Bruce Bourget, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board, is pleased to announce the appointment of Maureen McNamara as Superintendent of Schools. Superintendent McNamara assumed her role on August 21, 2023.
“Maureen McNamara has extensive experience in education that will serve her well as Superintendent of Schools,” said Director Bourget. “Our system will benefit immensely from her knowledge and expertise in teaching and learning as well as her instructional leadership. She has a strong understanding of assessment to drive data-informed decisions and improve instructional practices.”
In addition to a number of elementary and secondary schools, Superintendent McNamara will oversee academic programming for Grades 7 to 12, literacy from Kindergarten to Grade 12, student success, environmental education, and equity and inclusive education, among other portfolios.
“I welcome the opportunity to continue to contribute to Rainbow District School Board and the communities it serves in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin Island,” said Superintendent McNamara. “It is an honour to collaborate with all staff in the service of students, inspiring them to achieve their full potential.”
Maureen McNamara has worked with a diverse population of learners. She was the founding Principal of Barrydowne College, a re-engagement school for students ages 18 to 21. Barrydowne College has inspired many success stories since its inception in 2011. Hundreds of students who were not successful in a regular school setting earned their high school diploma, opening doors for their future.
Having established a solid foundation on which to build, Principal McNamara left Barrydowne College in 2015 and returned to the administrative team at Lasalle Secondary School as Principal until June of 2022. She was a Vice-Principal at Lasalle Secondary School from 2007 to 2011. In the last school year, Maureen McNamara was Principal of Student Success.
Maureen McNamara has taught Grades 9 to 12 History and Psychology. Prior to becoming a school administrator, she held positions of progressive responsibility in Literacy, Student Success and Social Sciences.
Born and raised in Sudbury, Maureen McNamara is a proud graduate of Sudbury Secondary School. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from York University and a Bachelor of Education from Brandon University. She completed a Master’s degree at Charles Sturt University (Australia) specializing in International Education and School Leadership.
A community-minded individual, Maureen McNamara is an active member of the Rotary Sudbury Sunrisers and Chair of the Finlandia Village SISU Foundation. She established a partnership between Lasalle Secondary School and Finlandia Village that continues to grow in scope and significance, for the benefit of seniors and students.