JoAnna Roberto Named Grand Erie District School Board’s New Director of Education

Grand Erie’s Board of Trustees has selected the system’s new leader – a champion to build on the goal of Success for Every Student, and an advocate for students and staff. JoAnna Roberto begins her new role as Director of Education on August 1.

“JoAnna is a compassionate and collaborative leader who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with her,” said Board Chair Greg Anderson. “Her focus on building relationships with staff and students as a way to boost confidence and increase overall achievement and well-being aligns nicely with our Multi-Year Plan and its focus on Success for Every Student. JoAnna will be a great leader for Grand Erie as we work together to serve the needs of our students, our staff, and our school communities.”

Roberto moves to Grand Erie following eight years as a Superintendent of Education at the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN). As Superintendent of Curriculum and Student Achievement, she was responsible for the learning agenda and Information Technology in a district serving 36,000 students. She was also responsible for the math strategy, Indigenous Education, French Immersion, Early Years, International Education, and English as a Second Language.

“I’m grateful for this opportunity to join Grand Erie, and to continue its valued tradition of focusing on well-being and Success for Every Student,” said Roberto, who was appointed Director at a Special Board Meeting last night. “I look forward to collaborating with Trustees and the Senior Administration Team, principals, vice-principals, teachers, support staff and families within all of our school communities. In particular, I look forward to reaching out and offering my friendship to Grand Erie’s First Nations community members – Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.”

Roberto’s portfolio at DSBN’s also featured the Board Improvement Plan for Student Achievement, where she led the development and implementation of staff and student growth. She was part of the strategic planning team with Trustees, creating DSBN’s 2015-20 Renewed Strategic Plan.

“My goal is to inspire learning, innovation, equity and serve the community by modelling leadership with a sense of pride, compassion, hope and my own lived experiences. Student achievement will be at the core of everything we do, and the system grows when it is supportive of all educators and staff. Continuing a strong culture of learning with high expectations at all levels will ensure our decisions positively impact student improvement.”

Roberto began her career in education in 1997 as an elementary teacher with the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board. She then returned to her hometown of Niagara Falls where she worked in a number of roles for DSBN including teacher, vice-principal, principal, and superintendent of education.

Roberto, whose parents and grandparents emigrated from Italy, credits a lot of her success to her tight-knit family. She graduated from Niagara University with both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education Degree in 1997, before earning her Master of Educational Administration and Supervision – also from Niagara – in 2001. Roberto is currently completing her Ph.D. in Niagara University’s Leadership and Policy program.

Roberto succeeds Brenda Blancher, who has served as Grand Erie’s Director of Education since 2015. Blancher announced her retirement in January and leaves the Board after nearly 35 years in education. Blancher was celebrated by Trustees on Monday night as she made her final Regular Board Meeting appearance.

Grand Erie District School Board represents more than 18,000 students in 58 elementary schools and 7,700 students in 14 secondary schools within the City of Brantford and the Counties of Brant, Haldimand, and Norfolk as well as secondary students from Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

Photos by Grand Erie Communications

Get Out / Get Active - Colour House Event at Mohawk Park

The whole school participated in our Get Out/Get Active day on Monday, April 24th at Mohawk Park. Students played together in multi-grade Colour House groups as they rotated through 6 stations (scavenger hunt, parachute games, obstacle course, mural painting, play structure and snack). The weather was perfect for some exercise, team building, and co-operative learning.

Pink Shirt Day - February 22, 2017

The students of Echo Place School participated in several activities last month to educate and inspire our students to stand up against bullying and create a welcome, inclusive and safe school environment. Classes worked together to create posters that are now proudly displayed in our hallways.

They also worked in Colour House groups to create a welcome tree at our front entrance. Each student traced their handprint on coloured paper and wrote how they make this school a safe and kind place for everyone. On February 22, our school participated in Pink Shirt Day and classes presented stories and pledges at our school assembly, to share their understanding of the impact that bullying has, and why we will stand up against it.

The Amazing Math Race

On Tuesday, November 29th several families gathered in the gym to participate in our first Amazing Math Race.

Each family was given a passport and travelled from room to room solving fun math challenges. Each page of the passport was given a stamp when the challenge in that room was completed. When the passports were filled, the families returned to the gym for their prizes.

Everyone enjoyed cake, juice and coffee and all families received valuable resources to support their child's math learning at home. It was a great event.

Echo Place News for October 28, 2016

By Mr. Roberts Grade 6/7 class

Click to View the Echo Place News Report

Missing – Sound system

The sound system we use at assemblies for our microphone and to amplify our slide shows has gone missing from the stage area in our gym. The last time it was used was at our last assembly, on Sept. 30th. We have looked high and low, but have be unable to locate our system. It consists of a large amplifier, with multiple knobs and two large speakers. It is a Fender Passport 150 Pro. We are hopeful that if this system has been take out of the school, someone will spot it and let us know. The staff and students are all very sad that our only system has gone missing.

If you have any information about our sound system, please call 905-753-2931

Let's Chalk!

Echo Place Students participate in Let's Chalk Event

Friendship Bench

Our Friendship Bench is created in memory of Mrs. Linington and Mrs. Kauk, who were friends to everyone at Echo Place. This bench will be placed outside in our school yard, and will be used as a place for children to go when they need a friend. Several students from each classroom helped decorate the bench by supplying their painted handprints.

Golden Dustpan Award

At the end of each month, Ms. Reading (Custodian) will award the cleanest classroom with the Golden Dustpan Award. This month, Ms. Mancini and Mrs. Grandpre's JK/SK class was the winner. They will proudly display their trophy in the classroom for the following month.

At the end of the school year, the classroom that won the Golden Dustpan the most times will win a special surprise.

"We Believe In Clean"

September 2016 Golden Dustpan Award Winner: Mrs. Wainwright's Grade 4/5 Class (below)

February 2016 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Ms Mancini (in for Mrs. Springett) and Mrs. Grandpre's JK/SK Class (below)

January 2016 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Mrs. Mussi's Grade 1 class (below)

December 2015 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Mrs. Woodley's Grade 2 class (below)

November 2015 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Mrs. Springett and Mrs. Grandpre's JK/SK class (below)

October 2015 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Ms. Barrett's JK/SK class (below)

September 2015 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Mrs. Mussi's Grade 1 class (below)