St. Clair Catholic District school board is saying goodbye to one education superintendent and welcoming a new one.
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Laura Callaghan is retiring Nov. 1 after 35 years in Catholic education, trustees learned at their meeting Tuesday, and Michelle Sawa will take over Nov. 13, a board release said.
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Callaghan began French at Ecole St. Francis in Tilbury in 1988 with the former Kent County Roman Catholic Separate school board. She served as principal at Chatham and Wallaceburg elementary schools and assistant to the superintendent before becoming superintendent in 2015.
Callaghan was Ontario Catholic Supervisory Officers’ Association president during the last school year and currently chairs the Catholic Curriculum Corp., a consortium providing curriculum services to 17 central and western Ontario Catholic boards.
“For 35 years, Laura has faithfully and lovingly served students, families and colleagues, both at St. Clair Catholic and across the province, with wisdom, grace and a gentle spirit,” education director Scott Johnson said in the release.
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“Now, she leaves to take on a new role, perhaps the best ever, as grandmother to two new grandbabies,” he added. “Although we join in her excitement as she embarks on this new chapter in her life, we do so with a measure of sorrow, for the loss of a loved colleague and (her) tremendous knowledge and experience.”
Sawa, who began her career with the Kenora Catholic District school board in 1999, chairs the St. Clair board’s Faith Formation Student Achievement Team and is responsible for the leadership of system-wide professional development, the release said.
She has extensive experience as a classroom, special education resource and literacy teacher, teacher-in-charge and elementary and high school administrator, the board said.
As an educational leader with extensive experience in northwestern Ontario, she has an authentic and deep understanding and respect for Indigenous histories, cultures, and perspectives, it added.
“Ms. Sawa is passionate about promoting culturally responsive and relevant pedagogies that positively impact students, families and educators,” he said.
“I know that the entire St. Clair Catholic family joins me as we welcome Michelle to our senior team,” Johnson said. “We wish her much continued success in her new role.”
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