Grand Erie Welcomes April Smith to the Role of Superintendent
Grand Erie District School Board is pleased to announce the appointment of April Smith to the role of Superintendent of Education, effective February 1.
Smith joins Grand Erie from Avon Maitland District School Board where her leadership and mentorship experience spans 20 years, beginning as a secondary school teacher before moving into administrative roles. Most recently, she filled the position of System Principal with portfolio responsibilities that included Assessment and Evaluation, Literacy, Mathematics, Transferable Skills, First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education, Outdoor Education, and the development of Teaching and Learning Support Coaches and Coordinators.
“I’m honoured to be joining the Grand Erie team,” said Smith. “I am inspired by the Board’s Multi-Year Plan and its focus on building a culture of high expectations in the areas of achievement, well-being, equity, environment, technology and community. I look forward to making this my priority as we work towards these goals together.”
In her role as System Principal, Smith led the New Pedagogies for Deep Learning initiative, which implemented global frameworks for fostering critical thinking, collaboration and connection among secondary school students. She was also responsible for Kindergarten to Grade 12 literacy learning, which included the integration of a leveled literacy intervention strategy for students in Grade 1, as well as the Closing the Gap in Adolescent Literacy initiative in targeted secondary schools. Smith fills the vacancy on Grand Erie’s Senior Administration team left by retiring Superintendent Linda De Vos.
Grand Erie District School Board represents nearly 18,000 students in 58 elementary schools and more than 7,500 students in 14 secondary schools within the city of Brantford and the counties of Brant, Haldimand, and Norfolk as well as students from Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.