GUELPH – Momentum is the word director of education Peter Sovran says best characterizes the 2024-25 school year at the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB).
That’s how he opened his annual report, before going on to highlight improvements in student achievement and progress in areas including special education, artificial intelligence, hands-on learning, equity, accessibility and sustainability.
Sovran summarized his report during a Dec. 16 board meeting.
Student achievement
He said the board used data-informed instruction, early intervention and ongoing progress monitoring to strengthen literacy and math.
He said more than 670 Grade 1 students received targeted literacy support, while for Grade 1 math, the number of students requiring extra assistance reduced by nearly half thanks to an early math assessment tool developed in partnership with Carleton University.
Sovran said additional supports were provided in Grade 9 math classrooms, which led to more than 95 per cent of students successfully completing their Grade 9 math credit.
Hands-on learning
Sovran said the UGDSB “saw innovation in real-world learning” during the 2024-25 school year.
The online tool Lets GO! UGDSB Learn was recognized with the D2L 2025 Excellence award. The tool, which is part of D2L Brightspace, is a place where staff can access and share resources such as podcasts, video clips, animations, photos, quizzes, assignments and lectures.
The board’s student senate organized a symposium called AI Amplified, something Sovran said was “a milestone event that reflects our commitment to innovation and partnership with students.”
Sovran said programming including the Living Classroom personal support worker partnership and expanded pathway opportunities at College Heights Secondary School “continued to take hold” during the 2024-25 school year.
Equality, accessibility, sustainability
The UGDSB launched a draft of its first human rights policy in 2025, celebrated the first graduates of its Project SEARCH school-to-work program and released a multi-year accessibility plan, Sovran said.
And he called the 2024-25 school year “a milestone year in our efforts for sustainability with the introduction of our ambitious multi-year sustainability and climate action plan.”
