NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
2023NRSD4601
June 15, 2023
SD46 Announces Updates to Educational Leadership Team for 2023-2024 School Year
SUNSHINE COAST, BRITISH COLUMBIA – School District 46 (SD46) is pleased to announce updates to our Education Leadership Team, as well as changes to our principals and vice-principals’ assignments for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. These changes are part of our ongoing efforts to provide the best possible educational experience for our students.
We are pleased to welcome two new members to our Education Leadership Team.
Cedar Grove Elementary: Jennifer MacInnes will be joining us as the principal of Cedar Grove Elementary from September to December 2023. In January 2024, Lia Cuccurullo, who is currently on maternity leave, will return and resume her role as principal. We would like to thank James Sadler for his leadership as the principal of Cedar Grove Elementary throughout the previous year of Cuccurullo’s maternity leave.
Madeira Park Elementary: Nicole Zilkie will be joining us as the new principal of Madeira Park Elementary. Sandy Magnussen is taking a leave and will step away from her role at Madeira Park Elementary. We sincerely thank Sandy for her dedicated service, wish her all the best during her leave and look forward to her rejoining the team in a new leadership capacity.
We are thrilled to have both Jennifer and Nicole on-board and look forward to the contributions they will make to our district.
Jennifer MacInnes brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for education that we know will greatly benefit the Cedar Grove community. She has worked overseas and with SD46 for the past 18 years in classrooms from K-12, teaching a breadth of subject areas. With Jennifer’s fine arts and performance background, she has offered Sunshine Coast students numerous experiential learning opportunities through plays, international travel, concert bands, choirs, and much more. Jennifer has also been recognized by the University of Aberdeen for her adoption of mindfulness practices embedded within the classroom. Expressing her enthusiasm, MacInnes stated, “I love our Cedar Grove community and it is an honour and privilege to be taking on this interim leadership position in the very elementary school that I attended as a child! I look forward to seeing all the familiar and new faces in the fall and ensuring the soul of the school is cared for pending Lia Cuccurullo’s return.”
Nicole Zilkie’s inspiring leadership and educational experience are sure to be great assets to the Madeira Park community. She joined the Sunshine Coast School District in 2018 after 12 years with the Burnaby School district. There Nicole worked in various positions, including Alternative Education, Elementary Classroom Teacher, Literacy Teacher, Resource Teacher and Department Head of Learning Support. For the past five years, Nicole has been an Inclusion Support Teacher at Gibsons Elementary where she has been in the role of Lead Teacher for the past school year. “Growing up in a town of 1000 people, I believe that schools are the heart of small communities,” shared Zilkie. “I look forward to supporting the incredible work of the Madeira Park school team and to serving the community as a whole. “
Phil Luporini is retiring from his current position as district principal of technology and data integration. We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Phil for his dedication and hard work during his tenure with us, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours. Based on the needs and expertise required for the role, we are in the process of hiring a Manager of Technology.
In addition, we would like to confirm the returning principals and vice-principals for the upcoming school year:
- Indigenous Learning Department: District Principal of Indigenous Learning Kerry Mahlman
- Learning, Innovation & Child Care Department: District Principal of Learning, Innovation & Child Care Kirsten Deasey and District Vice-Principal of Learning and Innovation Desiree Harris
- Davis Bay Elementary: Principal Rae-dene Pednaud
- Gibsons Elementary: Principal Lynda Brisebois
- Halfmoon Bay Elementary: Principal Glen Smith
- Kinnikinnick Elementary: Principal Bernadette Marie
- Langdale Elementary: Principal Jenny Groves
- Roberts Creek Elementary/SPIDER Elementary: Principal Duncan Knight
- West Sechelt Elementary: Principal Olwen Cowan
- Chatelech Secondary: Principal Mark Sauer and Vice-Principal Paula Stroshein-Martinez
- Elphinstone Secondary: Principal John Brisebois and Vice-Principal Jeff Marshall
- Pender Harbour Elementary/Secondary: Principal Chris Lekakis
- Sunshine Coast Alternative School/SPIDER Secondary/Continuing Education: Principal Carolyn Spence
We believe that these changes will help us continue to provide an outstanding educational experience for our students, and we are confident that our new and returning principals and vice-principals will work with unwavering commitment and energy to support the staff, students, families, and learning community of School District 46 – Sunshine Coast.
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Media Contact:
Stephanie Murawsky
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent | Communications Officer
T: (604) 886-4489 | C: (604) 989-7879