There will soon be a new superintendent of education in town.
The Halton District School Board has appointed Tara Connor to the position serving Halton Hills schools.
“Having been a part of the HDSB community for many years, Tara will be a fantastic addition to the senior administration team,” said Curtis Ennis, HDSB director of education.
“With her teaching, administrative and leadership experience, in addition to her school and system level knowledge of the HDSB and its areas of focus and values, Tara will be invaluable in supporting the students and staff of the HDSB.”
She will start her new role on Aug. 1, following the retirement of Superintendent of Education Scott Podrebarac, who has worked in the education field for 30 years, nine of which were with the HDSB.
“Scott is a remarkable and respected leader in Halton and beyond, whose absence will be felt deeply,” Ennis said.
“Of Scott’s many accomplishments, he has been paramount in building and developing the resources to support safe and inclusive schools; he played an instrumental role in bringing full-day kindergarten to the HDSB, building strong partnerships with child care operators and schools, and continues to be a strong proponent of bringing the HDSB Multi-Year Plan to life through effective engagement and storytelling with staff and families. We wish Scott all the best in his retirement and express our heartfelt gratitude for his guidance, friendship and commitment to students.”
Connor was a successful candidate in the superintendent hiring process that began this spring. She joins the administrative team after serving six years as the principal of Abbey Park High School, along with working for 20 years as an administrator in Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville.
In her career, Connor has served in both public and private education, teaching in elementary and secondary schools. During that time, she created and implemented programs for students from kindergarten to postgraduate studies, creating courses for Queen’s University and Charles Sturt University (Dubbo, Australia).
Connor has also served as the past chair of the Halton Secondary Principals’ Association and was the HDSB’s system principal for managing information for student achievement. As the former principal of Gary Allan Learning Centres, she was also responsible for the adult, alternative and continuing education programs offered by the HDSB.