Revered Superintendent Passes Away

Flags were at half staff last Friday at the Upper Canada District School Board in honour of former superintendent of education, Ted Kennedy, who tragically passed away last Thursday, following a sudden collapse days before, while participating in the annual Ottawa half-marathon.

“Ted Kennedy was a very talented colleague who brought grace and dignity to his work with our board,” stated Director of Education David Thomas.

“No matter what the challenge, Ted would always return with the research and recommendations that made the most sense.  In my thirty years working in education, I have met very few people like Ted.”

“I admired Ted for his work and his work ethic.  When many of us might want to wait for another day to revisit the challenge at hand, Ted would continue with a zest and a verve that were truly unique,” added Board Chair, Greg Pietersma .

“Our school board has lost a wonderful professional but we’ve also lost a dear friend.”
In 2005 Kennedy created the Terry Fox Staff Challenge to inspire school board employees to put on their running shoes to walk, run, or roller blade to support the cause of Terry Fox.  Kennedy single-handedly organized the entire challenge that meandered throughout the board’s 12,000 square kilometer area culminating on Terry Fox National School Run Day.

At the time, Kennedy was quoted as saying, “The goal of the challenge is to celebrate the legacy of Terry Fox, to raise funds through donations for cancer research, and have staff act as role models for our students demonstrating the benefits of healthy living.”

“That will be Ted’s legacy to our board,” said Thomas.

“He inspired us to participate in the challenge every September and he had every detail covered from planning the route to monitoring the progress to supplying bottled water.  And often he would have his dogs along for the ride in his vehicle.  This fall will be our opportunity to honour our memories of Ted.”
Kennedy, 58, served as superintendent of education from 2004 until March this year when he retired from the board.  However, in April he began a new role as the executive director of the Upper Canada Leger Centre for Education and Training.