The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education has tapped veteran educator Mike St. John as the next superintendent for SD73, with his tenure set to begin in early 2026.

Board chair Heather Grieve and interim superintendent Mike McKay announced the hire during a school board meeting on Nov. 24, and St. John met local media virtually the following day. Grieve said trustees are confident St. John is the right fit to guide the district forward.

“He comes with a wealth of experience,” she said. “A lot of the excitement that’s been generated around the work he’s done in Ontario is what we’re really looking forward to welcoming here in this district.”

St. John brings more than three decades of experience in public education, much of it in Ontario’s urban and rural districts. He’s taught in classrooms, led schools, and held senior leadership roles, most recently with the District School Board of Niagara. Colleagues there describe him as collaborative and community-minded — qualities that echoed throughout his career, including his 2012 recognition as one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals for work strengthening school-community connections.

McKay said he’s happy to work with St. John during his transition into the Kamloops-Thompson district during the next couple of months.

For his part, St. John said he’s eager to relocate to Kamloops and get to work, with a focus on students and staff alike.

“If you look at any school district’s mission statement or values statement or goals, it’s always students first and it really does need to be students first” he said. “But the success begins to happen when we’ve established the structure and the patterns, have the routines in places, to support our staff.”

Meanwhile, the Board continues its search for a new Secretary-Treasurer, with interviews underway.