Thorold Secondary School (TSS) has rolled out the welcome mat for a new principal.
Karen Ferguson assumed the helm at the beginning of the January term after some retirements created positions that needed to be filled within the District School Board of Niagara.
Ferguson brings with her twenty years of experience, but also a family tradition in teaching as well as a strong desire to help.
She told the ThoroldNews, “I came from a long line of teachers. My parents were teachers, I had a grandfather that was a principal and I have aunts and uncles that were teachers.”
Her husband, Tom, works for Salit Steel.
But it wasn’t until she was in university at Waterloo before she decided to teach saying, “It was a definite interest in special education,” that ignited her passion.
Ferguson spent 15 years teaching special needs children and a total of 17 years at Fort Erie Secondary School before moving to Westlane as Vice Principal for three years, and another year-and-a-half at Stamford in the same capacity.
She took her first assignment as principal in Thorold replacing Helena Trichew.
“Helena was a mentor to me so it’s not that difficult to follow her,” said Ferguson.
A January shuffle is unusual but Ferguson said, “I like moving at this time of year. Things are set for the semester so you get to see things in motion and jump right in.”
She acknowledged there is a learning curve but noted, “This is a very nice community and staff have been great. I am pleased with the transition so far.”
Ferguson said she hopes her stay in Thorold will be a lengthy one.
“Assignment terms are variable, depending on the needs of the system in general, but I hope I’m here for a good period of time. It takes time to decide in what direction you want to take the school next. And then to actually do any implementation of that, also takes time and that’s important,” she said.
Right now she is getting to know the school and the staff.
“I met with program leaders to see what’s happening in their departments. Once I get an idea I can see where we’re moving forward. Of course, there’s always a focus on literacy and numeracy,” she explained.
She added, “We always try to monitor school cultures to make sure we foster a positive school culture. The staff here is great, many have been here for a while and they are very vested in the school and the community, so I’ll tap into them.”
Ferguson noted that TSS has had fairly steady enrolment of around 630 students drawing from elementary schools Richmond Street, Ferndale, Westmount, Prince of Wales, Connaught and Ontario School.
“The teachers are really anxious to support students in the community and are passionate about the school and about students choosing to stay in Thorold and go to their community school. This is a great place to be,” she concluded.
