New Student Leadership
Erin Couture, Student Trustee
Grace Molinski, Student Trustee
MARATHON, Ontario – The Superior-Greenstone District School Board (SGDSB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Grace Molinski of Lake Superior High School to the role of Student Trustee, for a two-year term. Grace completed her oath of office at the Regular Board meeting on September 27, 2021.
School Principal Christopher Martin described Grace as a “passionate, caring and kind leader who will take the time to listen and support the students throughout Superior-Greenstone District School Board”. He further stated that he looks “forward to seeing Grace grow as a student leader, as she inspires others, promotes positive change and represents the collective voice of the student population.”
At Superior-Greenstone District School Board, they encourage student voice through leadership opportunities. Their strategic direction is to provide students with multiple opportunities to exercise social, environmental and digital responsibility in order to contribute to society and the culture of the local and global communities.
In the Spring of 2018 the Ministry of Education announced the amendment of Ontario Regulation 7/07 which now grants school boards the opportunity to have more than one Student Trustee for up to a two-year term of office. As a result of the amendment, the Superior-Greenstone District School Board has amended their policy to support two Student Trustees for a two-year term. The Board has implemented an appointment schedule that allows for overlap of the role to provide ongoing mentorship.
Grace Molinski was appointed by her peers on the Student Senate following her candidacy address and election held in the spring of 2021. Former Student Trustee Sydney Schwantz has mentored Molinski for her new position since May 2021. Schwantz ended her two-year term at the end of July 2021.
About her upcoming term as student trustee, Molinski said, “I am thrilled to be representing the students of the Superior-Greenstone District School Board as a Student Trustee. I look forward to collaborating on a wide range of tasks with my fellow students and educators in the following years. I am grateful for this opportunity and welcome it with open arms!"
Current Student Trustee Erin Couture was appointed to office in August 2020 and is in the final year of her two-year term ending July 31, 2022. Couture, is a student of the Nipigon-Red Rock District High School and a representative of student voice as a member of the Indigenous Education Advisory Committee.
Director of Education Nicole Morden Cormier stated that “working with Sydney and Erin has been an opportunity for the Board to gain valuable insights into the needs of our students. As Student Trustees, Sydney and Erin have truly made it their mission to represent the voices of all students in SGDSB. The student voice at the Board table is highly valued by all Trustees and supports strong student engagement. I know that Grace will continue to fulfill the mandate of representing all students of the board for the next two years.”
Board Chair Pinky McRae congratulated Molinski and stated that, “We are proud of our Student Trustees as they are strong leaders. They represent the hope of tomorrow and they reflect our board vision of inspiring our students to succeed and make a difference.”
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