Past Presidents

During the 2008-2009 year OPSOA published a booklet to "recognize 20 years of service to the superintendents and directors of education of the public school boards of the province". The booklet contained the photograph of every OPSOA President up to that date and included a reflection on the highlights of their year as President.

OPSOA is pleased to provide a group photo from the 20th Anniversary celebration, the individual photos and the partial comments of our past Presidents here and will soon update this page with the Presidents who have served since 2008-2009. Download the 20th Anniversary Booklet for the full comments and other material.

OPSOA Past Presidents Group Photo: 2007

Len Budden 1989-1991

AS co-chair of the founding committee and as the first president,the issue that was the focus of our attention was establishing a set of principles that would form the rationale for the organization's existence...
Robert Kennedy
1990-1991

IN 1990 OPSOA established new structures and processes to meet the needs and aspirations of public school officials in Ontario. OPSOA pressed for a federation among the newly formed officials' associations...
Jacquie Kemball
1991-1992

AS first female president of OPSOA, and the representative from Toronto, I was able to bring an emphasis to the growing female role in leadership and the needs of the large urban school board...
Frank Kelly
1992-1993

1992 was a time of economic restriction in Ontario and the impacts on education were severe. It was tough to find teaching jobs. Money was tight for school system operations and almost non-existent for new initiatives...
Barry Vail
1993-1994

THIS year began with a board of directors' retreat in Haliburton. Strategic planning was a success as was the fellowship...
Marg Werkhoven
1994-1995

THE Royal Commission on Learning Report, New Foundations, was published half-way through my 1994‑95 term as president of OPSOA. We spent considerable time as an organization formulating a submission...
Paul Collins
1995-1996

THE beginning of my career as a supervisory officer was coincidental with the founding of OPSOA. I well remember feeling that its establishment was critical to the maintenance of a strong public education system...
Grant Yeo
1996-1997

1996-97 was a time of concern for retention of positions for supervisory officers. It was also a time of coming together with increased membership involved through the use of the net to communicate...
Terry Lynch
1997-1998

I well remember racing down Highway 400 after board meetings in Simcoe County in order to get to Oakville for OPSOA board meetings.

1997-98 was a very busy year...
Patti Haskell
1998-1999

SERVING as the 10th president of OPSOA, the year that I also retired and took my farewell tour, was one of the highlights of my career. Not only did the organization provide me with an opportunity to meet and learn...
Frances McKenna
1999-2000

TO serve as leader among leaders is always a heady task. It makes one stretch beyond one's own knowledge and experience. It drives one to seek the wisdom and inspiration of one's respected peers...
Peter Askey
2000-2001

THE 2000-01 year had its share of issues and accomplishments. Most prominent among the factors influencing the educational scene at that time was the "Common Sense Revolution"...
Darlene Leaver
2001-2002

MY congratulations to OPSOA on its 20 years of service to public supervisory officers in Ontario education. As a member since 1990 I am sincerely appreciative of the opportunities and support OPSOA...
Ruth Mattingley
2002-2003

ONE of the highlights of my career has been my participation in OPSOA and specifically my year as president of our association. OPSOA plays a critical role in shaping educational policy and ensuring excellence...
Larry Langdon
2003-2004

2003-04 represented a significant watershed for OPSOA as it coincided with the first full year of the Provincial Liberal Party as the Government the Premier declaring that he would be the "education" premier...
Tony Tumminieri
2004-2005

"WHEN the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie— that's amore…" It was April 14, 2005 and all I could hear were those lyrics and the dulcet tones of Dean Martin emanating from the loud speaker, as I entered the luncheon...
Colin Vickers
2005-2006

THROUGHOUT my time on the OPSOA board of directors and as a member of the organization I have been impressed with the quality of relationships. As president I noted numerous occasions of...
Ken Thurston
2006-2007

I had the good fortune to be president at a time when the Minister, the Ministry and provincial agencies valued OPSOA's input. I believe we will look back on the early years of the new millennium as important ones for...
Johanne Messner
2007-2008

IT was both an honour and a privilege and one of the highlights of my career to have been elected as the 19th president of OPSOA, for the year 2007-08. I must recognize the constant support of the exemplary members...
Lise Haman
2008-2009

I have had the privilege of leading OPSOA for the past year. OPSOA is committed to leading public education in our province and ensuring that our education system is the foundation for the success of our students....
Linda Fabi
2009-2010
Tony Pontes
2010-2011
Ken Bain
2011-2012