News Release Archive
EDUCATION/CULTURE--SUPERINTENDENT HIRED ------------------------------------------------------------ An Acadian educator and senior administrator, Rejean Sirois will be the superintendent of Nova Scotia's first Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial. Mr. Sirois, who was the unanimous choice of the six-member selection committee, begins work the first week in March. Now working as assistant superintendent of the Apalachia school board in Stephenville, Nfld., Mr. Sirois helped establish the first Francophone school-community centre, and now manages the French schools and the Sainte-Anne Community Centre. He has collaborated with the Atlantic Provinces Education Foundation in developing a French first-language program for Newfoundland, along with supervisory, budgeting, communication and management experience expected in a senior administrative position. He has taught in New Brunswick and Ontario, served as a municipal manager, managed and taught his own hockey school, and played professional hockey in France. Leon Richard, who chaired the selection committee and heads the implementation team for the new school board, said Mr. Sirois comes highly recommended. "Mr. Sirois is recognized as a tremendously hard worker, a team player and a leader," said Mr. Richard. "Combined with his energy and vision, these assets make Mr. Sirois ideal to lead Le Conseil." Mr. Richard also noted that Mr. Sirois implemented the computer network for the school board and is involved with distance education. "This knowledge and experience with technology will be essential in the operation of a provincial school board." Mr. Sirois holds a Bachelor of Education, Master of Public Administration and is completing his Master of Education at Universite de Moncton. He was also honoured as Volunteer of the Year in 1993 by the Rogersville Sports Association and has received a Universite de Moncton award for academic accomplishments. Mr. Richard's implementation team, which has been working on the structure and other issues related to the new board, will submit its report to the Minister of Education and Culture in the coming weeks. Once the plan is approved, Mr. Sirois will be responsible for implementation, leadership and operation of the new school board. Mr. Sirois was selected following a rigorous screening process, being used to hire all superintendents. Advertisements were placed nationally, applicants were short-listed and candidates were interviewed by a committee with representatives from Mr. Richard's implementation team and the Department of Education and Culture. Interview questions focused on leadership and management, operational management, communications and interpersonal skills, knowledge and background in educational and Acadian and Francophone issues, and personal and professional adaptiveness. -30- EDITORS NOTE: There is an accent aigu on the first "e" in Rejean and Leon, and on the second "e" in Universite. Contact: Donna MacDonald 902-424-2615 trp Jan. 19, 1996 - 1:01 p.m.