CODE stands for Council of Ontario Directors of Education. We represent the leaders of all 73 publicly funded school boards in Ontario.
Specifically, we represent four different organizations:
We help students and staff succeed in and out of the classroom by ensuring safe, healthy environments for teaching and learning. We do this by listening to our members, giving our expert advice to the Ontario Ministry of Education, and collaborating to solve problems.
We are also responsible for the CODE Education Projects (COEP), where we manage several programs on behalf of Ontario’s Ministry of Education.
To achieve our goals, CODE has established three strategic priorities:
1. Advocacy:
We advocate for policies and programs that improve student achievement, ensure safety, and promote well-being. That means working with decision-makers, securing funding, and supporting the recruitment and retention of skilled staff.
2. Leadership
We help members grow as leaders by offering networking, mentorship, professional development, and opportunities to share solutions to community challenges.
3. Equity and inclusion
We promote equity and inclusion to ensure all students learn practical knowledge, job skills, and life skills in safe, supportive environments — no matter who they are.
Kathy has been with CODE/COEP since 1992 and is responsible for coordinating a broad range of services and resources that enable CODE and COEP to operate efficiently. She collaborates closely with the Executive Directors to manage membership and conferences, oversee projects, assist with Ministry liaison, and handle the financial aspects of the organization.
Janette joined the CODE/COEP team in 2012. Working closely with the Executive Directors and COEP Project Managers, Janette coordinates and assists with project work activities, with an emphasis on the School-College-Work-Initiative (SCWI).
N. Dean Currie CPA, CGA as Principal Consultant to the CMAC Group brings over 35 years of experience in the Public and Private sector Management. Dean's specialty areas include Finance, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Budget Process Design/Reporting, Business System Project Planning/Implementation, Business Planning, Policy Development/Compliance Auditing.
Along with his work with CODE/COEP, Dean continues to work with the Council of School Business Officials Ontario as its Collaborative Effective and Efficiency Projects Coordinator. The program’s mission is to increase management capacity in the corporate service division of Ontario School Boards and provide cost effective management solution to common issues across school boards.
Dean previously served as a Supervisory Officer Business and Treasurer of three Ontario School Board and as Director and Treasurer of ECNO.
As Executive Director, Joanne oversees the daily operations of CODE, drawing on over 37 years of educational experience, including 25 years in senior leadership roles. She has served as Director of Education at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board for 11 years and as Superintendent of Education with the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board for 13 years. A steadfast advocate for publicly funded education, Joanne approaches her work with a strong commitment to equity, believing that Ontario’s four distinct education systems play a vital role in providing every student regardless of background with genuine opportunities for success. Guided by a leadership philosophy centred on student-focused decision-making, Joanne is honoured to continue to advance and support educational excellence through her role at CODE.