Current Superintendent of Schools for the Saanich School District Nancy Macdonald has announced her retirement.
Macdonald, who has been a member of the District’s leadership team for the last eight years, made the decision recently after it was announced former superintendent Keven Elder would return to the District from his secondment to the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association.
“It was really just the right time for me,” said Macdonald in an interview with the PNR.
“I had been thinking about a retirement date for a while now and in the back of my mind I was contemplating six more months of work. With Keven’s return it just ended up working out,” she said.
Macdonald, who worked as assistant superintendent since 2006, has been the District’s superintendent since May of last year. Prior to 2006, she was principal of Gulf Islands Secondary School on Saltspring Island.
“In her role as assistant superintendent, Nancy was instrumental in the continual improvement of student achievement and graduation results in the District,” said a press release from the District.
“[Her] collegial and supportive manner has successfully helped to build relationships within the district as well as with post-secondary partners.”
Macdonald said she is looking forward to retirement but may still dabble in the field of education once she’s taken some time off.
“I don’t have any concrete plans yet but I’ve been in education for 30 years so it will be really hard for me to do nothing,” she laughed, adding she might engage in some contract-type work in the education area eventually.
“For now I’m so pleased with the executive team here including Mark Fraser and Scott Stinson who are already doing a fabulous job. I know the District is in good hands.”
Macdonald’s last day with the District is July 31. Elder takes over on Aug. 1.
reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com