About Us

THE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
OF ONTARIO'S DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARDS

What is CODE?

"A Professional Association"

The Council of Ontario Directors of Education, a Professional Association,
represents all Chief Executive Officers of the seventy-two District School Boards in Ontario.

It is the common public voice of Senior School District Administrators working with Government and various Associations.



Tony Pontes
CODE Executive Director (Interim)

Tony Pontes spent 39 years with the Peel District School Board as a teacher, principal, superintendent and director of education, retiring on August 31, 2017. On November 1, 2018, he was appointed as Interim Executive Director of CODE.

During his career in education, Tony built on his commitment to student success by playing a leadership role in local and provincial initiatives. In addition to his leadership within the Peel board, Tony provided leadership at the provincial level as a member of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Public Supervisory Officials' Association (OPSOA). Tony served as president of OPSOA for 2010-11. As a director of education, Tony served on the executive of the Council of Ontario Directors of Education (CODE) and was the chair of CODE in the 2015-16.

Tony believes in the impact that directors of education have on publicly funded education and the students and families served by their local boards and is proud to serve as Interim Executive Director of CODE.

Anna Marie Bitonto

Anna Marie Bitonti
CODE Chair

CODE is pleased to announce that Anna Marie Bitonti, Director of Education at the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board, is the Chair of the Council of Ontario Directors of Education for 2017-2018.

Anna Marie Bitonti is the Director of Education at the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board. She has worked in education for 32 years, having served as Teacher, Vice-Principal, Principal, and Superintendent of Education. 

Anna Marie is responsible for the achievement of her board’s Ends, Board Improvement Planning for Student Achievement, Human Resources, Communications, Board-Staff Linkage, and Community Engagement.  She has experience in leading various system level portfolios, including Special Education, French as a Second Language, Technology for Learning, and Labour Relations.  She has worked closely with the Board of Trustees on policy governance, including community engagement, Ends development, board-staff linkage and monitoring. 

Anna Marie has completed the Ontario Director of Education Institute on Leadership and Strategic Impact Program through the Rotman School of Management and The Learning Partnership. 

She also serves on the Board of Directors for Patrick4Life North Bay, on the Rick Hansen Foundation Advisory Committee, and on the North Bay Police Community Mobilization Project Executive Committee.  Over the years, she has represented CODE at several provincial tables, and is currently on the provincial Early Years Advisory Group.  Anna Marie was appointed Director of Education in 2002.


Background:

In 1991 the Council of Ontario Directors of Education was formed in response to calls to formalize the handling of emerging issues
in provincial public education, to provide a method of networking and to represent the view of senior executives to the
Ontario Ministry of Education.


The prime objective of the organization at its outset was to provide a means of communication for its members and to establish an open and positive relationship with the Minister of Education and the Deputy Minister. In order to make this happen effectively, the following program has been put in place:

  • Regular monthly meetings with the Deputy Minister based on a common agenda.
  • An annual conference in January.
  • Position papers on significant issues
  • Professional development sessions
  • Liaison with affiliate organizations

Present Role:

CODE maintains a high level of activity working with various branches of the Ontario Ministry of Education as an advocate of boards and as a broker for numerous projects.

CODE operates a number of curriculum projects for the Ministry of Education and for various other organizations.

Goals:

  • To advocate for progressive and effective public education
  • To provide the Ontario Ministry of Education with positive and accurate advice
  • To communicate effectively with all senior educators in Ontario
  • To provide members with a forum to discuss current issues and put forth positions
  • To liaise with other professional organizations in Canada and in other countries

Structure:

CODE is made up of six (6) Directors appointed by the Public District School Boards in Ontario, six (6) Directors appointed by the Catholic District School Boards and three (3) Directors appointed by the French language District School Boards.
The organization also has an Executive Director.


The CODE Executive acts as a regular liaison for the Directors of the seventy-two Public, Catholic and French language District School Boards in Ontario. The Deputy Minister of Education consults frequently with this group and meets with them monthly. The executive operates by consensus and focuses on general issues affecting students and the operation of school boards.


The organization does not vote on issues, but works to consensus.


Minutes of meetings are circulated to all provincial members.

Current Activities:

  • On-going discussions with Ministry of Education regarding the current labour situations
  • Discussions with all provincial Trustee organizations
  • Frequent representations for special education funding
  • Recommendations regarding teacher recruitment and renewal
  • Involvement in decisions on new technology for schools
  • Development of resources for teachers to implement new curriculum
  • Leadership programs for current and aspiring administrators
  • Input to provincial funding considerations
  • Involvement in provincial labour negotiations
  • Involvement with provincial initiatives such as; Early Childhood Education, Safe Schools Procedures,
    Anti-Bullying initiatives and Children's Mental Health initiatives

CODE Executive 2018 - 2019:
Last Name First Name Organization Title
Bertrand Martin Conseil scolaire Viamonde CODEP CHAIR
Bitonti Anna Marie Nipissing-Parry Sound CDSB ECODE CHAIR/PAST CHAIR
Campbell Heather Rainy River DSB
Costello Jim Lambton Kent DSB CHAIR/PCODE CHAIR
DiRocco Jody Algonquin & Lakeshore CDSB  
Elliott Laura Thames Valley DSB  
Gauthier Marc CSP du Grand Nord de l’Ontario  
Hope Larry Trillium Lakelands DSB  
Hoshizaki Warren DSB Niagara  
MacDonald Vince Huron-Perth CDSB
Malloy John Toronto DSB
Ménard Monique Counseil scolarie catholique Franco-Nord
Notten Loretta Waterloo CDSB
O’Brien Anne Durham CDSB
Papineau Lyse-Anne CSC du Nouvel-Ontario CODELF/CODEC CHAIR
Reece Lucia Algoma DSB  
Rogers Martha Upper Grand DSB  
Tassone Pino Thunder Bay Catholic DSB  
Savery-Whiteway Mandy Hastings and Prince Edward DSB  
Pontes Tony CODE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Interim) CODE
Kostoff John OCSOA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OCSOA
Joudrie Wayne PCODE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PCODE
Badder Joy OPSOA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OPSOA
Philbin Michael AGEFO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AGEFO
Updated November 13, 2018      
List of Directors of Education By School Board:
School Board First Name Last Name
Algoma DSB Lucia Reece
Algonquin & Lakeshore CDSB Jody DiRocco
Avon Maitland DSB Lisa Walsh
Bluewater DSB Alana Murray
Brant Haldimand Norfolk CDSB Chris Roehrig
Bruce-Grey CDSB James McKinnon
CDSB of Eastern Ontario John Cameron
CEC du Centre-Est Rejean Sirois
CEP de l'Est de l'Ontario (CEPEO) Edith Dumont
Conseil scolaire Viamonde Martin Bertrand
CSC du Nouvel-Ontario Lyse-Anne Papineau
CSP du Grand Nord de l'Ontario Marc Gauthier
CSP du Nord-Est de l'Ontario Simon Fecteau
CSC MonAvenir André Blais
CSDC de l'est ontarien (CSDCEO) François Turpin
CSDC des Aurores boreales Lucie Allaire
CSDC des Grandes Rivieres Lorraine Presley
CSDC Franco-Nord Monique Ménard
CSC Providence Joseph Picard
DSB of Niagara Warren Hoshizaki
DSB Ontario North East Lesleigh Dye
Dufferin-Peel CDSB Marianne Mazzorato
Durham CDSB Anne O'Brien
Durham DSB Lisa Millar
Grand Erie DSB Brenda Blancher
Greater Essex County DSB Erin Kelly
Halton CDSB Patrick Daly
Halton DSB Stuart Miller
Hamilton-Wentworth CDSB David Hansen
Hamilton-Wentworth DSB Manny Figuerido
Hastings and Prince Edward DSB Mandy Savery-Whiteway
Huron-Perth CDSB Vince MacDonald
Huron-Superior CDSB Rose Burton Spohn
Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB Jennifer Leclerc
Keewatin-Patricia DSB Sean Monteith
Kenora CDSB Phyllis Eikre
Lakehead DSB Ian MacRae
Lambton Kent DSB Jim Costello
Limestone DSB Debra Rantz
London DCSB Linda Staudt
Near North DSB Jackie Young
Niagara CDSB John Crocco
Nipissing-Parry Sound CDSB Anna Marie Bitonti
Northeastern CDSB Tricia Stefanic Weltz
Northwest CDSB Brendan Hyatt
Ottawa Catholic School Board Denise Andre
Ottawa-Carleton DSB Jennifer Adams
Peel DSB Peter Joshua
Peterb. Vic. North.& Clarington CDSB Michael Nasello
Rainbow DSB Norm Blaseg
Rainy River DSB Heather Campbell
Renfrew County CDSB Jaimie Perry
Renfrew County DSB Pino Buffone
Simcoe County DSB Steve Blake
Simcoe Muskoka CDSB Brian Beal
St. Clair CDSB Deb Crawford
Sudbury CDSB Joanne Benard
Superior North CDSB (Interim) Maria MVasanelli
Superior-Greenstone DSB (Interim) Nicole Morden-Cormier
Thames Valley DSB Laura Elliott
Thunder Bay CDSB Pino Tassone
Toronto CDSB Rory McGuckin
Toronto DSB John Malloy
Trillium Lakelands DSB Larry Hope
Upper Canada DSB Stephen Sliwa
Upper Grand DSB Martha Rogers
Waterloo CDSB Loretta Notten
Waterloo Region DSB John Bryant
Wellington Catholic DSB Tamara Nugent
Windsor-Essex CDSB Terry Lyons
York CDSB Ab Falconi
York Region DSB Louise Sirisko
Updated November 13, 2018