Marilyn Marquis-Forster has been named as the new superintendent of School District 57 (Prince George).
The former superintendent of the Swan Valley school division in Manitoba will start in time for the 2016/17 school year.
She replaces Brian Pepper, who abruptly resigned in December 2015 for "reasons connected to health and opportunity" after 10 years in the superintendent's chair.
"We ended up with a number of candidates, with some even applying from overseas," said Tony Cable, SD 57 board chair. "From that we took it down to four people to interview."
The interviews were a two-day in-person process where the candidates gave a presentation on how they would conduct strategy in the district and took questions during a 90-minute interview process from both a panel of partner groups, including representatives from the two CUPE unions, the principal and vice-principal association, District Parent Advisory Council and SD 57 Teachers' Association, and a member of SD 57 senior staff the first day and then the same process took place the second day with the school board trustees, the secretary-treasurer and Ron Pound, the consultant retained by SD 57 to help with the search for a new superintendent.
The decision to hire Marquis-Forster became clear, Cable said, when she presented very strongly in all areas.
"She had a great experience base, she had a number of administrative positions as principal and in board office positions and as a superintendent," said Cable.
"She spoke very well, she gave an excellent presentation and her references were first rate."
In a statement, Marquis-Forster said she was excited to become part of the School District 57 team.
"I know that this school district is a recognized leader in K-12 in British Columbia," said Marquis-Forster. "I welcome the opportunity to further that legacy and look forward to meeting students, staff and community partners."
As superintendent, Marquis-Forster will oversee more than 14,000 students and 2,100 teachers and support staff working in 31 elementary schools, eight high schools and the Centre for Learning Alternatives. In the 2013/14 fiscal year, the most current year that figures are available, Pepper's superintendent salary was $147,241, the same rate of pay he had received since 2009/10.
