With Rob Schoen set to retire at the end of the calendar year, the Kamloops Thompson School Board named Trish Smillie as his replacement.

Smillie will take on the role of Assistant Superintendent-Elementary for the School District 73. Board Chair Kathleen Karpuk says Smillie has been with the district for a number of years as one of the directors of instruction. “She’s been responsible for things like special education, inclusion, working through all of those supports for students’ She is going to be a wonderful edition as superintendent.”

Karpuk had praise for Smillie who will assume responsibilities for the overall supervision and leadership of elementary schools, educational programs, and services “She’s been an incredible resource to our schools and our teachers and so we’re very pleased that she is going to be moving up one step.” Karpuk adds that Schoen has been a big asset to the board over the years. “Rob Schoen’s been an absolute gem in the district for a very, very long time. He’s been our Assistant Superintendent-Elementary for about five years.”