Catholic school board director Picard set to retire
Paul Picard, director of education for the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board since 2010, announced his retirement at Tuesday night’s board meeting.
Picard, 64, will retire on Oct. 30 after a career in education that spanned 41 years.
“It’s been an honour and a privilege to have served the children of Windsor-Essex and their families for so many years,” Picard said in a news release.
“Our board has accomplished a great deal, and now it’s time for someone else with a strong sense of our vision, our goals and our commitment to Catholic education to step up and assume the mantle of leadership.”
Picard began his career as a teacher with the board in 1976 and taught at Notre Dame, St. James, St. Edward and Christ the King Catholic elementary schools.
In the early 1990s, Picard moved into administrative roles, serving as vice-principal or principal at W.J. Langlois, St. Paul and Holy Cross elementary schools.
He became a board superintendent in 2008.
Picard, the son of a former chair of the Windsor Separate School Board, was named director of education in August 2010.
“Paul has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in education, always marching to the beat of his own drum,” board chair Barbara Holland said.
“Thanks to his guidance and collaboration with our trustees, our board is in a much better place now, as is Catholic education in Windsor-Essex. Although we’re sad to see him go, we wish him all the best.”
Holland said the board will follow a clearly prescribed and thorough process to be announced in the coming weeks to find Picard’s successor.
“It will be important to ensure that we find someone with fresh ideas to carry on in the direction that we have established with Paul in order to keep the positive momentum going,” Holland said.
The board says Picard’s achievements during his tenure as director include a steady increase in student achievement and graduation rates, consolidation of schools that saw more resources and innovative programs in the classroom, the creation of three new middle schools, an increase in international student enrolment and securing $27 million in funding for the new replacement for Catholic Central high school.
Picard was also at the helm during some difficult times, such as when the province took control of the board in August 2012, and appointed a supervisor to oversee the board’s financial management and administration due to years of overspending prior to Picard’s tenure.
Board chaplain Rev. Larry Brunet said Picard always made sure a strong Catholic identity was at the forefront for the board.
“Paul has always remained true to the fundamental vision of providing a distinctly Christian education for our students and their families,” Brunet said.
“That commitment has really been at the core of all of his decisions, and for that, we’re truly grateful.”
Picard said he is looking forward to the freedom that comes with retirement.
“I’m certain there will be no shortage of opportunities to keep my mind occupied, but at this point I’d like to take some time to relax and reflect upon what this next chapter of my life will look like,” Picard said.
Paul has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in education, always marching to the beat of his own drum.