YRDSB Associate Director of Equitable Outcomes and Schools Cecil Roach has announced his retirement, effective September 29, 2023.
In his 42-year career as an educator, Roach has had a profound effect in his many roles at YRDSB and on the public education system. He has always been guided by the belief that public education is democracy’s foundation and that schools are places where students, regardless of their social identity have equal opportunity to realize dreams. Born on the small island of Montserrat, now devastated by an ongoing volcano, Roach moved to Canada in his early teens. He began his career teaching English in Quebec at Chambly County High School and Centennial Regional High School. He then relocated to Ontario in 1989 where he taught at Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute before becoming an administrator in 1995.
Since joining YRDSB in 1999 as an Administrator, Roach has held the positions of Vice Principal, Principal, Student Success Principal, Special Assistant to the Director, Superintendent of Schools, Superintendent of Inclusivity and Community Services, Coordinating Superintendent of Equity and Community Services, Coordinating Superintendent of Indigenous Education and Equity, and Acting Associate Director of Education, Equitable Outcomes and Schools.
His achievements and contributions to YRDSB include; founding Inclusive School and Community Services by renaming Cultural Community Services; founding the Equity Strategy, Steering and Action Committee (ESSAC); co-founding the Alliance of Educators for Black Students, YRDSB’s first employee Affinity Group; leadership responsibility for the implementation of YRDSB’s Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Strategy; and leading the creation of the YRDSB Centre for Black Student Excellence.
Roach has also been the recipient of numerous awards, including African Canadian Achievement Award in 2015 for Excellence in Education and the 2019 Urban Alliance Award for Race Relations and Education.
Roach’s involvement in the community has also been demonstrated by his contributions to numerous community groups and organizations, such as the Human Services Planning Board - York Region, the York Region Immigration Partnership Council, Community Inclusivity Equity Council - York Region, Markham African Caribbean Canadian Association, and many others. While teaching in Montreal, Cecil was an active member of the Quebec Board of Black Educators and served as Chair of the Black Community Council of Quebec (BCCQ), an umbrella organization of 11 community groups. In this capacity, Mr. Roach spearheaded a fundraising campaign that raised $65,000 used as a downpayment for BCCQ purchasing its own building to serve as the organization’s head offices.
Provincially, Mr. Roach served on the Ontario Public Supervisory Officers’ Association’s Equity Committee. For five years, Mr. Roach also served as an instructor for the Ontario Principals’ Council’s Supervisory Officer Qualification program from which dozens of his mentees are now serving as Superintendents across Ontario.
“Associate Director Roach has played a vital role in leading the equity and inclusivity work of YRDSB over the past 12 years,” said Board Chair Ron Lynn. “Cecil has in-depth knowledge in working with complex equity issues and has been a strong voice for equity and inclusivity work. His contributions will leave a lasting and indelible legacy.”
“I have had the privilege of working with and learning from Associate Director Roach over the past 15 years. I have seen firsthand the profound effect Cecil’s work has had on countless youth at YRDSB,” said Director of Education (Interim), Scott Yake. “One cannot overstate the immeasurable contributions that Mr. Roach has made during his tenure at YRDSB. He will be missed and we wish him all the best in retirement.”
York Region District School Board is the third largest school district in Ontario with over 126,000 students in 180 elementary schools and 33 secondary schools. York Region students consistently perform above average in provincial testing and the Board is one of the top achievers in Ontario. For more information about the York Region District School Board, please visit the Board website and follow YRDSB on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
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