Two Staff Members Recognized with Grand Erie's Highest Honour

Wednesday, Jun 25, 2025
From left: Cindy Smith, Ted McCleister and Colleen Bater


From left:
Cindy Smith, Ted McCleister and Colleen Bater.


A secondary school teacher and the manager of business services for Grand Erie District School Board are this year's recipients of the Patti McCleister Memorial Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to leadership, camaraderie and realizing the board's vision of learning, leading and inspiring.

"Each of the recipients of the Patti McCleister Memorial Award exemplifies a remarkable commitment to guiding, supporting and advocating for learners, families and colleagues, building strong learning communities and departments to ensure the best outcomes for students," said JoAnna Roberto, Director of Education. "This award captures Patti's legacy in Grand Erie, which was one of strength, generosity and the ability to bring out the best in others."

On Monday night, Roberto, along with Patti McCleister's husband, Ted McCleister, Grand Erie's Board of Trustees and Senior Team, presented awards to Colleen Bator, educator at Delhi District Secondary School, and Cindy Smith, Grand Erie’s Senior Manager of Business Services.

"Both personally and professionally, Colleen is a tireless advocate for voices that aren't always heard," said Carly Vermeulen of Bator, her colleague at Delhi District Secondary School, whom she nominated for the award. "Her classroom is a place where everyone is welcomed, appreciated and celebrated, and she is a leader on staff for fostering this culture of inclusion."

Bator began her teaching career in Grand Erie 15 years ago at Delhi. As a geography teacher, her job is to open the doors of the wider world to her students, and over the years, she has accomplished this and much more. Colleen has led the way – and helped others lead the way – by guiding initiatives such as the Gay-Straight Alliance, Indigenous Student Association, the Green Extreme Team, and through her support of learners participating in the board-wide Student Senate. She inspires students and fellow educators alike, developing and sharing resources, tools and pathways so others can achieve and thrive.

"In her role as Senior Manager of Business Services, Cindy has continually demonstrated care, compassion and leadership, and become a pillar of support for the department, particularly during challenging times," said Raf Wyszynski, Superintendent of Business Services, who nominated Smith. "She has fostered stable, supportive environments that allowed others to grow and succeed, while improving processes and maintaining the highest standards of service."

In her position since 2013, Smith and her team have played an invaluable role behind the scenes of schools, ensuring processes run smoothly and every dollar is allocated prudently to have the maximum positive effect on learners. Over her tenure, she's faced pressures brought on by a global pandemic, which fundamentally changed the ways her department works, and more recently, supported staff members through navigating the transition of the team into a digitized era. She is set to retire this month.

Patti McCleister was Grand Erie’s Training and Development Officer, a valuable team member and an inspiration to many. She passed away in 2013 after facing cancer. The award is given annually to the staff member(s) or team who best exemplifies these traits. Recipients are nominated by their co-workers.

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