New principal, vice-principal appointments for Upper Canada school board

The Upper Canada District School Board has approved a number of new principal and vice-principal appointments to respond to vacancies at its schools.

Valerie Allen, who previously left Pleasant Corners Public School (PCPS) to be principal at Rockland District High School is now a member of the board.

Allen was appointed principal of Section 23, which she described as being principal of Student Support Services' specialized education programs.

"Section 23 classes are units in partnership with community organizations who provided therapeutic units for students who need an alternative setting for a short period of time," Allen said.

The board provides teachers and educational assistants while the community partners provide the therapy.

"I will also be responsible for some specialized projects within the board as well," Allen said. "It's very exciting, but a lot of change in a short period of time."

Public school appointments include SJ McLeod Public School principal Roxane McDonell becoming principal at PCPS and Viscount Alexandria vice-principal Silvia Speck becoming principal at Laggan Public School.

Meanwhile, Rockland Public School vice-principal Mhairi Rowland is moving on to becoming vice-principal at Cambridge Public School. Rowland is being replaced at Rockland by Stacey McCready, who was an interim vice-principal at Russell Public School.

Secondary school appointments include Olga Grigoriev transferring from principal at South Branch Elementary School to replace Allen as principal at Rockland District High School.

Jason Palmer is being promoted from vice-principal principal at Glengarry District High School.

Shelly Corlyon is moving from vice-principal at Russell High School to replace vice-principal Jeff Curtis at Rockland District High School, while Curtis will fill Corlyon's former position.

Finally, Angela Grandy is being promoted from her position as a program resource secondary teacher to vice-principal at Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute.

There are some vacancies yet to be filled, and there was no mention of PCPS's current principal.