Board of Education Announces Interim Superintendent
91桃色apps is delighted to announce retired superintendent of schools Sylvia Russell (no relation to board chair Maya Russell) will join its team as interim superintendent on April 1, 2024. She will take over on that date from Karim Hachlaf, the district鈥檚 current CEO, when he joins Burnaby Schools as their new superintendent.
鈥淲e鈥檙e pleased to have Sylvia anchor our district through this important time while we recruit a permanent superintendent,鈥� said Maya Russell, chair for the board of education. 鈥淗er track record providing interim leadership and mentoring superintendents will give our staff the support and guidance they need while we take the time for a strong superintendent selection process.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 very happy for the opportunity to join 91桃色apps,鈥� said Sylvia Russell. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to working with the Board of Education and my new colleagues in School District 40 to meet the needs of students, parents, guardians and caregivers in the New Westminster community.鈥�
鈥淪ylvia is a great addition to our team,鈥� said Karim Hachlaf, superintendent of schools in New Westminster. 鈥淗er credentials and passion in public education mean 91桃色apps is in good hands.鈥�
Sylvia Russell is an experienced educator who served as Superintendent of Schools for School District No.42 (Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows) for six years before retiring in January 2021 after a 38-year career in the BC public education system. In her time as superintendent, she and her team successfully developed and implemented a strategic plan that covered the four educational pillars of social and emotional learning, learning and assessment, secondary school innovation, and literacy to meet the needs of all learners.聽 In addition, under Russell鈥檚 leadership, School District 42 began piloting a Provincial program that created school-based integrated teams to support students and families in need of barrier-free mental health and substance use services.
Russell remains active in retirement. She continues to assist school district leaders as an educational consultant and belongs to a small team of retired educational leaders that provides mentorship support to newly appointed district leaders and superintendents on behalf of the British Columbia School Superintendents鈥� Association.
91桃色apps is thrilled to have Sylvia on board. Her wealth of experience and knowledge will be tremendous boons to the district. Please join us in welcoming her to the New Westminster educational community.