OSSTF/FEESO Welcomes the New Minister of Education, Liz Sandals

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 11, 2013) - "The appointment of a new Minister of Education is a move in the right direction," said Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) President Ken Coran.

Coran's comments came after Premier Kathleen Wynne and her cabinet were sworn in at a ceremony earlier today. Wynne named Guelph MPP Liz Sandals as the new Minister of Education. Sandals is a former school board trustee, and was elected as president of the Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA) from 1998-2002. Having been elected four times as a school board trustee ensures that Minister Sandals is knowledgeable about the inner workings of a school system.

"Our hope is that Liz's experience in public education and her understanding of the importance of the people who work within it will contribute to a process of rebuilding the trust and respect that has been lost because of the actions of her predecessor," continued Coran. "In the past, OSSTF/FEESO has worked hard to create a collaborative environment with the Minister of Education and it is our hope that Liz Sandals will work with us to find solutions to the current political impasse. We want solutions that work for all sides so that we may move forward together."

Coran concluded by stating, "I wish to congratulate Liz Sandals on her appointment and look forward to the opportunity to having progressive and positive discussions on keeping our public education system one of the best in the world."

OSSTF/FEESO, founded in 1919, has 60,000 members across Ontario. They include public high school teachers, occasional teachers, educational assistants, continuing education teachers and instructors, early childhood educators, psychologists, secretaries, speech-language pathologists, social workers, plant support personnel, university support staff, and many others in education.