TORONTO, May 31, 2013 /CNW/ - Dr. Brian Desbiens, Chair of the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Bruce Rodrigues to the position of Chief Executive Officer. Currently Director of Education of the Toronto Catholic District School Board, Mr. Rodrigues' outstanding track record in Ontario's publicly-funded education system reflects a deep devotion to student success that has been the hallmark of his career.
"We are delighted to welcome Bruce to EQAO and entrust to him the leadership of this world-class agency," said Dr. Desbiens. "Bruce's remarkable experience in senior education portfolios, his dynamic and collaborative leadership style and his absolute dedication to helping students achieve will be tremendous assets as the agency renews itself for a vibrant future serving the citizens and students of Ontario."
Prior to his role as Director of Education of the Toronto Catholic District School Board, Mr. Rodrigues served as Associate Director of Education of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, where he also served as Superintendent of Schools, in secondary school administration, as teacher and as program head. Mr. Rodrigues has also held the positions of President and Vice-President of the Ontario Catholic Supervisory Officer Association and has participated on numerous Ministry of Education committees.
"EQAO has been a driving force in Ontario's education system, helping measure and support student achievement across the province," said Bruce Rodrigues. "I'm eager to continue building on the tremendous reputation this agency has earned provincially, nationally and internationally and ensure it continues to serve the interests of all who count on and contribute to Ontario's education system."
Mr. Rodrigues will replace Marguerite Jackson who retires on June 30 after a distinguished career in public education and over 10 exemplary years of service as CEO of EQAO. Under her leadership, the agency gained widespread recognition for its work evaluating and supporting student progress in Ontario schools and helping school communities use evidence to monitor and report on their progress. "Marguerite's leadership and contributions to the success of this agency have been nothing short of remarkable," said Dr. Desbiens. "EQAO would not have achieved all it has today without her exceptional direction. It is thrilling to continue the tradition of passionate leadership and dedication to student success that is Marguerite's legacy to this organization."
Aussi disponible en français
The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) is an independent agency of the Government of Ontario that is governed by a board of directors. EQAO plays a pivotal role by conducting province-wide tests at key points in every student's primary, junior and secondary education and reporting the results to the public. EQAO's tests measure student achievement in reading, writing and mathematics in relation to Ontario Curriculum expectations. The resulting data provide accountability and a gauge of quality in Ontario's publicly funded education system. By providing this important evidence about learning, EQAO acts as a catalyst for increasing the success of Ontario students.
The objective and reliable results from EQAO's tests complement the information obtained from classroom and other assessments to provide students, parents, teachers and administrators with a clear and comprehensive picture of student achievement and a basis for targeted improvement planning at the individual, school, school board and provincial levels. EQAO helps build capacity for the appropriate use of data by providing resources that educators, parents, policy-makers and others in the education community can use to improve learning and teaching.
SOURCE: Education Quality and Accountability Office
and to arrange interviews, please contact
Alyssa Bacchus
Senior Communications Officer
416-212-7047
[email protected]
Share this article