Catholic school trustee Barbara McCool has retired following 46 years of service to Catholic Education and Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board (NPSC).
McCool has served as a trustee with the Board since 1977, holding the role of Chair of the Board from 1999-2000, from 2002-2004, again between 2009-2018, and was Vice-Chair between 2018-2020 and 2022-2023. She also served as both a trustee member and chair of the NPSC Special Education Advisory Committee for over 25 years.
"Barbara has made many contributions to NPSC and our wider community serving on various Board Committees and working groups throughout her career as a Catholic school trustee," says a news release. "Always guided by her faith, she was instrumental in the development of the Board’s Faith and Spiritual Development Committee and the initiation of the Board of Trustees Faith Retreat. Barbara also demonstrated her servant leadership through her membership with a number of community associations including but not limited to the Association for Community Living, the Nipissing Down Syndrome Society, and the Mental Health Services Board."
“I feel very privileged and proud to have served with so many Catholic Trustees, Directors of Education and Senior Administration teams over the years to support our shared vision of providing an inclusive faith-based education that promotes the dignity of each child. As a Catholic school Trustee, I was driven by a strong sense of commitment to Catholic Education and to advocating on behalf of all children, including those with special needs.” said McCool.
She has been recognized throughout her career. In 1993, the North Bay and Area Business and Professional Women’s Club awarded her with a Woman of Distinction Award, and in 2006 the Ontario Catholic Schools’ Trustees Association recognized Barbara with a Trustee Award of Merit.
