Longtime school board chair looks back on achievements

Jennifer Sarlo is looking back on her years as the Algoma District School Board chair of the board of trustees with satisfaction.

Sarlo was first elected to the board as trustee for Ward One in 2006 and served as vice-chair of the board in 2009 before becoming chair in 2011.

She chose not to run for re-election as chair in December and was succeeded by Elaine Johnston.

“It felt like the timing was right for me,” Sarlo told SooToday about her choice to step aside as chair.

“There are others that had a desire to take on some leadership roles around the board table like Elaine Johnston and Greg Bowman and I have confidence in them.”

After 20 years of serving on the board, Sarlo said she doesn’t anticipate running for re-election as trustee for Ward One in the next municipal election scheduled for Oct. 26, 2026.

“At this point I don’t know that I will put my name forward. That can change but that’s just what I’m thinking right now.”

As a mother of two, Sarlo felt motivated to run for trustee in 2006.

She had been involved with her kids’ school from when they were in kindergarten. 

“I was on the parent involvement committee and I saw the trustee role as something that was kind of a natural fit for me.

“I think there was a desire for some change at that time,” Sarlo said of her becoming chair in 2011.

She said as chair she enjoyed the challenges and rewards of interacting with other trustees, leading a team and maintaining a respectful and productive relationship with ADSB senior administration.

“Keeping that continuity, providing that leadership and guidance to new trustees and helping them grow in their role is always challenging because you have different personalities and different expectations.

“I think building those relationships and maintaining them is always challenging but I’m really thankful for developing a skill set that allowed everything to run quite positively.”

Looking out for the well-being of students, listening to parents’ concerns, working with trustees and administration while always walking in step with the Ministry of Education’s guidelines is a complex set of responsibilities, but Sarlo looks back on the many positive achievements at ADSB during her 14 years as chair.

“There are many programs that we’ve invested in over the years and I think of the project that’s ongoing at White Pines,” Sarlo said.

Plans for a new Algoma District School Board Technology Centre, which included a major overhaul of the technical shops area at White Pines Collegiate, were announced by the board in October 2021.

Work continues toward completion of that project.

“My husband is a contractor and he’s been in the trades since he was 17 years old and just to see the shift in our society around valuing the trades once again has been a big thing for me. I’m also proud of our robotics program and our sports academies,” Sarlo said.

Sarlo added that the occasional decision to close a school was difficult but she is pleased ADSB worked to transform school closures into positive transformations for students.

“School closures are never popular and never easy. I think about decisions we made around Grades 7 and 8 going to Central Algoma Secondary School and having to close some district schools.

“Those are difficult decisions to make but we have a new learning space at Central Algoma and creative programming for Grades 7 and 8 in all our high schools with options for parents and options for students.”

Sarlo added she’s happy to be stepping aside as chair at a time when ADSB is seeing significant growth in enrolment.

While leaving the chair’s position and not planning to run for re-election as trustee in October, Sarlo said she remains committed to her role as Coldest Night of the Year co-event director.

Sarlo also cherishes her Christian faith and is an involved member of Bethel Bible Chapel.

“I count it a privilege to lead and to serve at whatever level that I can be of use.”