Chris Clegg
Spotlight
She has helped guild Northland School Division through some difficult times.
Now it’s time to call it a career.
After six years of service, Northland School Division’s Supt. of Schools Donna Barrett announced April 23, she plans to retire at the conclusion of the 2015-16 school year.
“My last six years have been a wonderful learning and working experience and I am so grateful to have been part of the Northland family,” says Barrett.
“However, I feel it is time for me to step aside and provide the division with the opportunity to select a new leader for the upcoming school year and to lead the Division in future years. I will truly miss Northland School Division and all the wonderful people and communities associated with it.”
In her tenure with Northland, Barrett successfully supported the implementation of several initiatives, including a division-wide literacy framework, an attendance improvement focus and a strategic plan to strengthen land-based learning in school communities.
Since she joined Northland in 2010, the division has developed educational partnerships with organizations such as Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council and Sustainable Communities Initiative. These partnerships help create more learning opportunities with an indigenous lens.
Colin Kelly, official trustee, expressed what many are feeling with the news.
“Donna has provided this jurisdiction with six years of high energy and dedicated service always with the expressed intent and goal of student achievement and community involvement. We wish her all the best in her retirement and expect that she will remain an active supporter of Northland School Division, its communities and their chosen educational direction.”