After 38 years as a Catholic educator, Director of Education Deb Crawford has announced her intention to retire, effective at the end of September 2021.

“My decision to retire was not taken lightly, but I think the time is right,” says Mrs. Crawford.  “I believe St. Clair Catholic is well-positioned for the future and I look forward to devoting more time to my family and pursuing interests that I have not had time to enjoy fully.”

In a letter to staff this morning, Mrs. Crawford thanked all of the men and women who work every day to support the mission of Catholic education and the schools, students and families of St. Clair Catholic.

“I am so proud of our teaching and support staff, our principals and vice-principals and our senior administration,” she says.  “I am blessed to work alongside and lead a dynamic team of forward-thinking, faith-filled professionals, who inspire me every day with their wisdom, compassion, kindness and grace, and their dedicated service to our students and staff.”

Mrs. Crawford began her career as a Catholic teacher with the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board in 1983.  She came to St. Clair Catholic in 2001.  In 2004, she became a Vice Principal at Ursuline College and in 2007 accepted the appointment as Principal of the former St. Christopher Catholic Secondary School in Sarnia.  In 2008, she became Superintendent of Education, holding a variety of portfolios, before her appointment as Director of Education in January 2017.  Throughout her career, Mrs. Crawford has also been appointed to a number of Regional and Provincial positions, including President of the Ontario Catholic Supervisory Officers’ Association, several Ministry of Education committee appointments, including the Transformation Steering Committee and Chair of the Consultation Table for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.  She was also a Director for the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network, the Canadian Association of School System Administrators, Canadian Education Association, the Catholic Curriculum Consortium Board of Representatives and the International Leadership Association.

Mrs. Crawford also thanked the Board of Trustees, for the opportunity to serve as Director of Education.

“In the 38 years I have devoted to the vocation of Catholic educator, serving as Director for St. Clair Catholic is the best job I have ever had,” says Mrs. Crawford.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to thank Deb for her inspired leadership through some of the Board’s most difficult days,” says John Van Heck, Chair of the Board.  “Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Deb has kept St. Clair Catholic moving forward, completing major projects and focusing on student success and excellence in Catholic education.  We are indebted to her and grateful for her service.”

The Board of Trustees will now begin the work of appointing the next Director of Education.