MANITOULIN—There have been changes made in the principal position at a couple of Manitoulin Island elementary schools this fall. Bruce Bourget, director of education for the Rainbow District School Board (RDSB), outlined all the changes being made at schools within the schoolboard at a board meeting last week.
At Assiginack Public School (APS) in Manitowaning, Julie Balen has taken over the position of principal of the school. Ms. Balen began her career at the Wikwemikong Board of Education where she taught various grades at the secondary level in English and literacy and garnered a wealth of knowledge in creating blended learning classrooms.
Ms. Balen joined the RDSB in 2024 as vice-principal of Little Current Public School (LCPS). Principal Balen is thrilled to bring her experience to her home community of Assiginack.
At Little Current Public School, Tracey Chapman is back as principal of the school with Sherri Toope taking over the reins of vice-principal this school year. Since joining the board in 1995, Ms. Chapman has taught various grades from Kindergarten to Grade 12 in both Sudbury and Manitoulin Island. She has been an administrator on Manitoulin Island since 2002, having served as principal of Central Manitoulin Public School in Mindemoya, Charles C. McLean Public School in Gore Bay and, for the last three years, Assiginack Public School. She previously taught at Little Current Public School and is looking forward to returning to the school as principal.
