A former teacher in the Estevan area has earned an exciting new position in Moose Jaw.
Ward Strueby, who taught in Estevan early in his career, has been hired as the new director of education/CEO for the Holy Trinity Catholic School Division. He is currently Holy Trinity’s superintendent of learning.
Strueby will succeed current director of education Sean Chase, who signed a contract with Regina Catholic Schools.
Strueby’s new role takes effect July 1.
He began his teaching career at the Estevan Junior High in 2000, where he taught Grade 7, after graduating with great distinction with a bachelor of education degree.
He also spent a year as a Grade 7 teacher at Hillcrest School in 2003-04, and was the vice-principal at Westview School in 2004-05, before moving on to Palliser Heights School in Moose Jaw in 2005.
His wife Malinda Strueby taught at the Estevan Comprehensive School in the physical education department from 2003-2005. They have three children Walker (13), Chloe (11) and Emersyn (4).
In an email to the Mercury, Ward Strueby said they thoroughly enjoyed their time in Estevan. It was such a great community. If it was not for moving closer to family, they would still be in Estevan.
After launching his career, he pursued a master of education degree, specializing in curriculum and instruction, an area that continues to be a main focus and passion of his to this day, along with his special education interests.
Strueby believes in the importance of community collaboration and listening to the voices of all educational stakeholders, including student voice. In 2018, Strueby was invited to be part of the management team responsible for addressing the trauma experienced by students following the fatal Humboldt Broncos bus crash.
He believes in the importance of professional development for all staff to meet the needs of the diverse learner. Strueby has 10 years of in school administrative experience at both the elementary and high school level.
“I am humbled to continue to lead with HTCSD as a director dedicated to the development of the academic achievement of the whole child; the professional development of staff; the encouragement of community engagement to achieve the delivery of quality learning and instruction; and the collaboration and implementation of local, divisional, and provincial strategic planning.
“In addition, I look forward to working alongside our faith community to ensure Christ-centered lifelong learning with excellence in student achievement and learning.”
Holy Trinity serves nine schools in Moose Jaw, Swift Current and Shaunavon, with an enrolment of 2,400 students from pre-kindergarten through Grade 12.
"The board of trustees is grateful to Sean Chase for his years with Holy Trinity Catholic Schools. We have relied heavily on Sean for his steadfast leadership and have appreciated his dedication to advance Catholic education in the communities of Moose Jaw, Shaunavon and Swift Current,” said board chair Joann Blazieko.
“The sadness we feel in losing Sean to our school division, is mediated by the fact we have been able to hire a very qualified internal candidate in Ward Strueby, which makes for a seamless transition. Ward exemplifies servant leadership in a way that has made him a valuable asset to this school division.
“We know that he will continue with the many positive initiatives that have made our school division great and that his innovative practices will take us to new milestones. We pray that both of these faithful leaders will be blessed in the coming years."
Through his active onsite presence in the schools under his care, Strueby is well known across the division and within the local and provincial educational communities. He is a member of St.. Joseph Parish in Moose Jaw and a third-degree member of the Father Francis Lawless Knights of Columbus.
