A new superintendent will lead the New Westminster school district starting in July.
New Westminster Schools has announced Mark Davidson will join the district as its new superintendent, starting July 8.
“After an exhaustive search, Mark Davidson stood out as a current superintendent with remarkable experience, producing real change in school and system culture and improving student outcomes,” Maya Russell, chair of the New Westminster board of education, said in a news release. “He has navigated many of the issues important to New Westminster Schools, including rapid enrolment growth, equitable access, a desire to continue improving learning outcomes and community engagement. We are excited about the opportunity with Mark’s leadership to build on our district’s strengths.”
Since, 2016, Davidson has led the Medicine Hat School Division in Alberta. He’s been in kindergarten to Grade 12 education since 2000. In addition to serving as superintendent and CEO, he’s been a teacher, vice-principal, principal and deputy superintendent.
According to New Westminster Schools, the Medicine Hat School Division has 7,500 students, 800 staff, and a budget of $93 million.
Davidson has also worked for Alberta Education as a senior education manager.
"I am both humbled and excited that the board has extended to me the opportunity to serve as superintendent of New Westminster school district,” he said in a news release. “I am thrilled to join an organization with a culture built on commitments to equity, compassion, and research supported professional practice. I love the work we do in schools. I am so looking forward to building connections with students, families and the staff who serve them.”
In January, the school district announced Sylvia Russell would be joining its team on April 1 as interim superintendent. Russell (no relation to the board chair) will continue as interim superintendent to provide consistent support to schools, staff, and students for the transition.
In its news release, the board of education thanked its district partner organizations for the time they devoted to assisting the board with the selection process, including the District Parent Advisory Council, the New Westminster Teachers’ Union, CUPE 409, the BC Principals and Vice Principals Association, and the district leadership team.
In December, the school board announced that Karim Hachlaf had been selected as the new superintendent in the Burnaby school district, beginning April 1, 2024. He had been superintendent of New Westminster School District since 2018.
When announcing Hachlaf would be leaving the district, the school board stated it had engaged a recruitment firm to begin a search inside and outside B.C.
