Members of the task force will examine current educational research, consult with educators and the public and recommend strategies to improve student achievement.

The task force is made up of a diverse group of knowledgeable individuals from both the education system and the community. Members include Dr. Richard Kurial, chair, Zain Esseghaïer, Maurice Poirier, Dr. Alex (Sandy) MacDonald, Ken Gunn, Gary Doucette, B.J. Willis, Rob MacDonald, Beth Cullen, Kim Horrelt, Steve Loggie, Justin MacLeod and George Morrison; ex-officio: Shauna Sullivan Curley, Linda Lowther.

“We have become increasingly dependent on a well educated workforce and the need for a high quality education system is more important than ever before,” said Premier Binns. “We believe it is time to take a close look at how our students are achieving and our education system is performing so we can take action to ensure that our children are getting the best education possible.”

Education Minister Mildred Dover said she hopes the task force will recommend ways to increase parent involvement in education. “As parents, we are our children’s first teachers and we have more influence on their learning than anyone else,” she said. “We have modern curricula and fine teachers and we want to provide them with all the supports they need to help students succeed.”

Premier Binns advised that government has invested heavily in key areas of education such as new school construction, new curriculum, more supports for students with special needs, more teachers and smaller class sizes. “Now we want to focus on student achievement and especially those key areas of literacy which include reading, writing and numeracy,” he said. “Achieving a strong foundation in literacy means more than acquiring the basic ability to read, write and do math. It includes the ability to understand information from a variety of sources, to interpret it and communicate with a high degree of critical analysis.”

The Premier said government is taking a collaborative approach to strengthen and renew the education system. “Student achievement is determined by many factors and no one group can address the challenge effectively in isolation,” he said. “There’s likely not one big solution but a number of smaller solutions that can improve student achievement over time,” he said.

Minister Dover said the work of the task force will complement a new school improvement planning initiative now being implemented by the Department of Education. “With the recommendations of the task force and consistent school improvement processes in place in all Island schools, we will be well prepared to monitor our progress and meet future challenges and opportunities,” she said.

The task force will provide its report to the Minister of Education by September 30, 2005.

BACKGROUNDER

Prince Edward Island Task Force on Student Achievement Members

Dr. Richard Kurial, Chair

-Dean of Arts, Associate Professor of History, UPEI

-Received his B.A. from UBC; M.A. from U of T; PhD from the University of California

-Taught at University of San Diego, University of British Columbia and the University College of the Cariboo

-Recipient of many research grants and fellowships

-Past president of the UPEI Faculty Association

-Highly regarded by students and colleagues for his excellent teaching skills

Zaïn Esseghaïer

-Director of Instruction at la Commission scolaire de langue française (French Language School Board)

-Teacher, principal, and board consultant during his 20-year career in Education in PEI

-Strongly believes in child-centered philosophy and in professional development

-Served on many professional committees.

Maurice Poirier

-President of the PEI Teachers’ Federation

-Taught in Western PEI for over 20 years

-Served on many committees

-Presently a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation

Dr. Alex (Sandy) MacDonald

-Superintendent, Eastern School District

-Former Director of Educational Services and Programs at Holland College

-Received his doctorate from McGill and M.Ed. In Educational Psychology from University of Alberta

-Co-Winner of the Reader’s Digest Award for Excellence in Education

Ken Gunn

-Retired Senior Director of Public Education in PEI

-Former school administrator and school board consultant

-As a parent and grandparent, he’s interested in improving our school system

-Resident of Summerside

Gary Doucette

-Chairperson of the Western School Board and board member for 9 years

-Employee of the Canadian Revenue Agency in Summerside

-Past president of the PEI School Trustees Association

B.J. (Barbara Jane) Willis

-Principal, Montague High School since 1998

-Former district principal, Eastern School District

-Knowledgeable in the areas of School Leadership and Successful Schools

-Currently a member of the Premier’s Council On Healthy Child Development

-Named one of Canada’s outstanding principals by The Learning Partnership, 2005

Rob MacDonald

-Math teacher at Colonel Gray High School for 11 years

-Holds a specialized degree in mathematics teaching from the University of Waterloo

-Has two children who attend École Francois Buote

-Church Elder

Beth Cullen

-Mother of four children who attend Prince Street Elementary, Birchwood Intermediate and Colonel Gray Senior High School.

-Volunteer at Prince Street Elementary School

-Treasurer of the Prince Street Home and School Association

-Graduate of Mount Saint Vincent University

-Past member of the Education Review Committee for the Colonel Gray Family of Schools

Kim Horrelt

-Holds a degree in Engineering and a Masters of Business Administration

-Presently Program Manager for the Applied Science and Engineering Technology, Media and Computer Studies Programs at Holland College

-Member of the Board of Directors of Maritime Electric; member of the Board of Directors of IWK Foundation; chair of the Board of Directors of Holland College Foundation

-Past member of the School Board for the Eastern School District

-Has three children who attend Charlottetown Rural and Stonepark Intermediate.

Steve Loggie

-Father of two children who attend West Kent Elementary and Queen Charlotte Intermediate School

-Manager of Finance and Customer Service at Maritime Electric

-Member of the Holland College Board of Governors, Harbour Authority Inc, and the Nature Conservancy of Canada

Justin MacLeod

-Father of 3 children who attend Belfast Consolidated School

-Founder of Timeless Technologies Inc

-Vice Chair, Belfast Community Development Corporation

-Coordinator of Knowledge Assessment Methodology project with the National Research Institute and the Institute of Island Studies

-Sunday school teacher

George Morrison

-Taught in the PEI public education system for 34 years specializing in high school math

-Served on many educational committees

-Continued to be actively involved in sports and recreation

-Resident of Morell

Ex-officio: Shauna Sullivan Curley, Deputy Minister of Education

Linda Lowther, Senior Director of Public Education