NEWS RELEASE
2022NRSD4608
April 14, 2022
SD46 Announces Educational Leadership Assignments for the 2022-2023 school year
SUNSHINE COAST, BRITISH COLUMBIA – School District 46 (SD46) is pleased to share the principal, vice-principal and district position assignments for the upcoming school year.
The changes for next year are:
- Desiree Harris will be vice-principal at Chatelech Secondary;
- Jeff Marshall will be vice-principal at Elphinstone Secondary, following Sue Bailey’s decision to return to teaching;
- Olwen Cowan will be principal at West Sechelt Elementary;
- Lia Cuccurullo will be principal at Cedar Grove Elementary; and
- Rae-dene Pednaud will be principal at Davis Bay Elementary, following Ursula Hardwick’s decision to return to teaching.
We welcome Desiree Harris to the leadership role of vice-principal at Chatelech Secondary! After completing her teaching degree in Surrey BC, Desiree moved to Shanghai, China where she taught at an A-Level International high school for three years. She then taught at the high school level in Perth, Australia for four years before returning to Canada where she taught at a high school in Langley for another four years. Desiree joined SD46 as a teacher in the Indigenous Education Learning Team, and has most recently been working as a vice-principal at Elphinstone Secondary. Desiree is very grateful to be able to work and live here on the traditional unceded territories of the shíshálh and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nations. Harris commented, “It has been such a pleasure to work with the Indigenous Education Team and the Elphinstone community this past school year. I am thrilled to be joining Chatelech Secondary next school year and I feel honoured to get to work and learn alongside the Chatelech community. I’m very excited to meet all the staff, students, and families!”
Jeff Marshall will be joining the leadership team at Elphinstone Secondary as vice-principal. Mr. Marshall has been principal at West Sechelt Elementary since 2019 and at Kinnikinnick Elementary before that. He has also been an elementary and secondary teacher at Kinnikinnick and Roberts Creek Elementary and Chatelech and Pender Harbour Secondary since 1999. He previously taught in First Nations schools in BC and Quebec. “I look forward to joining the team at Elphinstone and returning to my secondary school roots. I would like to thank the West Sechelt community who have been so generous in their support over the past four years. Collaborating to construct the school expansion has been one of the highlights of my career,” said Mr. Marshall.
Sue Bailey has been at Elphinstone Secondary since 2009. Most of that time she was a counsellor, but she has been the vice-principal since 2020 and has stepped into the role of principal since March of this year. Ms. Bailey will be returning to teaching next year and shared the following statement, “I have really loved Elphinstone Secondary and all the amazing students, staff, and families I have been able to work with all these years. While I’ve learned so much in my new role and have been grateful for this opportunity, I have realized that it’s not a fit for me. I know we’ll have an awesome finish to this year, and I’m so excited to return to counselling for next year.”
Before moving to the Coast with her family, Olwen Cowan worked in New Westminster and Burnaby Schools in a variety of roles: English language learning; inclusion support; head teacher; and classroom teacher. After completing her master’s degree in 2014, she guided teachers through their graduate studies at SFU. Olwen is particularly passionate about inclusion, equity, and learner engagement. Olwen has been the principal of Cedar Grove Elementary since 2019. Olwen commented, “Leading and learning with the Cedar Grove community has been a great source of joy and the school will forever have a special place in my heart. I am looking forward to joining the incredible West Sechelt team, learning their stories, and making connections with students, staff, and families.”
A warm welcome is extended to Lia Cuccurullo in her new leadership role as principal at Cedar Grove Elementary. Ms. Cuccurullo has taught overseas in Australia, Abu Dhabi and Italy. She has spent the last seven years teaching for the Vancouver School Board, where she is currently a vice-principal. “I am excited to have the opportunity to join the dynamic school district of the Sunshine Coast! My family has vacationed on the Coast for years and we have dreamed of making it our permanent home. We are thrilled to discover the rich, natural beauty and close-knit community of the Coast. I am eager to meet the students, staff and families of Cedar Grove school for a year of magnetic learning starting September 2022!” commented Ms. Cuccurullo.
Rae-dene Pednaud, currently vice-principal at Chatelech Secondary, will be taking on the role of principal at Davis Bay Elementary. Ms. Pednaud has had teaching positions at Pender Harbour Secondary and Chatelech Secondary prior to becoming vice-principal at Chatelech. Ms. Pednaud has educational and leadership experience working with the Ministry of Education on curriculum development, the Social Studies Provincial Specialist Association, and was a district curriculum leader and department head. She has a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, a certificate in English Language Learning, Teacher Librarian certification and is currently completing a Certificate in School Management and Leadership. Ms. Pednaud commented, “It has been a privilege to serve as vice-principal at Chatelech for the past three years and I will dearly miss the Chatelech staff, students and families. I am excited to assume the role of principal at Davis Bay Elementary. I am looking forward to learning, creating new relationships, and building on my commitment to student success, inclusive education and positive experiences for all students.”
Ursula Hardwick will be stepping away from the leadership role of principal at Davis Bay Elementary, where she has been since 2016. Ms. Hardwick has been with the district since 1996 when she began her journey in the role of educational assistant, and later as program instructor for reading and recreation summer programs and the Roots of Empathy Program and as a district elementary school counsellor. Ms. Hardwick shared the following sentiments, “It has been an honor and a privilege to work for School District 46 as part of the Leadership Team and especially as the principal at Davis Bay Elementary. I am proud of the work that we have done together as a learning community and I will miss being part of the potential that the ‘little school with a lot of heart’ holds. I hold a depth of fondness, respect and appreciation for my colleagues in leadership and for my school community. While it is difficult to step away from the leadership role, it is my hope to continue to reach and serve in a different capacity and I look forward to the opportunity.”
Superintendent Kate Kerr commented, “I am thrilled for the Davis Bay, West Sechelt, Cedar Grove, Elphinstone and Chatelech learning communities who will benefit from the superb leadership of these individuals. With the addition of Desiree Harris and Lia Cuccurullo, we will add further depth, energy and experience to the Educational Leadership Team. We wish Sue and Ursula all the best in their next pursuits and we are so fortunate that we are still going to benefit from their expertise and knowledge in other capacities. The Board and I are proud of the excellent leadership and support that our entire Educational Leadership Team provides our students, staff and community.”
ED LEADERSHIP TEAM: 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR
Superintendent of Schools: Kate Kerr
Director of Instruction for Human Resources & Secondary Programs: Paul Bishop
Director of Instruction for Inclusive Education: Christa Rive
Secretary-Treasurer: Nic Weswick
District Principal, Indigenous Learning: Kerry Mahlman
District Principal, Technology and Data Integration: Phil Luporini
District Principal, Learning and Innovation: Kirsten Deasey
Cedar Grove Elementary Principal: Lia Cuccurullo
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
Madeira Park Elementary Principal: Sandy Magnussen
Roberts Creek Elementary/SPIDER Elementary Principal: Duncan Knight
West Sechelt Elementary Principal: Olwen Cowan
Chatelech Secondary: Mark Sauer (PR), Desiree Harris (VP)
Elphinstone Secondary: John Brisebois (PR), Jeff Marshall (VP)
Pender Harbour Secondary Principal: Chris Lekakis
Sunshine Coast Alternative School/SPIDER Secondary Principal: Carolyn Spence
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Media Contact:
Stephanie Murawsky
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent | Communications Officer
T: (604) 886-4489 | C: (604) 989-7879