Having completed its search for a new District leader, the ASD-S District Education Council (DEC) is pleased to announce that Derek O’Brien has been selected as Anglophone South School District’s next Superintendent effective November 1, 2022. Current Superintendent Zoë Watson will be retiring after 41 distinguished years in education, including 10 years as Superintendent of ASD-S. The DEC formally announced Mr. O’Brien’s appointment at Wednesday night’s public meeting.

“We had an extremely talented and qualified field of candidates from across Canada apply for the Superintendent position. After collecting feedback from a variety of staff and stakeholders, and following several rounds of interviews, we are pleased to welcome Mr. O’Brien to this significant role for the District,” said Roger Nesbitt, Chair of the ASD-S District Education Council. “Derek is an excellent fit for this position, and we are excited about his enthusiasm and commitment to education.”

O’Brien started his teaching career in his native St. Stephen, New Brunswick in 1995, having obtained his Bachelor of Education from UNB-Fredericton and later a Diploma of Advanced Undergraduate Studies in French Immersion Education and a Master of Education in Administration. Derek has held a variety of roles in education, including high school Social Studies and History teacher, elementary French Immersion teacher, Vice Principal of Vincent Massey Elementary School and VP and Principal of St. Stephen Elementary School. Derek was the Superintendent of former School District 10 and later became Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Anglophone South School District (ASD-S).  Derek has spent the previous five years as Director of Schools for the St. Stephen Education Centre in ASD-S. Derek is also very active with the NBTA and in his community, including serving as Chair of the United Way of Saint John, Kings, and Charlotte Counties.

“I am honoured to be taking on this new challenge and to continue working with the incredible staff at ASD-S,“ O’Brien said.  “We have had a great example of leadership for the past decade and I want to take the opportunity to thank Mrs. Watson for her dedication to education and our District. As we move forward, the District will remain committed to continuous improvement in academic achievement and student experience. I’m looking forward to this exciting opportunity ahead.”

On behalf of the Anglophone South School District and the ASD-S DEC, we would like to thank Mrs. Watson for her considerable contribution to our District. Please join us in extending our most sincere congratulations to Derek for his appointment as Superintendent. We look forward to working together to shape a positive future for the students in our communities.   

About Derek O’Brien

A native of St. Stephen, New Brunswick Derek completed a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton in 1995 followed by a Diploma of Advanced Undergraduate Studies in French Immersion Education in 1999.  Derek has held a variety of positions in education, including teaching high school Social Studies and History at Fundy High School and French Immersion at St. Stephen Elementary School.

In August 2000 Derek assumed his first administrative role as the Vice Principal of Vincent Massey Elementary in St. Andrews.  He returned to St. Stephen Elementary in 2001 as Vice Principal and completed a Master of Education degree in Administration from the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton that same year.  Derek moved on to Principal of St. Stephen Elementary in 2005. 

In 2009, Derek became the Superintendent of School District 10. Following the provincial reorganization of districts in 2012, Derek took the role of Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the newly formed Anglophone South School District (ASD-S).  From 2015 to 2017, Derek was Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of St. Stephen and returned to ASD-S in 2017 as the Director of Schools for the St. Stephen Education Centre. In November 2022, Derek starts his role as Superintendent of the Anglophone South School District, overseeing 69 schools and 23,000 students.

Derek has served in several capacities with the NBTA, including Chair of the local Professional Development Committee, member of the Gender Issues in Education Provincial Committee, and Chair of the In-School Administrators Provincial Committee. Derek is an instructor for NBTA-sponsored professional courses and presents a variety of workshops and keynote addresses for his colleagues in New Brunswick and throughout the Atlantic provinces.

Derek is active in his community especially with the United Way of Saint John, Kings, and Charlotte Counties where he has served on the board since 2016, including two terms as Board Chair.  He also served as a Director and Treasurer for Vibrant Communities Charlotte County and volunteered in a leadership capacity for over 15 years with Chocolate Festival Inc.  Derek lives in St. Stephen with his son Alexander and divides his time between the District’s three education centres.​