During this yesterday's Organizational Board Meeting, Trustee Neethan Shan was acclaimed Chair of the Toronto District School Board. Chair Shan is the Ward 17 Trustee (Scarborough Centre) and was previously serving as Acting TDSB Chair since July 2024.
The first Chair of South Asian descent of the Toronto District School Board, Shan was first elected as Ward 21 Trustee (Scarborough Rouge River) in 2016 and returned to the Board during the 2022 municipal election in Ward 17. He recently served as co-chair of the Equity Policy Community Advisory Committee and created a Youth Leadership Committee last spring. In his new role, Chair Shan looks forward to collaborating with TSDB Trustees to help strengthen student achievement, foster a sense of belonging, and spread joy throughout schools and communities.
The Organizational Board Meeting was also an opportunity to elect a new Vice Chair, with Trustee Zakir Patel taking on the role. The first Muslim Vice Chair of the Toronto District School Board, Patel was first elected Ward 19 Trustee (Scarborough - Guildwood) in 2018. Over the last year, he has served in a number of roles, including Chair of the TDSB's Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee, a Director of the Toronto Lands Corporation and as a member of the Board's Negotiations Steering Committee. Vice Chair Patel is dedicated to youth empowerment and ensuring our schools are safe and healthy. He looks forward to continued advocacy for equity and is committed to voicing the concerns of students, staff, and families.
