Catholic school board officially welcomes new superintendents

There are two new faces around the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board’s table. 

Fil Lettieri, H-SCDSB director of education, officially welcomed Stephanie Circelli and Syndy Withers as the board’s two newest Superintendents of Education at its regular monthly meeting — the first of the 2024-25 school year — held Wednesday evening.

Withers’ appointment was announced in June and became effective Aug. 1. She replaces Christine Durocher, who retired as a H-SCDSB Superintendent at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

Circelli’s appointment was announced in July and became effective Aug. 19. Circelli replaced Fil Lettieri after he was promoted to director of education on July 1.

Withers began her career in education in 1998 as an elementary school teacher at Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School in Espanola. She served as a classroom teacher for JK to Grade 7 until 2005, when she became the Enhanced Learning Strategies teacher for the East school district for two years.

In 2007, she became the Learning Resource teacher at Sacred Heart and also served as the school’s vice-principal. Before beginning her role as Superintendent of Education, Withers was Sacred Heart’s principal for 16 years.

Withers holds three university degrees, including a Master of Education. 

Circelli is a H-SCDSB graduate with over 25 years of experience in education. She began with the Board as a student teacher on placement and she taught Grade 10 science and math in the summer of 1999. 

She then moved to London, Ontario and worked for the London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB) as a high school teacher, vice-principal, principal and Superintendent of Education.

She oversaw 15 elementary and three secondary schools.

Circelli holds three university degrees, including a Master’s in Education in International School Leadership, which she gained from Charles Sturt University in Australia. She also has qualifications in special education, guidance and religion.