Canadian School Boards Association (CSBA):
Floyd Martens – President
Floyd obtained his Diploma in Theology from Horizon College and has served as a pastor in Manitoba for more than 25 years. He has served in Church District Leadership, as well as on the Board of Directors for Horizon College.
He has been a locally elected school trustee for 25 years, where he served for many years as Chair or Vice Chair of the Board. He has served on the Manitoba School Boards Association as a Regional Director, Vice-President, President and currently serves as the Past President on the Executive.
Floyd has also published 3 children’s books and writes a weekly blog on faith. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, sports, playing golf and writing. He lives in Roblin, Manitoba with his wife Angela and has three adult daughters
Goronwy Price – Vice-President, CSBA
(President, Newfoundland and Labrador School Boards Association)
Goronwy has volunteered in the education system for 23 years, 12 as a trustee and 11 on school councils. Born in Nigeria, his father was a surgeon who brought his family to Labrador in the sixties. He obtained undergraduate degrees in Education and Physical Education. He later became the Regional Director for Tourism, Culture and Recreation for the province in Labrador, and worked extensively with all communities in the region. He now manages the Goose Bay Airport. His athletic accomplishments include competing at the national level in both the UK and Canada in the sport of fencing and has been Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincial Canada games coach for five sets of games. Goronwy has been on the Board of Directors at CSBA for 4 years, and became Vice President July 2016. He has three girls, a teacher, an engineer and a red sealed heavy equipment technician. Goronwy lives in Happy Valley-Goose Bay with his wife Corenia.
Valerie McLeod, Executive Director
Valerie spent the first years of her career in Tourism Management, working in Sales, Marketing and Operations. This led her into Event Management where she specialized in Project Management, Business Development and Sponsorship for large scale international medical conferences. She then started her own company, consulting in Event Management, Administration and Media Production with both corporations and non-profit organizations who support families with children in critical or chronic care. Before joining CSBA as Executive Director, she served on the board and as Executive Director of the South Shore Association for the Intellectually Disabled, (SSAIH). She has two adult sons, two adult stepchildren and four grandchildren.
Eddy Rousseau, Research Coordinator
Newfoundland and Labrador School Boards Association (NLSBA):
Brian Shortall, Executive Director
Brian was appointed Executive Director / CEO of the Newfoundland and Labrador School Boards Association in September 2004. Since 1969, he has served as a junior and senior high school teacher, high school principal, School District Superintendent and Director of Education for the Avalon East School Board.
He was President of the Newfoundland Teachers’ Association, President of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation and chaired the Canadian Teachers International Development Assistance Program for two years. He has also been a Director of the Canadian Education Association and was an active participant in the Canadian Association of School Administrators. Some of the awards that have recognized Brian’s accomplishments and contributions to education include; the Newfoundland & Labrador School Boards Association Education Award, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation Special Recognition Award for Meritorious Service, and most recently, Life Honorary Membership in the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers Association.
Brian has an extensive background in school district leadership, educational change and organizational development. He is also a member with Education Research & Development Corp. (ERDI), an educational organization enabling forums between Corporate Partner companies delivering programs, services and products to the learners and staff in the schools of Canada. Brian is a graduate of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Ottawa University. He has been married to Claudia (who he insists is definitely his“Better Half” for 46 years, and they are the proud parents of 3 and grandparents of 7 grandchildren.
Nova Scotia School Boards Association (NSSBA):
Hank Middleton, President
President of the NSSBA since 2016, Hank grew up in Richmond County on Cape Breton Island, and spent 33 years as a teacher and administrator in Nova Scotia. He sits as conseiller scolaire de la Rive-Sud on the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial and is active on the Public Relations Committee to encourage curriculum reform and student options. His personal goal is to encourage curriculum reform and student options at the middle school level and to promote and maintain arts culture.
Active in his community, Hank has been the Vice President of the Regional Habitat for Humanity board, a member of the Lunenburg County Historical Society, organizer for the “Fête de cuisine acadienne” and the “Festival Acadien-Mi’kmaq” and is now involved in activities for “la Fête nationale des Acadiens”. He was recognized for his volunteerism by the Province of Nova Scotia in 2011. In his spare time, Hank is a musician, composer and playwright, and lives with his wife Beth in Bridgewater.
Nancy Pynch-Worthylake, Executive Director
Nancy brought over 25 years of experience as an education leader and administrator to the NSSBA when she became Executive Director in January 2015. She has served as Superintendent of Schools, Director of Programs and Student Services, and Assistant Director for Human Resources. She has worked with the Annapolis Valley Regional and the South Shore Regional School Boards and has served on numerous NSSBA committees and initiatives. She was the Senior Executive Director of Public Schools with the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
Nancy’s extensive experience includes facilitation and planning, leadership in interagency initiatives, chairing of regional, provincial and national committees, and teaching at the university level. Her formal education includes two undergraduate degrees, two masters degrees, and doctoral studies in leadership development. She is fluent in French and English. Nancy lives in the Annapolis Valley with her husband Michael.
Fédération des commissions scolaires du Québec:
Alain Fortier, Président
Bio TBA
Christiane Barbe
Bio TBA
Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA)
Jennifer Maccarone, President
Jennifer has been a trustee since November 2014, is Chair of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board in Montreal and President of the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) since October 2015. She was previously Chairperson of the Special Needs and Central Parents Committees, as well as Governing Board Chair. As President of QESBA she has been at the centre of discussions concerning the reorganization of the school governance system in Quebec and modifications to the Education Act. She continues to spearhead the work of bringing the English community together as the province moves towards legislation that could have long-term impact on the English-language minority community in Quebec.
Jennifer is a solid communicator, relationship builder, action-oriented and results-driven leader. She studied English Literature at McGill University, is a business owner with over 16 years of experience specializing in Business Development, Marketing, and Communications. She is the proud mother of two teen-aged children.
Kimberley Hamilton, Executive Director par Interim
Ontario Public School Boards Association (OPSBA):
Laurie French, President
Laurie was acclaimed as President of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association in June 2016. Prior to this, she served as OPSBA Vice-President from 2013 to 2016. Laurie has served five terms as a trustee with the Limestone District School Board since 2000, representing Greater Napanee, Ontario. She has also served as Vice-Chair and Chair of her Board for 7 years. Laurie has spent her career in the field of healthcare where she is now a Director of Patient Services in the sector. She has a a Bachelors degree in Nursing Science from Ottawa University and a Masters degree in Public Administration from Queens, with a System Leadership certificate from the Rotman School of Management. She also serves on 3 other Boards in her community and is the proud mother of 2 children who have since graduated from the public education system.
Rusty Hick, Executive Director
Bio TBA
Manitoba School Boards Association (MSBA):
Ken Cameron, President
Ken was elected trustee in Rolling River School Division in 2006, serving as Board Chair and working extensively in Negotiation, Operations, Labour Policy, Human Resources, Facilities, School Review Committees and on the Division / Community Advisory Council. He has served on the MSBA Executive as Vice President and since 2015 as President. He also serves on several community boards, including; Minnedosa Recreation Commission, Minnedosa Regional Archives Board, and Manitoba Winter Special Olympics committee.
Raised on a farm south of Minnedosa, Ken himself continued farming after high school. Later, he managed an Agricultural Retail and Custom Application. Presently, he and his wife Debbie own and operate a recycling and waste collection business. He and Debbie have three daughters and five grandchildren.
Josh Watt, Executive Director
Named as Executive Director of MSBA in 2015, Josh Watt has held a variety of positions in the field of public education. With the greatest portion of his career spent implementing policies and programs with the Council on Post-Secondary Education, Josh eventually became Senior Policy Advisor to the Deputy Minister at Manitoba’s Department of Education and Training. He has also worked as an educational assistant in French Immersion, newcomer/refugee, and special needs programs, as a change management consultant for non-profits, and also served as project officer at the Canadian International Development Agency.
Josh holds a BA (Hons.) in Law and Political Science (Carleton), a Master of Public Administration (Winnipeg), and a Masters of Education (Manitoba). He has also completed a Master level certification in Peace Support Operations through the UN Institute for Training and Research.
Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA):
Shawn Davidson, President
Shawn was raised on a family farm near Aneroid, SK, and graduated from high school in Kincaid, SK. He then attended the University of Saskatchewan and graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1998. After graduation he worked in large animal practice in Swift Current, SK before returning to the family farm in 2004. He has since operated a mixed farming and ranching operation, and practiced veterinary medicine in Assiniboia, SK and Scobey, MT. He was first elected to the Prairie South Board of Education in 2009, became the Board Chair in 2013, and was elected SSBA President in 2016.
Shawn and his wife Krista enjoy everything the remote rural area of southwest Saskatchewan has to offer, and recognize it as a great place to raise their 4 children!
Darren McKee, Executive Director
Originally from O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation in Manitoba, Darren completed his B.Ed. and M.Ed. at the University of Saskatchewan. He has been a Teacher, Administrator, Superintendent and Director of Education, as well as Director and Assistant Deputy Minister with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education. In 2011, he became the Executive Director of the SSBA. He has presented at a number of conferences on leadership and Aboriginal Education. He sits on the boards of C-21 Canada; Canadian Education Association, the National Selection Committee of INAC and United Way Regina. Darren is a coach and consultant in education, government, Indigenous peoples, change, leadership, relations and strategic directions.
He holds certificates in Leadership Training and Development; Crucial Conversations; Expedition Coaching; and Leadership Practices Inventory. He and his wife Ivy have three daughters.
Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA):
Mary Martin, President
Mary has been promoting and supporting public education as a trustee since 2007. During this time, she assumed leadership roles with the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) as well with the Metro School Board Group. At the Alberta Catholic School Trustees’ Association, Mary was on the Communications Committee as well as Chair. At the ASBA, Mary leveraged her background as a registered nurse on the Student Health Regional Team and on both the Task Force and the National Committee on Student Health. She was also Chair at the Education Partners Task Force on First Nations, Metis and Inuit Student Success, and provided leadership for the Transformation of School Board Governance Task Force and the Advocacy Task Force on Locally Elected School Boards.
Mary was Vice President and became President of ASBA in February of this year. She holds a Bachelor of Nursing degree. She and her husband Rob are the proud parents of four grown sons.
Suzanne Polkosnik, Executive Director
Suzanne has significant experience in both the private and public sectors and an ongoing commitment to public service, most recently as President and CEO of Legal Aid Alberta. In her former roles with EPCOR as Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer, Associate General Counsel and as Director, American Water Integration, she engaged in stakeholder consultations, regulatory submissions and contract negotiations, as well as corporate policy development and implementation, and board governance activities. Suzanne’s interest in education comes naturally, with both her parents serving in the public school system, her mother as a principal and her father as a trustee, and she has two daughters in public school.
Active in her community, Suzanne is a former member of the Edmonton Police Commission, the Governance Committee of the Law Society of Alberta, the Canadian and International Associations of Legal Aid Plans and has been an active volunteer in her children’s activities. She is currently serving on two Boards: The Edmonton Screen Industries Office and the Alberta Review Board.
British Columbia School Trustees Association (BCSTA):
Gordon Swan, President
Bio TBA
Mike Roberts, Executive Director
As Chief Executive Officer, Mike Roberts is responsible to the BCSTA Board for the overall staff operations of the organization and provides direct support to BCSTA’s Board of Directors. Mike began his tenure in public education in 1980 as a secondary school teacher, held a variety of district leadership positions there, including superintendent. In 2009, he was appointed to the position of Liaison Superintendent with the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) and in 2013, was appointed as Liaison Superintendent for the B.C. Ministry of Education as well as acting as the interim CEO of BCPSEA.
Mike brings extensive experience in educational policy, provincial bargaining, policy management, corporate function organization and field services.
