Carlene Jackson is the first black female Director named in TDSB history

BY PAUL JUNOR

History was made on June 25^th, when the Toronto District School Board announced in a news release on its website the appointment of Carlene Jackson as Interim Director at a special Board meeting.

She has served as TDSB’s Associate Director, Business Operations and Service Excellence since August 2017. She will officially take over her position on July 15^th, 2020 to replace Dr. John Malloy who announced his resignation on May 21^st, 2020.

Ms. Jackson has years of professional experience prior to working at the TDSB. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) having earned a Bachelor of Commerce and a Masters of Business Administration.

Prior to the TDSB, she was the Chief Financial Officer at the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB). She has over 20 years of experience in the public sector and has worked with the three levels of government in senior leadership roles, including positions at the Ontario Ministry of Finance and the Federal Treasury Board of Secretariat.

She will serve until a permanent Director is found. The TDSB has already started a search process. In the words of Robin Pilkey (Chair of the TDSB), “Carlene is an ideal selection for the appointment as she is currently leading the complex planning process for returning to school in September, and she is the executive lead supporting the Board as it begins its budget process leading to the approval of the 2021-21 Board budget.”

The Minister of Education, Stephen Leece has presented three scenarios to school boards in anticipation of school reopening in the fall. These options involve: in school, at home or an adaptive model, which is a hybrid of online and in-school learning.

Ms. Jackson has indicated that she does not believe the TDSB will meet the target of September 1^st to ensure that students are exposed to maximal learning. She states that, “We’re currently doing an analysis of what that means for TDSB and what the implications are. These are guidelines and boards are encouraged to start by September 1^st, but Minister Leece has not made it mandatory.”

She is presently working with a steering committee comprised of diverse education stakeholders who are looking at the positives and negatives of each scenario. They were expected to present a preliminary report on July 15^th, after which a final plan will have to be submitted to the Ministry of Education in early August. This will not be an easy feat.

Ms. Jackson is prepared to face the many challenges ahead in the upcoming coming months. In a news interview she stated, “One of the big challenges is that everybody has a different viewpoint as to what schools looks like. We are looking at models where perhaps kids would come for one week; perhaps it could be one day on and one day off.”

 Ms. Jackson is aware of how important it is to be at the helm of one of the most diverse school boards in Canada, and in the TDSB’s news release she notes, “I look forward to working with our Trustees, staff, parents, students, and partners to meet the needs of the city’s public schools, especially as we continue to navigate learning in the days of COVID-19.”

There is much hope that with Ms. Carlene Jackson being at the highest level of educational leadership at the TDSB she will be able to ensure there is a smooth transition. She has access to the voices, ears and hearts of the black community.