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Former Southwood principal in charge of student achievement and well-being

Cambridge native Vida Collis began her career working with in-risk youth at a variety of non-profit organizations
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Vida Collis is the Waterloo Region District School Board's new Superintendent of Student Achievement and Well-Being, effective Feb. 6.

The Waterloo Region District School Board has appointed Vida Collis as the board's new superintendent of student achievement and well-being, effective Feb. 6.

Collis began her career with the WRDSB in 2001, serving the students and communities as a teacher at Forest Heights Collegiate Institute, Waterloo Collegiate Institute and Glenview Park Secondary School.

In 2007, she took on the role of vice principal at what is now known as Laurel Heights Secondary School, before serving in the same role at Eastwood Collegiate Institute and Southwood Secondary School.

In 2017, she became principal of Southwood, and later Laurel Heights.

Prior to becoming an employee of the WRDSB, Collis began her career working with in-risk youth at a variety of non-profit organizations, including the John Howard Society. Though Collis has spent many years working as an employee of the WRDSB, the board says she also brings the perspective of having attended Preston High School as a student, while growing up in Cambridge.

“I know I speak for all of us on the Senior Team when I say we are so excited to welcome Vida to this new role,” said jeewan chanicka, director of education for the WRDSB. “Vida’s extensive experience as an educator will support us in centering students and student voice as this will help to inform decisions that impact them across Waterloo Region.”

The board says it looks forward to welcoming Collis to this new role, and to the leadership and guidance she will provide for staff and students across the WRDSB as she focuses her efforts on student achievement and well-being.