Drew Murphy, the acting principal at Elphinstone Secondary School, will be retiring at the end of this school year after 34 years in the profession.
“I’ve had a deeply rewarding career at SD46. I’ve been blessed to work with wonderful colleagues who’ve encouraged and supported my creativity and innovations,” Murphy said in a release. “I can’t thank everyone enough for their friendship and guidance.”
Murphy has been employed by School District No. 46 (SD46) since 1990 and was a high school educator at Chatelech Secondary School for 26 years. He assumed the role of acting principal at Elphinstone after John Brisebois took leave due to an injury. Before that Murphy served as vice principal at the school for four years.
At an April 8 regular board meeting, SD46 superintendent Patrick Bocking said “it’s been wonderful working with Mr. Murphy and we all wish him the very best after he wraps things up at the end of June.”
Sue Bailey, currently acting vice principal at Elphinstone Secondary, will assume that position permanently this fall. “We’re thrilled to be welcoming Sue to the team,” Bocking said.
Bailey, who has a master’s degree in counselling psychology in addition to her teaching credentials, served as a counsellor and teacher in Vancouver before moving to the Sunshine Coast and taking on the role of counsellor at Pender Harbour Secondary School. She was also a counsellor at the elementary school level and at Elphinstone Secondary. “I’m so happy to be able to stay at Elphinstone Secondary and work with students, families and staff in a new and exciting way,” Bailey said.
Other than these two changes, the senior administrative and educational leadership team is staying the same.
“I’m thrilled that we’re able to keep everyone right where they have been, so we have a very stable team. In our regular meetings with them, they are a source of inspiration and pride to me and it’s wonderful to have them as partners in this experience,” Bocking said.
