MAPLE RIDGE, BC, September 29, 2014 – The Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows Board of Education has appointed Sylvia Russell as the district’s new superintendent and CEO, effective November 17, 2014.
“We are very happy to announce that Sylvia Russell has agreed to join us as the new superintendent of schools,” said Board Chair, Mike Murray. “Sylvia is a strong and visionary leader with significant depth and breadth of experience in public education. She will be an outstanding leader for our district.”
Russell spent 17 years with the Maple Ridge –Pitt Meadows school district in roles that ranged from principal and vice principal to director of personnel and assistant superintendent. Since 2005, she has served as assistant superintendent of schools with the Coquitlam school district. Her impressive portfolio in that role included the supervision of all secondary schools, 13 elementary and middle schools, and distributed learning.
“I am delighted to return to the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District and am honoured that the Board of Education has asked me to undertake the role of Superintendent of Schools,” Russell said. “I have watched the progress of the school district over the past nine years with a sense of admiration and support for all that has been undertaken. Knowing many of the teachers, support staff, administrators, managers and district staff in the school district, it has not been a surprise to see the district develop innovative programs, leading-edge student assessment and evaluation practices, strong graduation rates and interesting applications of digital tools. The school district has always had a very strong, forward-thinking and committed staff, a wonderful student population and a supportive parent community, and I am very pleased to have the opportunity to engage with the school district and the school communities as the new superintendent.”