March 26th, 2013

After almost 37 years of commitment to the learning and well-being of students in this region, it is with mixed emotions that the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) announces the retirement of Linda Fabi, Director of Education, effective August 31, 2013.

“The Board has long appreciated Linda’s leadership and the great rapport she established with our employees and education partners,” states Ted Martin, chairperson of the Board. “On a personal level, I have valued her ability to build relationships with our community partners and know that she will be a loss to our organization.”

Fabi’s outstanding career in education began as an elementary teacher, and progressed to Principal and Superintendent. In 2006, she was appointed Director of Education and Secretary to the Board for the WRDSB.

As a leader in public education, Fabi emphasizes the importance of providing safe, caring learning environments for our region’s students. Her enthusiasm for student learning and her exceptional people skills have earned her the respect of colleagues across the province and nationally.

Fabi has served in a variety of capacities both provincially and locally. She served on the Executive and as President of the Ontario Public Supervisory Officials’ Association, and is an Executive Member of the Council of Ontario Directors of Education representing public board Directors of Education in southwestern Ontario. She is a member of the International Leadership Association as well as the International Women’s Forum, and is an Education Partner with Education Research and Development Corporation. Locally, Fabi serves on the Boards of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, THEMUSEUM, Strong Start, and the Faculty of Education at Wilfrid Laurier University.

In 2011, Fabi was awarded the Provincial EXL Award for exemplary leadership in education and the National EXL Superintendent of the Year Award from the Canadian Association of School Administrators in recognition of her educational excellence and leadership.  That same year, she was honoured by Wilfrid Laurier University with the prestigious achievement award, the ‘Top 100 Alumni of 100 Years’. In 2012, Fabi was honoured by the American Association of School Administrators in Houston, Texas as the “Canadian Superintendent of the Year”.