(Fort McMurray, AB, December 1, 2021) Fort McMurray Public School Division (FMPSD) is delighted to announce Scott Barr as the new Acting Director of Education, and Thomas Andrews Acting Principal at École McTavish High School.
Barr will join Cynthia Shelley in the Education Department at Division Office to provide support to the senior leadership team from January 4 - July 31, 2022. He will bring a wealth of experience - 25 years at FMPSD. Andrews will be Principal during the same time frame, and also brings 14 years of FMPSD experience.
During his time, Barr has held many positions ranging from Teacher to Vice Principal, to opening up École McTavish High School as Principal in 2011. Under his leadership the school has grown to 1200 students this year - doubling in size since it became a high school. He helped bring PEAK sports academy to the Division, which grew from 30 students to 200.
Andrews has worn many leadership hats in various schools including overseeing the PEAK sports academy currently. He has been a Physical Education teacher at McTavish and now Vice Principal for the last four years. He has a Bachelor of Physical Education and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta and a Masters in Education in Leadership and Administration from St. Francis Xavier University.
Barr has a B.Ed from the University of Alberta and M.Ed in Educational Leadership from the University of Prince Edward Island. He has been active in the community, and also globally as he helped start Project Kenya at Westwood and then Project Cambodia at McTavish, which has led to building schools in both countries and allowed students here to see how they can impact change for children around the world.
Commenting on his appointment, Barr notes, “I am very excited to work with staff, students, and families as the Acting Director of Education with the Division. I have had a fantastic 25 years in the schools as a Teacher, Vice Principal, and Principal, and I know those experiences will aid me as I head to a new role.”
Andrews says, “I am honoured to continue my leadership journey at École McTavish. As part of the original staff at McTavish, it's exciting to be given the opportunity to grow with our school and I am committed to helping our school succeed following the legacy of excellence that Mr. Barr helped create.”
Superintendent Jennifer Turner congratulated both on the appointments.
“Scott and Thomas have been an asset to the leaders’ group. Their institutional knowledge, experience and deep connections to the community will make them a valuable addition to the Division leadership team.”
Congratulations Scott and Thomas.
For more information, please contact:
Kiran Malik-Khan
Communications Consultant
Fort McMurray Public School Division
kiran.malikkhan@fmpsd.ab.ca
780-880-7666
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