School board appoints new Director of Instruction – Human Resources

The Board of Education for the Central Okanagan School District is very pleased to announce the appointment of John Simonson to the position of Director of Instruction – Human Resources. Mr. Simonson is filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Ross Dumontet, the current Director of Instruction – Human Resources. Mr. Simonson is currently the District Principal of Human Resources and will be assuming his new position on July 1, 2013.

Mr. Simonson has worked in the Central Okanagan School District for the past 26 years as a teacher, Vice- Principal, Principal and, most recently, as the District Principal of Human Resources. As a secondary teacher, John received the Prime Minister’s Award of Teaching Excellence in Science, Technology, and Mathematics in 1994. His first administrative appointment was at George Pringle Secondary School. In 1996, John was assigned to Glenrosa Middle School where he served as Vice-Principal, and subsequently, Principal. In 2011, he was selected as one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals for his leadership at Constable Neil Bruce Middle School and Mount Boucherie Secondary School.

John and his wife, Ruby, have three daughters who have all graduated from Mount Boucherie Secondary School. At one time or another, John has had the pleasure of having all three of his daughters in one of his schools.

Chairperson for the Board of Education, Moyra Baxter, commented that “Mr. Simonson has been a well- respected and important member of the school district team for many years. The relationships he has formed, the commitment he has shown, and his experience in and knowledge of the Central Okanagan School District, will be invaluable as he takes on this new responsibility.”

In response to the news of his appointment, Mr. Simonson said, “I am excited about working with the District’s Human Resources Team to recruit, select, and support the development of our teaching and administrative staff to meet the needs of our students (K-12)”.