LDSB Director of Education announces retirement plans

Director of Education Debra Rantz, who joined the Limestone District School Board (LDSB) in 2015, has shared her plans to retire in August after 27 years in public education.

“She is an outstanding leader who embraces our important work to nurture the growth of future citizens,” said Suzanne Ruttan, chairs of the LDSB Board of Directors. “Our schools have continued to advance and grow under her leadership and we wish her nothing but happiness in her future.”

During her time with the LDSB, Rantz helped to build two new schools and worked to with students, staff, families and trustees to build strategic plans. She was also responsible for student-focused, balanced budgets from the school board.

Rantz is currently an executive member of the Council of Directors of Education and is the Eastern Region Director of the Provincial Council of Directors of Education. She is also one of the first recipients of the Dr. Bette Stephenson Award of Excellence and was nominated to the Ontario Institute for Educational Leadership.

Rantz was also one of five Canadians chosen to be part of an international team of educators to establish and lead a new Kindergarten to Grade 13 school in Brunei Darussalam, and served as the Chief Assessment Officer with the Education Quality and Accountability Officer.

“Our students have inspired every moment of my work and I delight in their stories of achievement and well-being,” Rantz said in reflecting on her retirement.

“While the work in each of [my] capacities brought unique pleasures and challenges, I have approached each through the eyes of a teacher, and it is as a teacher that I retire,” she added. Her career has evolved from teacher to department head, vice-principal, principal and superintendent, among other roles.

While Rantz’s last day with the school board will be August 31, 2020, she is proud her time with the LDSB.

“Despite changing conditions and new directions in public education, I am proud to say that as a board, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring our collective work benefits all students and, together, this is our legacy,” Rantz said.

The Board of Trustees will be working with an executive search firm to recruit for a new director.