North Vancouver School District announces new superintendent

The new superintendent of schools for North Vancouver won’t have to move very far when he walks into his new office.

The school district has announced it has hired Pius Ryan, current assistant superintendent of schools, to take over the top job, starting June 1.

Ryan has been assistant superintendent in the North Vancouver School District since 2013, where he has been involved in setting up a district-wide approach to social and emotional learning and mental health, according to the school district.

Other key focuses have included inclusive education, Indigenous education and career development.

Provincially, Ryan has also held roles on an advisory group for provincial assessments and the graduation program as well as provincial committees on immigration and youth mental health.

Prior to coming to North Vancouver, Ryan was director of educational services with the Surrey School District.

Ryan and his family live on the North Shore. Two of his three children attend schools in North Vancouver while an older son is studying at the University of British Columbia.

The Board of Education made the choice from inside school district ranks after a search prompted when former superintendent Mark Pearmain left to take over as superintendent of the Surrey School District earlier this spring. Pearmain had been superintendent for five years and was also previously an assistant superintendent in the North Vancouver School District.

Sylvia Russell, who is currently acting superintendent in North Vancouver, will continue in that role until the end of the month.