District Leadership
District leadership guides the provision of comprehensive educational programs, facilities and support services to students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 across a large and diverse district.
While the majority of our schools are found in Kamloops, there are small elementary schools in Vavenby, Heffley Creek, Savona, Pinantan, Westwold, Chase, Barriere, Clearwater and Logan Lake. The District works hard to provide these small rural communities with the same quality of educational programs found in urban centres, as well as to connect those students and staff to the District's larger educational community.
To do so, we rely on a key team of senior leaders — educational, business, engineering and IT professionals with significant experience and a tremendous body of skills.
Explore the Family of Schools organizational structure of the Assistant Superintendents here.
Dr. Rhonda Nixon brings many accomplishments from her diverse, 30-year career as an educator in rural, rural-urban, and large school districts in Alberta and as a post-secondary professor at the University of Victoria. Her previous roles include elementary, junior, and secondary teacher, and vice-principal, principal, division consultant and division administrator. Prior to her appointment as Superintendent for SD73 on July 1, 2021, she was the Deputy Superintendent of Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools, overseeing Inclusive and Early Education, English as Second Language, Indigenous Education, K-12 Curriculum, Distance and Outreach Education, Alternative Education Programs, Educational Technologies, and Data Management.
She holds a Bachelor of Education Degree, a Master of Education Degree, and a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta.
Lisa is the lead for secondary education services, including international education, provincial online learning, distance and continuing education, as well as global education. She has taught secondary English, social studies, and art and is an experienced school-based administrator, District Principal, Director of Instruction – Curriculum and has previous experience as an Assistant Superintendent. Lisa holds multiple post-secondary qualifications, including a Bachelor of Arts (Brandon University), a Post-Baccalaureate professional teaching certificate (Simon Fraser University), and Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (Simon Fraser University). Lisa continued her post-secondary learning through the Transformative Educational Leadership Program (University of British Columbia).
Grant has been an educator for 24 years, serving in diverse roles (district principal of inclusive education services, principal, vice-principal, teacher, learning support teacher, district numeracy lead) in rural (Lytton, Ashcroft, and Savona) and urban (Kamloops) communities. He holds multiple post-secondary qualifications, notably a Master's Degree in Educational Administration and Leadership (UVic), a School Management and Leadership (UVic) Professional Certificate, and a Transformative Educational Leadership Program (UBC) Professional Certificate.
Carol has been a teacher since 1998 and a school leader since 2005, with extensive experience specifically in the Kamloops-Thompson School District for her entire career. She has been a principal at several schools in the District, leading various Elementary schools and Schools of Choice (French Immersion and Montessori Program). One of her proudest educational accomplishments was being named a finalist for the Premier’s Award of Excellence in School Leadership in 2019. Among her post-secondary qualifications, Carol holds a Bachelor of Education (UBC/University College of the Cariboo) and a Masters of Administration and Curriculum (Gonzaga University). Additionally, Carol is a Transformative Educational Leadership Program graduate (University of British Columbia). Creating optimal learning environments to enhance student learning is a passion of hers.
Responsible for the Graduation Program, the School Completion Initiative, Student Information Systems and Trades and Transitions, Rick started his education career in Clearwater in 1992. While in Clearwater Rick taught history and social studies, was a school counsellor, a vice-principal and principal. In 2007, he moved to Kamloops gaining further experience as a school principal at Sa-Hali Secondary and South Kamloops Secondary. Prior to his current position, Rick was the District Principal of Human Resources for SD73. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from SFU, a Bachelor of Education degree and Transformative Education and Leadership Program certificate from UBC, a Master of Education in Teaching (Counselling) degree from Gonzaga University, and a BC Professional Teacher Certificate.
Art is responsible for the maintenance of the district’s 55 facilities and grounds, and a fleet of 100 maintenance vehicles. Annually he prepares the Long-Range Facilities Plan, the Capital Priorities Plan, and is integral to providing the data to manage district enrollment pressures. He is currently overseeing the expansion of Valleyview Secondary, the rebuilding of Parkcrest Elementary, and has started the process for a new elementary school in Pineview Valley.
A professional engineer, Art holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering (PEng) from UBC.
Robbie is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Thompson Rivers University. He started with School District No. 73 in 2019 as the Manager of Finance. His previous financial experience includes not-for-profit organizations, public accounting firms, banking, and utilities.
Responsible for planning and managing the information technology operations of the district, Wayne has 17 years of experience working in the public sector including 11 years as the manager of networks and security with SD73. He has a BA in Mathematics from SFU and is pursuing certification in Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), the leading framework for managing IT service delivery.
Sherry started her career in transportation almost 20 years ago as a driver and then as a dispatcher at BC Transit. Sherry joined SD73 in 2013 as a dispatcher, becoming manager in 2016, and director in 2021. In 2018 Sherry became a Certified Director of Pupil Transportation (CDPT). She is responsible for the district’s fleet of 93 buses, 113 employees and supports the management of the district’s fleet of 105 service vehicles.
An experienced educator and principal in both elementary and secondary schools, John joined the SD73 leadership team in 2018 as District Principal Human Resources. He assumed his current role in August 2022. Prior to coming to Kamloops he was the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for the High Prairie School Division in Alberta. John holds a Bachelor of Education (BEd) and a Master’s of Education (MEd) in Leadership and School Improvement from the University of Alberta as well as a Canadian Professional Human Resources (CPHR) affiliation.
Barb has experience serving in multiple roles as a secondary teacher and school-based leader in rural, urban, elementary and secondary schools. She began her career with SD73 in 1997 as a teacher at Logan Lake Secondary. She was the founding principal of Kamloops School of the Arts, and most recently the principal at Valleyview Secondary. Barb holds a Master of Educational Technology a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Music degrees, all from UBC.
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