, that’s exactly what it needs, say fellow educators.

Louise Sirisko, who is currently with the Ministry of Education, starts her role in the new year.

“We’re so pleased to have such an outstanding, equity-minded educator joining us,” said chair Loralea Carruthers. “We are optimistic about the future of the board.”

Sirisko, a former Peel public board superintendent, said in a statement that she will “continue the focus on building relationships within our communities and earn trust and support for our collective vision. Working together, we will strengthen public confidence in the board through a student-centred commitment to engagement, achievement, well-being and equity.”

Her appointment comes just months after a damning Education Ministry report found parents and staff expressed “feelings of alienation, marginalization and discrimination” under the previous leadership. It also reported on a number of incidents where the board failed to effectively deal with instances of racism, discrimination and transparency.

The reviewers spoke to hundreds of people as part of their probe. Following that, trustees dismissed director J. Philip Parappally, who was harshly criticized for his dealings with staff and parents.

Minister of Education Mitzie Hunter — who called York’s problems “severe” — then issued 22 orders to staff and trustees, including a directive to “rebuild trust” and better engage with parents and the community, as well as overhaul the director selection process.

Former colleagues say Sirisko took on the challenge, seeing an opportunity to usher in change, and believe she is a good fit for the York Region District School Board.

“She is a very balanced person — and by that I mean she loves her work and she loves education and she loves to work hard, but she also has a strong commitment to her family and to her own physical well-being, which is so important in leadership,” said recently retired Peel District School Board director Tony Pontes, who worked with Sirisko for a decade.

“She’s a really good learner — she likes to ask for a lot of advice, and she’s not afraid to ask for advice. She’s not afraid to say she doesn’t know it all. And her deep background in special education, and as a champion for equity, will put her in good stead at York.”

Sirisko has been working at the ministry for about three years, where she is director of the special education policy and program branch. In Peel, she was head of special education and also an elementary school superintendent.

She began teaching in 1990, in Peel. She has a bachelor of arts degree in English and history from the University of Toronto, and an education degree from York. She has a master’s in education/business administration from Brock.

Her experience at another large, urban board, as well as her time with the ministry gives her “a wealth of knowledge and experience” to the position, added Carruthers.

After Parappally’s departure, the board appointed retired Simcoe County director Kathi Wallace. She leaves at the end of the month, and an acting director will take her place until Sirisko arrives.

Hunter, who has worked alongside Sirisko at the ministry, lauded her “leadership style that focuses on bringing people together with a strong understanding of the importance of equity and inclusion for all.”

“I know that with Louise’s new leadership, (the York board) will continue to work together and with the ministry toward a shared goal of promoting public confidence, equity and inclusion for those within the board and in the surrounding community.”

“I am confident that her experience at the Ministry of Education and the Peel District School Board will support her in this role as the YRDSB continues to address the directives and restore public confidence in the board,” Hunter also said.

Brian Woodland, who recently retired as head of communications in Peel, said Sirisko’s area of expertise goes beyond special education into curriculum with a “a deeper understanding of the success of students, especially the most vulnerable students.”

At Peel, she began to look at how teaching assistants were deployed, asking “is there a better way? … In all of that, she would always come with data, always bring perspective and ideas, and have a process where all voices were heard. She came back with a solid plan.”

He described her as smart, funny, and said “she wears her heart on her sleeve as a leader. She is open, and intuitive.”

And, he added, “I would have always trusted her with information — personal or professional.”

Pontes said under Sirisko’s leadership, the Peel board moved toward better integration of students with special needs, which was difficult work.

Sirisko is a mother of three, and comes from a close-knit family — her mother-in-law, who is 80-plus years old, “still volunteers at the grandchildren’s elementary school — even though they are long gone. Hawthorne school — she’s there once a week and she’s incredible.”

Pontes said his advice to her would “be to take it slowly; there is nothing she needs to do tomorrow. What she needs to do is build a confidence of the system in her, and to really understand what the needs of the system are. So when she starts those things moving, or picks up on what Kathi has been doing, she’ll be doing it from a base of informed and first-hand knowledge.

“The most important thing, clearly she is going to have to be out there with schools and with principals, and her senior team, which is critical, and trustees. The parent community is going to want to meet her and get to know her. That kind of foundation will pay off dividends for her down the road.”

The York board has more than 123,000 students and is the third largest in Ontario.