TDSB chair to resign, stay on as trustee

Robin Pilkey will stay on as a trustee, but is stepping down as chair of the country’s largest school board after five years.

As the longest-serving elected leader of the Toronto District School Board, Pilkey told the Star she felt it was time to hand over the reins as trustees embark on finding a new director of education and implement school reopening plans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pilkey, an accountant who won the support of fellow trustees in 2015 after only having served on the board for eight months, told the Star that because she will remain as the representative for her Parkdale-High Park ward, she will be around to help and mentor whoever takes her place.

The vote for a new chair is expected Aug.10. No candidates have yet emerged.

The board’s current vice-chair is Trixie Doyle.

Doyle represents Don Valley East.

Pilkey took over after a rocky period for the board and has been credited, along with justdeparted education director John Malloy, with repairing its reputation and allowing it to focus on students and student achievement.

“The board has come a long way and overcome a number of significant challenges since I first assumed the role five years ago,” Pilkey said.

“It has truly been one of the greatest honours of my life to be chair of the TDSB … (but) given the importance of the upcoming search for a permanent director of education, I felt it was necessary to make this decision now to ensure the greatest amount of stability as we move through the recruitment process.”