SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - After nine years as the assistant superintendent of learning at Yellowknife Catholic Schools, Claudia Parker is now stepping into the role of superintendent, following Gwen Keith's departure from the role earlier in the summer.

Claudia Parker is the new superintendent for Yellowknife Catholic Schools – a fitting role after spending nine years as the assistant superintendent of learning, and nearly two and a half decades with the district. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

"When the position (of superintendent) became open this year, I did some soul searching about it and some thinking but I decided that I was ready for the position," Parker told Yellowknifer on Friday.

Parker came to Yellowknife in 1981 from New Brunswick, originally just planning to stay for a year – as happens with many people, Yellowknife sucked her in.

"Yellowknife is home. All three of my children were born in Yellowknife," said Parker. Her oldest son is now a teacher at Weledeh.

Parker is originally from Boiestown, New Brunswick. After graduating high school, she immediate enrolled in the University of New Brunswick and came out of it four years later with a Bachelor of Education.

She began her career in Yellowknife teaching at St. Patrick Elementary School, now called Weledeh Catholic School, for seven years. After that, she took the position of assistant principal at St. Joesph School – her first foray into administration. After whetting her administrative appetite, she returned to the University of New Brunswick in 1991 and completed her Masters degree in Educational Administration, and received principal certification in both New Brunswick and the NWT.

In 1994, Parker moved to Fort Smith and spent four and a half years as the principal of P.W. Kaeser High School.

In 1999, she returned to Yellowknife and has since worked as a core French teacher at St. Patrick High School, and then took the role of principal at St. Joseph School, before becoming assistant superintendent of learning in 2000 – where she has been until now.

Throughout her career she has taught every grade from kindergarten to Grade 12.

Parker is excited to start this new chapter in her extensive career, and she's happy to be working in the Catholic system. "I think that Catholic education is all about morals and we try to instill that into everything we do," said Parker.

"I've always been involved in the parish since I've been here, and I grew up in a French Catholic family, so (religion has) always been part of my life," said Parker.

Her goals this year include developing the Leadership and Resiliency Program, which YCS received $7.1 million from the federal government to operate, as well as strengthening both the aboriginal language and culture programming and the French programming.

"The board reform is definitely a challenge that we will be facing and we will continue to work with the government and in collaboration with YK1 and the francophone board in the direction that the government plans are taking. Of course we are hoping to stay as separate identity, as Yellowknife Catholic Schools," said Parker.