School District No. 46 (SD46) will have a new superintendent starting Aug. 1.
Patrick Bocking, currently superintendent of schools and programs in the North Bay-Parry Sound region of Ontario, was announced as the new superintendent for SD46 on Wednesday morning.
Bocking will replace current superintendent Deborah Palmer who will be staying with SD46 and returning to a role as a school principal.
Bocking holds a master of education degree in education administration, a bachelor of education degree in geography and French as well as a bachelor of science degree in geography and biology and a diploma in forest technology.
He said he is excited about moving to the Sunshine Coast and taking on this new challenge.
"I am delighted to relocate to the Sunshine Coast," Bocking said. "I know the area well, as I was raised in North Vancouver and still have family in B.C. I look forward to supporting the district's strategic plan development and implementation, in partnership with all staff and the community."
Bocking said the next logical choice for his career is a district superintendent.
"As I've worked through different levels of education, and my dream job has been superintendent, I couldn't think of a better place to realize that dream than the Sunshine Coast," he said. "As a kid, my brother and I often came to the Coast, specifically Roberts Creek, to mountain bike. I love the community, and so far everyone I have talked to and interacted with on my visits while applying for this job have been welcoming and say such wonderful things about the community.
"I'm looking forward to getting involved with the community and continuing the wonderful educational opportunities that SD46 has in place."
Some specific work that Bocking said he would like to focus his efforts on includes the Early Learning program, which he described as "phenomenal," and the great partnership SD46 has with the Sechelt First Nation and its Aboriginal programs.
"It's really all about maintaining the high levels of success that SD46 has achieved and growing on that success," he said.
According to SD46, Bocking has a proven record of consistently raising student achievement results. He has supervised both secondary and elementary programs and schools. His portfolio has included early learning and elementary program parent engagement, school supervision and support, school year calendar, safe schools and emergency planning.
"The students of the Sunshine Coast school district will benefit from Patrick's composed and dedicated leadership in student achievement, special education, Aboriginal education, school improvement and district planning," said board chair Silas White. "We welcome him and look forward to the valuable contributions he will make to the innovative work that is occurring here."
