The Leader - 26/11/2025

Regular Meeting of the Board

November 24, 2025 

All reports for this meeting can be found HERE.

Brian Doyle Elected Chair, Susan Gibson Elected Vice-Chair 

 

Newly elected Chair Brian Doyle

 

The Board of Trustees elected Brian Doyle as the Chair of the Grand Erie District School Board during the annual Board Nomination and Organization meeting held on Monday, November 24. Susan Gibson was elected as Vice-Chair of the Board. Representing the County of Haldimand, Doyle brings experience and a commitment to public education as he enters his 20th year as a Trustee with Grand Erie, having first been elected in 2006. Doyle has served in several key roles including Chair of the Finance Committee and four one-year terms as Vice-Chair of the Board. Gibson was first elected to the Board in 2018 and brings a passion to public education to help others and support student success. Gibson represents the City of Brantford, and was Chair of the Board for the last four years.

 

 

Learn Lead Inspire Award

The Learn Lead Inspire award celebrates students, staff members and volunteers who have made outstanding contributions and shown steadfast commitment to their school communities, aligning with the Board’s mission to build a culture of learning, well-being and belonging to inspire each learner.

Christopher Bailey and Robin Perry, Onondaga-Brant Public School 


At Onondaga-Brant Public School, the passion and leadership of two exceptional educators embodies the spirit of the Learn Lead Inspire award. Robin Perry, a core French teacher who consistently goes above and beyond the curriculum, creates a learning environment that is uplifting and inclusive. Her innovative teaching practices, deep commitment to student success and active involvement in extracurricular activities have made a lasting impact on everyone around her, students and colleagues alike. Equally inspiring is Christopher Bailey, whose visionary leadership in educational technology has revolutionized learning at Onondaga-Brant Public School. His commitment to integrating digital tools into daily instruction ensures students are not only engaged but equipped with the skills they need for a rapidly evolving world. His leadership extends far beyond the classroom as he champions key school initiatives and coaches multiple sports, motivating students and staff through his dedication. 

 

 


Student Trustees Attend OSTS-AECO Meeting 

 

Student Trustees Prabhsidak Singh, Ryleigh Staats and Harper Thompson attended the Ontario Student Trustees' Association Fall General Meeting. The conference provided valuable opportunities for the Student Trustees to network with peers from across the province, engage with keynote speakers and participate in a range of professional development workshops. The conference strengthened the Student Trustees' collective understanding of provincial educational issues while also enhancing their skills and confidence as trustees, further preparing them to represent the voice of learners across Grand Erie most effectively.

 


Director’s Annual Report: Excellence in Motion  

 

 

The Director’s Annual Report showcases some of the achievements, milestones and highlights from the previous school year, and provides an update on the Board’s progress working toward learning, well-being and belonging goals. The full report is featured here.  

Director’s Report Highlights

Events Connect Learners to Secondary Opportunities  

In late October, Grand Erie hosted its first Grand Pathways events, connecting learners and families to secondary options and possibilities beyond high school. This month, Future Grade 9 Information Nights take place at each secondary school, helping ease the transition from elementary to secondary. High schools are also hosting Grade 8 student visits this month, inviting future secondary students to experience programming and offerings through a variety of hands-on activities.  


PROSE Writing Team Recognized with OJEN Award    

The Police Resource Outreach Supporting Education (PROSE) writing team has been named the 2025 recipient of the Ontario Justice Education Network’s (OJEN) Chief Justices’ Award in recognition of the success to build trust, understanding, and positive relationships between students, schools, and police.

 

 

 

Police officers, Chief Justices and PROSE writing team

Conestoga, Grand Erie Celebrate Tollgate Grand Opening    

Community partners and supporters joined representatives from Conestoga College and Grand Erie on October 27 at Tollgate Technical Skills Centre in Brantford to mark the official grand opening of the province's first College-Within-a-School program. Through a licensed agreement between Grand Erie and Conestoga, the college is renovating TTSC, incorporating technology and resources to offer an even broader range of programming and hands-on practical training to a growing Brantford/Brant County community.

 


YMCA Peace Medal Presented to PJ’s Indigenous Student Association 

Each year, the YMCA Peace Medal is presented to individuals or groups who, without any special resources, demonstrate a commitment to the values of peace. On November 18, Pauline Johnson Collegiate and Vocational School’s Indigenous Student Association received this year’s Peace Medal, youth category, for outstanding efforts fostering cultural sharing and community connection, and commitments to truth and reconciliation.  


Grand Erie Educator Wins Parent’s Choice Award     

Kay Donnelly, an early childhood educator at River Heights School, is this year’s recipient of the Parent’s Choice award in the DECE category. The award was presented earlier this month by Kids Can Fly Brantford/Brant.  

 

 

 

 

Kay Donnelly

In Memoriam    

A statement was read to honour Rob Petrella, ITS technician of 30 years with Grand Erie. Our deepest sympathies go out to Rob’s family, friends and colleagues. 

 


Multi-Year Plan Stories

At the centre of Grand Erie’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan is the vision to Learn, Lead and Inspire, and a mission to build a culture of Learning, Well-Being and Belonging for each learner. The following stories showcase some of the success happening across Grand Erie:

Learning
Well-Being
Belonging