We are pleased to welcome Ms. Jo-Ann McLaren to Northern Gateway Public Schools in her new position as Principal of Sangudo Community School. The position became available following Mr. Leonard Oates' announcement that he will be retiring at the end of this school year.

Ms. McLaren comes to us from Fort Smith, in the Northwest Territories, where she is currently the Vice Principal and Instructional Coach for J.B.T. Elementary School. As a key member of the Leadership Team, Ms. McLaren’s experience extends to all aspects of school administration with a focus on Literacy, Numeracy and Teacher Growth and Development.

Ms. McLaren has been teaching for 15 years. Over the course of her career, she has taught both elementary and secondary grades and served as a sessional instructor in the Teacher Education program at Aurora College. She has been involved with the creation of the Northwest Territories Language Arts and Math benchmarks for Grades 7 to 9, has served as a mentor in the Teacher Induction Program - coaching, advising, modeling and building partnerships to facilitate a smooth transition for first year teachers and teachers new to the north - and is a certified counsellor.

“Jo-Ann brings a unique combination of skills and knowledge to the position,” commented Superintendent of Schools Kevin Andrea. “Her dedication to the social, emotional and academic development of both students and staff, combined with her administrative experience, will be an excellent fit for Sangudo Community School.”

Ms. McLaren holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Brock University, Ontario, a Bachelor of Education from Medaille College, Buffalo, NY and a Master of Education in Educational Foundations with a specialization in Counselling Psychology from the University of New Brunswick.

Ms. McLaren shared, “I look forward to joining the team at Sangudo Community School and to getting to know the students, staff and parents as we collectively build and nurture a respectful and engaging community of leaders and learners.”