General Information
Vision Statement
The Keewatin Patricia District School Board puts students first by creating a culture of learning.
The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is a progressive and proud public school board that serves the communities of beautiful Northwestern Ontario. We have schools in the communities of Kenora, Sioux Narrows, Vermilion Bay, Ear Falls, Red Lake, Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Ignace, Pickle Lake, Savant Lake and Upsala as well as serving the educational needs of many neighbouring and far north First Nation communities.
Students in a KPDSB school always come first and programming options are continually expanding to meet the needs of a diverse student population. Many of the programs offered are the first of their kind in an Ontario school, a testament to the innovation of our staff and their dedication to our students.
4,828
75,000 sq km
8
18
7
1,200
5
13
30
Dryden Area
Ear Falls Area
Ignace Area
Sioux Lookout Area
Sioux Narrows Area
Savant Lake Area
Upsala Area
Virtual School
KPDSB Virtual School
Senior Administration
Board of Trustees
Strategic Plan 2019-2024
The Board’s strategic plan is set to achieve the vision,
The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board puts students first by creating a culture of learning.
The plan outlines what the Board wants to achieve in the future and the actions we plan to take to get there. KP has set priorities in four key areas:
- Student Achievement: Ensure the necessary resources are provided to all students to increase their individual achievement.
- Safe and Supportive Schools: Ensure all students and staff have safe learning and working environments where the academic and mental health needs of the child are met.
- Innovative Practice: Demonstrate effective “change-ready” leadership.
- Reconciliation: Ensure all schools and staff are actively engaged in responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action
This year, we have welcomed many new members to the senior team who are working with trustees, schools and communities to implement the Strategic Plan’s goals. We welcomed:
- Sherri-Lynne Pharand, Director of Education, January 1, 2020
- Shannon Bailey, Superintendent of Education, July 1, 2020
- Jane Lower, Superintendent of Education, August 1, 2020
- Chantal Moore, Interim Superintendent of Education, November 1, 2020
We acknowledge the ongoing work of Superintendent of Business Richard Findlay and thank Superintendent Joan Kantola, on leave to Schools Mental Health Ontario, for her contributions to the plan.
Board Improvement Plan
Board Continuous Improvement Plan – Academic Success for All
The KPDSB Board Improvement Plan sets out to develop students who are safe, capable, competent, valued, mentally well, recognized and feel they belong.
In the KPDSB, we are committed to improving student achievement by using targeted, evidence-based strategies. To do this, we are effectively and efficiently allocating appropriate resources, including professional training to support these strategies, while keeping student safety and wellness at the forefront of our work.
The goals of the 2020–2021 KPDSB Board Improvement Plan include increasing student achievement and wellness through:
- Employing effective assessment practices
- Building a strong sense of self
- Establishing a learning organization
The first Board Improvement Plan goal identifies that student achievement will improve as we implement effective assessments and evaluations in all classrooms. Assessment for and as learning is a purposeful, ongoing collection of information about how students are learning, while there is still time to improve. Teachers use assessment formatively as they identify concepts or skills students need more work with and provide regular feedback to students on their strengths and areas that need improvement. Students use assessment when they learn to judge the quality of their work and set individual goals for their improvement. Student achievement data will inform the focus of educators’ professional learning as we strive to improve student achievement and well-being for all. Regularly gathering and analyzing student achievement data will provide staff with timely and dependable information about student learning to ensure continuous improvement.
The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1–8: Mathematics, 2020 enables teachers to focus on fundamental mathematics concepts and skills and on making connections between related math concepts, mathematics and other disciplines, and mathematics and everyday life. A new focus has been placed on mathematical modelling, coding, financial literacy, and the integration of mathematics learning with learning in other STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects.
Ensuring that our students have a strong sense of self is critical in reaching their potential and is important in wellness. The Board Improvement Plan’s second goal consists of four components of the School Effectiveness Framework, which addresses school and classroom leadership, student engagement, curriculum, teaching and learning, Pathways, and career/life planning programs. Themes throughout these components focus on students’ strengths, values, needs, learning styles and cultural perspectives.
Goal three in the Board Improvement Plan is about improving student achievement and wellness by building a learning organization. The indicators in this area of the plan focus on being a learning organization where everyone acts on their belief in the need to grow, learn and develop.
Keeping with the goal and focus of improving data literacy across the system, professional learning is responsive to student learning needs. Teaching and learning include critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and collaboration.
Professional development opportunities promote and connect the themes of equity, well-being and student achievement.
Professional learning for teachers, administrators and senior administrators ensures that conversations and activities focus on the processes and practices required to deepen understanding of the curriculum and refine instruction to improve student learning and achievement.
