Head of TDSB announces retirement
Described as ‘exceptional, caring and effective,’ Malloy took job in 2016
John Malloy, who has headed the country’s largest school board for the past four years, is retiring.
The director of education of the Toronto District School Board says he will leave Nov. 1.
“I am grateful for the privilege of serving students, staff, parents and our community in TDSB over the last several years,” he said in a statement on Monday. “I have been so impressed with the courage of this board and staff to focus on and act on issues of equity. As I reflect on the progress we have made together to help every student succeed, I know that the foundation has been set for this important work to continue because of the amazing leadership happening at every level of the system.”
Board chair Robin Pilkey called Malloy “an exceptional, caring and effective leader,” in a letter to staff Monday afternoon.
“When he came to this board in January 2016, we were in a very different position than we are today and after many years of turmoil, we were ready for a fresh start, one that John provided.
“Thanks to John’s leadership, tireless work, dedication and willingness to have hard discussions — and help us as a board make hard decisions — the TDSB is now seen as a model of excellence in equity and instruction in North America,” Pilkey wrote.
“John led the way for that success.”
The board says it will now start a search to find a new leader, one who will take over as schools continue to grapple with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“There will be more information on this process as it proceeds,” Pilkey also wrote. “However we are confident that an exceptional candidate will be found through a comprehensive search, and the new director will work with the board of trustees to continue our critical work for the next school year and beyond.”
Malloy joined the Toronto board after serving as an assistant deputy minister of education and head of the Hamilton-Wentworth public board — and following a governance review after numerous concerns at the Toronto board were raised, including issues with previous director Donna Quan.
Quan resigned after the governance report was submitted in the summer of 2015 and took on a Ministry of Education research project at York University
At the time, then-Liberal education minister Liz Sandals said with Malloy at the helm, the Toronto board had “strong leadership.”
“I’m not afraid of challenges,” Malloy said in 2015. “I plan to listen quickly and listen carefully, and moving forward, I’m confident we can work together for the good of our students.”
Malloy earned $303,373.44 in 2019.