TDSB director removed by provincial supervisor

The educational director is out of his role just months after the Ontario government appointed a supervisor to manage the board.

The educational director of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is out of his role just months after the Ontario government appointed a supervisor to manage the board.

Rohit Gupta, the provincially appointed board supervisor, confirmed the news to staff in a letter Friday morning, saying he feels the TDSB needs a “fresh start” to succeed.

“With that in mind and after much consideration, I, together with the Minister of Education, have made the difficult decision to make a leadership change,” Gupta wrote. “To that end, Director of Education Clayton La Touche will be leaving the TDSB, effective immediately.”

La Touche had only been in the role since February.

Gupta was appointed to supervise the board back in June, with Education Minister Paul Calandra citing an audit that found the board in a poor financial situation.

“I want to sincerely thank Clayton for his dedication to the students and staff of the TDSB since joining the board in February and I wish him nothing but the best in the next steps of his career,” Gupta wrote.

In a statement, Education Minister Paul Calandra said he has full confidence in Gupta to make changes at the board.

“Under the continued leadership of the supervisor, the Toronto District School Board is refocusing on student achievement. I have full confidence that the supervisor, working with the Interim Director, will drive that focus and ensure every decision puts students first,” Calandra said.

In an interview with CP24 Friday, Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said the move amounts to more political interference with Ontario’s education system and noted that La Touche, who has strong credentials in education, is being removed by a political appointee who does not.

“I think parents are going to have some big concerns about that,” Stiles said.

La Touche held various roles at the TDSB, York Region District School Board and Ministry of Education before being selected as the TDSB’s education director back in January.

At the time the board praised him as “an inclusive, collaborative leader with a deep commitment to equitable achievement and well-being outcomes for all students.”

His appointment followed the retirement of former TDSB director Colleen Russell-Rawlins in November 2024.

Gupta, who has a background in public policy and finance, said Associate Director Stacey Zucker will assume the role of director of education at the TDSB on an interim basis. Zucker previously served in the role following Russell-Rawlins’ departure.

The NDP also questioned how much taxpayers will be shelling out in severance to replace a director who has not even been on the job for a full year.

The province has placed multiple school boards under supervisors over the past few months, citing financial mismanagement and deviation from core responsibilities around educating students.

Just weeks ago the provincial government passed Bill 33, a law giving the education minister wider latitude to take over any school board not complying with his directions.

Calandra has suggested the province could still move to modify or do away with the school board structure altogether, but there will be no move to do so until sometime next year. MPPs rose for their winter break Thursday and will not be back at Queen’s Park until March 23.