The Peel District School Board announced today that Peter Joshua has been selected as the new Director of Education for the Peel District School Board. Joshua replaces Tony Pontes who is retiring effective August 31st.
Janet McDougald, the long-time Chair of the Board said that “Peter was our clear choice” and added “we are confident that he will bring his inspired and collaborative leadership style to Peel, and strongly believe he will provide the stability our system deserves.”
Joshua is set to take over after a rocky end to the seven year tenure of Pontes who has been dealing recently with unruly school board meetings and religious accommodation issues for Muslim students. Joshua is currently serving as executive superintendent of leadership and learning in the Hamilton-Wentworth school board. He grew up in Mississauga, attended Thorn Lodge and Homelands Sr. Public School and graduated from Erindale Secondary School.
The board signed a four-year contract with Joshua with an annual salary of $249,312 plus benefits. Additional compensation includes a $10,000 annual car allowance and seven weeks of vacation.
The Peel Board is the largest employer in Peel Region, and the second largest board in Canada serving over 150,000 students across 250 schools and operates with a $1.77 Billion budget.
