M’CHIGEENG—The Rainbow District School Board (RDSB) is welcoming two new vice-principals to Manitoulin Secondary School this fall.
Steve Doane and Rachel Goodfellow are joining the MSS administration this year, both having extensive teaching experience, and both have had their own children graduate through the MSS system.
“I am excited about being one of the vice-principals at MSS,” state Steve Doane. “After so many years as a teacher I was after a new challenge. I have loved teaching on Manitoulin and at MSS in the past, but I never want to see a red pen again,” he quipped.
Mr. Doane started his teaching career in Yellowknife for seven years beginning in the early 1990s. “I came to the Rainbow District School Board in 1999 for a couple of semesters teaching in elementary school in Espanola. My first part time work came at MSS when Carolyn Lane-Rock (MSS principal at the time) hired me in 2002.”
“Over my years at MSS I have taught history, geography, special education and manners,” Mr. Doane grinned.
“I’m excited about this position and was looking forward to something a little more challenging,” said Ms. Goodfellow. “After attending teachers’ college, I had planned on becoming a high school teacher.”
“I will take on the role of acting vice-president of Indigenous Education,” said Ms. Goodfellow, who lives in Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation.
“I started my career in September 2006, in Sault Ste. Marie as an elementary school supply teacher with Algoma District School Board for four months,” explained Ms. Goodfellow. “Then in January 2007 I took a Grade 8 teachers job at Lakeview Elementary School in M’Chigeeng First Nation for one year.”
Ms. Goodfellow was a supply teacher from January 2008 until 2015 as an occasionally teacher at RDSB.
“In 2014 I started at Assiginack Public School as an Ojibway language teacher until 2017,” said Ms. Goodfellow “I taught from September 2017 in Grades 2 and 3 until this past June at Little Current Public School as an Ojibway Through the Arts teacher.”
Ms. Goodfellow, who has been an avid volunteer for the Little Current Minor Hockey Association (LCMHA) for many years said in her role at MSS, “I will be looking to support Indigenous students, and help to improve graduation rates of Indigenous students at the school and that the students graduate on time.”
Both Mr. Doane and Ms. Goodfellow have had their own children go through and graduate at MSS.
“My three children have all gone to and graduated from MSS,” said Mr. Doane. Mark went on to get a business degree and is now part owner of a water installation company in Ottawa. Tess is a lawyer and practicing in Ottawa and Greg received his business diploma at Canadore College and is now apprenticing as an electrician on Manitoulin.
Ms. Goodfellow explained, “I have a daughter who is in Grade 10 and two older children that also attended MSS. My other son is in Grade 8 this year. I told him one day that I would be following him to high school. When I got this job he said, ‘I guess you weren’t kidding.’”
“I’m looking forward to the position of vice-principal although there is going to be a challenge technology wise for me,” said Mr. Doane. “I was getting ready to retire in two years and now I’m learning a whole new system. But it should be fun.”
