De Faveri to retire

After four years at the helm of the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board, John De Faveri is planning to spend his retirement with his granddaughters and playing as much golf as possible.

After 32 years in the education field, De Faveri has decided to step down as the board’s director of education, a position he held for the past four years.

“There comes a point in your life where you start to think about dedicating some more time to yourself and spending more time with your family,” he said Friday afternoon.

“I’ve got a granddaughter starting kindergarten in September – I’m really looking forward to spending some time with the two grandkids in particular.”
 
Before landing in Thunder Bay, De Faveri worked as a teacher, vice-principal, principle and superintendent of education throughout southern Ontario.

His years in Thunder Bay have been the highlight of his career and he said he’s proud of the work that everyone at the board does day-to-day, but working on the strategic plan and a continued focus on student achievement have been important accomplishments.

“I think those results speak from themselves because the students in our system continue to do so well, not only in Northwestern Ontario but n comparison to the rest of the province,” he said. “The board is really in an excellent position to continue to move forward and to enjoy some of the successes that have happened here over the last several years.”

The Catholic board has already started its search for De Faveri’s replacement; his last day is July 31.

And although he’ll be enjoying time out on the links, De Faveri will miss not only the people he works with, but also the students and their families.

“When I think back of the literally tens of thousands of people from three-and-a-half years of age when they start kindergarten to their grandparents, many of whom have been in mid ‘80s, that’s the part I’m going to miss the most,” he said. “Working with youth makes you young.”