Trudy Thompson, Chair of CCRSB, announced the retirement during a meeting Wednesday night. Chair Thompson read Clarke’s letter of retirement into the official record during the Regular Public Board Meeting.
“Gary Clarke has served the students and staff of first, the Cumberland District School Board, and now the CCRSB for 36 years,” said Thompson. “His dedication, commitment and passion for education has made him a truly exceptional leader for our system. He will be greatly missed.”
A search committee for Superintendent Clarke’s replacement has been formed. It is expected that the search will be national.
Clarke’s official retirement date is July 31, 2015.
Clarke was appointed as Superintendent of Schools/CEO on Sept. 1, 2010.
Throughout his career, Clarke has worked to promote educational excellence in the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board and the former Cumberland District School Board, his profile on the CCRSB website states.
He started as a classroom teacher in Parrsboro in 1979, taught in Springhill, and then moved into vice-principal and principal roles in River Hebert and Springhill. In 1991, Clarke was appointed Sub-System Supervisor - Secondary Education for the Cumberland District School Board, and then Director of Elementary and Secondary Programs and Services in 1994. When the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board formed in 1996, Clarke was appointed Chignecto Family of Schools Supervisor, and then served as the Director of Education Services from 2006 until his appointment as Superintendent in 2010.
