Principal and vice principal positions for the 2016-17 school year have been solidified with four new appointments starting this September.
Ursula Hardwick will take over as principal at Davis Bay Elementary School and will also serve as principal of the elementary home learning (SPIDER) program.
She’s worked in School District No. 46 (SD46) since 1998 in a variety of roles, including educational assistant, Roots of Empathy instructor and elementary school counsellor.
Hardwick will take the helm from current principal Sally Thicke, who is retiring at the end of this school year.
“I am excited to join the community of Davis Bay Elementary and look forward to partnering with students, staff and parents to support great learning opportunities for all,” Hardwick said.
Duncan Knight will take over as principal at Langdale Elementary School this September, replacing current principal Gregory Walters, who will be leaving SD46 to work as a principal in the Richmond School District.
Knight comes to the Coast from West Vancouver where he worked in various leadership roles over the past 12 years at Irwin Park Elementary School.
“It’s an honour to join the Sunshine Coast School District,” Knight said. “I am tremendously impressed with the district’s commitment to fostering literacy, creativity and global citizenship amongst all learners. I look forward to working with all partners to continue making this district a place of excellence.”
Another new face to join SD46, Chris Lekakis, will start as principal at Pender Harbour Elementary-Secondary School this September, leaving his current role as vice-principal at Burnaby North Secondary School.
Lekakis will take over the principal’s position from April McKnight, who has been serving as interim principal since last fall.
“I am really excited about the opportunity to join the Sunshine Coast School District,” Lekakis said. “I consider it a great privilege and I am looking forward to meeting and working with the learning community at Pender Harbour school.”
And Drew Murphy will become the new vice-principal at Elphinstone Secondary School in the fall, as current vice-principal Richard Biel is leaving the post to return to teaching in SD46.
Murphy has been a teacher at Chatelech Secondary School since 1990 and for the past several years has coordinated the planning and career education program for grades 10 to 12.
He has also designed some innovative programming such as self-directed learning courses, career and post-secondary development initiatives and online learning applications for classrooms.
“I am excited about my new role at Elphinstone Secondary School and look forward to my partnership with staff, students and the community,” he said.
SD46 superintendent of schools Patrick Bocking thanked all the current principals and vice-principals for their efforts on behalf of students.
“The board and I are proud of the superb leadership and support that our principals and vice-principals provide our students, staff and community,” Bocking said. “The new people joining the leadership team will add further depth, energy and experience to achieve our ambition: Excellence in all we do.”
