GUELPH – Dr. Martha Rogers, who died in December 2021, made a lasting impact on the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB).
She was the board’s director of education for most of the past three decades – becoming director of the Wellington County Board of Education in 1995 and then director of the amalgamated UGDSB in 1998, holding the position until her retirement in 2021.
“Dr. Martha C. Rogers was an unforgettable person,” said trustee Martha MacNeil during a board meeting on Feb. 27. “She was larger than life and her influence can be felt to this day in all areas of the education world and beyond.”
And the board is exploring ways to commemorate her.
In March 2023, the board received correspondence on behalf of 33 people, primarily former UGDSB senior staff and trustees, requesting that the Guelph Board Office at 500 Victoria Rd. N. be renamed the Martha Rogers Education Centre.
“Martha’s substantial tenure is a tribute to her outstanding leadership,” the letter states.
“Martha has provided unwavering leadership through difficult times. Labour unrest, funding shortfalls, amalgamation issues and COVID challenges were met with calm, assuring the system that the quality of education would endure. This enviable calmness and resilience along with her intellect and dedication to students assured her of a long and prosperous career as the director of education.”
In response to the request, an ad hoc committee, including trustees, superintendent of people, leadership and culture Deirdre Pyke, and a representative from the parent involvement committee formed.
The committee created and distributed a survey to gather community feedback, and considered a presentation from the board’s human rights, equity and accessibility commissioner Alicia Ralph.
Trustee Laurie Whyte said comments from the public “ranged from concerns over the cost of renaming the board office to also concerns about equity from the point of view from historically underrepresented groups.
“We also learned that a number of school boards have implemented naming policies that focus on names based on location and/or geography and are respectful of Indigenous and other communities,” she added.
Whyte proposed the UGDSB review its naming of schools policy, and the motion carried.
After reviewing the data collected through the survey and the requirements of the board’s school and facilities naming policy, the committee found that the proposal to rename the office did not meet policy requirements.
However the committee members “unanimously agreed on a desire to honour the legacy and contributions of former director of education Martha Rogers,” said ad hoc committee chair Pyke.
Trustee Lynn Topping seconded this and added “Dr. Rogers created a school board of success, innovation, and respect and was well-known … across Canada.”
For Trustee Robin Ross, opting not to name the office in Roger’s honour is an opportunity to commemorate her in a way that’s more fitting.
“When I think of Dr. Rogers I don’t think of something that is static or limited to one place, so to me having her name on a building is very limiting, when she was a whirlwind of activity,” Ross said.
“So I think we can do a significantly better job of honouring Martha in a way that is living and as active and engaged as she was.”
“An appropriate recognition of her talents and contributions will be as multi-faceted as she was and touch a wide range of people as varied as her interests were,” MacNeil said.
The ad hoc committee came up with some alternative ideas to recognize Rogers, MacNeil noted, including “awards, scholarships, fundraisers to support the scholarships, and conferences and learning opportunities with an emphasis on areas that were deeply important to Martha.
“A common idea that came up repeatedly was support for women in leadership,” MacNeil said, “to acknowledge the incredible trailblazer that she was for women’s roles in leadership, and paving the way for so many women who came after her, including myself.”
MacNeil proposed the board strike a new ad hoc committee “to consider ways to recognize Dr. Martha Rogers’ passion, commitments and contributions to the UGDSB and education across the province.”
This committee has formed and includes trustees Topping, Ross, Whyte, Katherine Hauser, and MacNeil as chair.
They are set to consult with a range of stakeholders both within and outside of the UGDSB and report back to the board with recommendations by the end of September.
