Statement on behalf of the Grand Erie District School Board Senior Administration Team and Board of Trustees – Death of Dawn Tanner, Hagersville Secondary School:

It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the death of Dawn Tanner, Department Head for Special Education at Hagersville Secondary School. Dawn was one of 18 Canadians who died in the Ethiopian Airlines crash on Sunday (March 10) that was headed to Nairobi, Kenya.

Dawn was a member of the Hagersville Secondary School team since 2005 and touched the lives of many during her career as an educator. At the school, Dawn served as a Learning Resource Teacher, was part of the Safe and Inclusive Schools Team Committee, and was a champion for all students. Prior to becoming Department Head, Dawn was the Dual Credit and School Within a College (SWAC) Program Liaison and Coordinator with the Alternative Education Program.

In addition to her role at Hagersville Secondary, Dawn worked a couple of evenings a week as a homework support person at the Six Nations Polytechnic Homework Support Centre. She had aspirations of becoming an administrator and was currently taking her Principal Qualifications Course. Before joining Grand Erie, Dawn taught at JC Hill Elementary School on Six Nations of the Grand River.

We would like to express our deepest sympathies to Dawn’s family, her friends and everyone connected to this tragic loss. Dawn will be deeply missed and this sudden loss is being felt across our Board. At her family’s request, Grand Erie waited until this morning to provide comment on the news of Dawn’s death.

When classes resume following March Break, counsellors and supports for students and staff impacted by this news will be onsite at Hagersville Secondary. All flags across Grand Erie District School Board will be lowered today in Dawn’s honour.