As part of our new Trustee Spotlight series, we are proud to introduce some of the dedicated members who make up our 10 school board trustees, and three student trustees.
Trustees play a vital role in guiding Catholic education, advocating for students and families, and strengthening connections with our school communities.
Join us in celebrating ALCDSB trustees by sharing their stories, their inspiration, and the impact they’re making every day in our Catholic learning communities.
Trustee Spotlight Q&A with Brian Evoy
Role: Chair of the Board
Community: Kingston and Frontenac Islands
Parish: St. Joseph Catholic Church (Kingston)
Tell us about the ALCDSB committees you are part of?
Being an active member of Board committees is essential to effective trusteeship. Below is a list of all of the ALCDSB committees I am currently active.
Audit Committee
Director Performance Appraisal Committee
Director Recruitment Committee
History of Schools Committee
Multi-Year Strategic Planning Committee
Social Justice Committee
What are some of your other community involvements?
Below is a list of the wider community organizations I am involved with:
Independent Living Centre (Chair)
Kingston Board of Directors (Member)
Kingston Literacy Board of Directors (Past Chair)
Knights of Columbus (Member)
Share with us some of the highlights during your time as trustee.
Over my past almost 8 years as a Trustee the Beacons of Hope Awards has always been a very good news story for our school board. The awards celebrate students whose contributions to our Catholic Schools and the wider community reflect our Catholic virtues. Not likely to be recognized in other venues, these unsung heroes contribute to the betterment of their school community with dedication, integrity and gentile spirit.
A highlight for me as a trustee is attending and volunteering at the St. Francis Catholic School annual Turkey Luncheon at Christmas, it is a heartfelt moment meeting and chatting with the students. It’s in these moments that the true impact of our work comes to life.
How does the role of the trustee support students and families?
As a Trustee with the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, I help ensure that decisions at the Board level reflect the needs, values, and well-being of our students and families, while upholding the mission of Catholic education.
In my role as Trustee, I bring forward the voices of the community, advocate for inclusive and supportive learning environments, and work collaboratively to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed and thrive.
Trustee Spotlight Q&A with Joanne Belanger
Role: Vice-Chair of the Board
Community: Quinte West
Parish: St. James the Minor (Stirling)
Tell us about the ALCDSB committees you are part of?
Catholic Education Foundation Board of Directors (Vice-Chair)
Director's Performance Appraisal (Member)
Environmental Committee (Member)
Food For Learning (Chair)
Multi-Year Strategic Planning Committee (Member)
Social Justice Committee (Member)
What are some of your other community involvements?
Below is a list of the wider community organizations I am involved with:
St. James the Minor Catholic Women’s League (Past President)
Archdiocesan Council for Development & Peace - Caritas Canada (Past Chair)
Society of St. Vincent de Paul (Past Chair)
Share with us some of the highlights during your time as trustee.
The most memorable moments in my role as a trustee have been attending the Beacons of Hope breakfasts over the past four years, as well as attending a number of graduation ceremonies across the Board. Seeing students succeed and be recognized is wonderful and confirms that we are on the right track as a board.
How does the role of trustee support students and families?
Our main role as trustees is to listen to and advocate for our students and their families. We are a conduit between the family and the senior team at the Board Office.
Also, representing the trustees on the committee that drew up the latest Multi-Year Strategic Plan was truly an honour, and a blessing. This committee, and the work that we did, was definitely a highlight of my four-year term as a trustee!
Trustee Spotlight Q&A with Shawn Murphy
Role: Chair of the Finance and Operations Committee
Community: Kingston and Frontenac Islands
Tell us about the ALCDSB committees you are part of?
Audit Committee (Chair)
Finance and Operations Committee (Chair)
Special Education Advisory Committee (Vice Chair)
Social Justice Committee (Member)
Catholic School Council Association Committee (Member)
What are some of your other community involvements?
Below is a list of the wider community organizations I am involved with:
S.M.A R.T (Sports, Mentoring, Arts, Recreation and Tutoring Programs) Youth Enrichment Program (founder and lead facilitator)
Youth Soccer Program (coordinator and coach)
Junior Achievement of Canada's The Economics of Staying In School Program (former facilitator)
Share with us some of the highlights during your time as trustee.
Although I have had many highlights during my role as Trustee, I would have to say that perhaps the most memorable of these would be centred around various committees that I have had the good fortune, and honour, to have been a small part of. It was on these committees that I was able to witness first-hand how hard-working and dedicated community members, community partners, Board staff and educators work together to help ensure student well-being and student achievement within our community.
How does the role of trustee support students and families?
The main role of a Trustee is to promote student achievement and well-being, and to ensure effective stewardship of the school board's resources. They do this by developing board policies, taking part in various committees, and by being a strong local advocate for students and their families.
Trustee Spotlight Q&A with Kathy Turkington
Role: Trustee
Community: Kingston and Frontenac Islands
Parish: St. Joseph Catholic Church (Kingston)
Tell us about the ALCDSB committees you are part of?
Catholic Education Week Committee (Member)
Catholic School Council Association Committee (Member)
What are some of your other community involvements?
Outside of my work with the ALCDSB I am a dedicated member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church community where I contribute my services as a collection counter. I am also a proud member of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada.
Share with us some of the highlights during your time as trustee.
The most honourable moment I can recall was when the parents of one of the Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic High School graduates came up to me to say how much they appreciated having me attend the graduation of their daughter, and let me know that I had also been in attendance for her kindergarten, grade 8, and now high school graduations.
How does the role of trustee support students and families?
We as school board trustees, are always available to support the students and families with not just problem resolution, but to celebrate with them on their achievements and honour their accomplishments during their time as students at ALCDSB schools.
Trustee Spotlight Q&A with Peter Penlington
Role: Trustee
Community: Tweed, Marmora/Lake, Hastings Highlands, Stirling-Rawdon, Bancroft, Centre Hastings, Highlands East, Faraday, Madoc, Wollaston, Limerick, Tudor Cashel
Parish: Our Lady of Lourdes Cluster of Parishes Cardiff and Our Lady of Mercy Bancroft
Tell us about the ALCDSB committees you are part of?
Catholic Education Week
Facilities Enhancement Review
School Year Calendar
What are some of your other community involvements?
Currently I am a district deputy for the Knights of Columbus, past grand knight for North Hastings Divine Mercy Knights of Columbus, a member of the Town of Bancroft safety committee, active in many ways at the four parishes I attend regularly, volunteer at Friends for Dinner weekly in Bancroft, volunteer driver for seniors needing rides to appointments out of town and visiting seniors at The Manor long-term care facility in Bancroft.
Share with us some of the highlights during your time as trustee.
As I trustee, I enjoy visiting my four schools to see how our staff enrich the lives of our students in promoting Catholic Education through the whole year and how they share the values of the Board's vision on promoting inclusion of everyone. By using Christ's teachings of a pastoral approach to everyone; that we are all Beloved Children of God. Plus, the dedication and leadership our staff have towards reconciliation through their lesson plans in history and displayed student artwork in the hallways. In both cases following the guidelines of
What would Jesus do? we are stronger in unity rather than uniformity.
How does the role of trustee support students and families?
In my role as trustee, I bring forward the voices of the community, especially those living close to and north of Hwy 7, as I advocate for the distinctly different learning environments and challenges for those not living close to the 401 corridor to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed and thrive no matter where they live within our Board's vast area.
Trustee Spotlight Q&A with Peter Penlington
Role: Trustee
Community: Prince Edward County, Greater Napanee, Loyalist Township, Stone Mills, Addington Highlands
Parish: St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church (Picton)
Tell us about the ALCDSB committees you are part of?
Catholic Women’s League (CWL)
Food Sharing Project (FSP)
Food For Learning (FFL)
Friends and Advocates of Catholic Education (FACE)
Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC)
Share with us some of the highlights during your time as trustee.
During my time as a trustee, some of the most meaningful highlights have come from my involvement with the Food for Learning and Food Sharing Project committees. These initiatives are especially close to my heart, as they have given me valuable insight into the challenges faced by students who may come to school hungry and without access to proper meals.
Among the standout moments during my service on these committees have been participating in the Smile Cookie Campaign, the Pumpkin Fest sales in the fall, and the Christmas Artisan sales. These events not only helped raise essential funds but also strengthened our sense of community and shared purpose.
Visiting schools and attending events such as Beacon of Hope and graduation ceremonies provided invaluable insight into the daily experiences, achievements, and spirit of our school communities. These moments offered a firsthand look at the dedication of students, the passion of educators, and the strong sense of pride within each school.
Being present at these milestones not only deepened my understanding of the diverse needs and successes across the system but also reinforced the importance of supporting environments where every student can thrive. These experiences have been among the most memorable and inspiring aspects of my time as trustee.
Through these volunteer experiences, I have developed a deeper understanding of the role of a School Trustees across both public and Catholic boards. I have seen firsthand how collaboration across systems can create meaningful impact. By working together toward a common goal, we can better support student well-being and enhance the learning environment for all students in our community.
How does the role of trustee support students and families?
My role as a school board trustee has helped students, families, and school communities feel reassured that there is someone who will listen and take action when concerns arise. Whether the issue involves transportation, attendance, or misconduct in the classroom, I strive to be accessible and responsive.
This has helped parents understand that support is just a phone call away. As a trustee, I can serve as a sounding board for their concerns, ensuring their voices are heard and their issues are brought forward appropriately. By listening carefully and advocating on their behalf, I help build trust and strengthen the connection between families and the school system.
The connection between School and Church has also been a very important aspect of my involvement and I have been pleased to attend school concerts, plays, school Mass and other events by the school.
Involvement with the multi-year strategic plan (MYSP) has also been an important and vital aspect of this role and by providing valuable input to the MYSP has given us the opportunity to create a cohesive plan for the future of our school system, which benefits the students and staff.