Trustee Spotlight: Jenny Leahy
Dec. 8, 2025
Community: Peterborough County | Years of Service: 3 years
As part of our new Trustee Spotlight series, we are introducing you to the dedicated leaders who serve on the PVNC Catholic Board of Trustees. Trustees play a vital role in guiding Catholic education, advocating for students and families, and strengthening connections with our school communities. Each month, we’ll feature one trustee to share their story, experiences, and what inspires them in this important work.
Why did you choose to become a trustee?
Having worked at arms length with Trustees in my administrative support role at PVNC Catholic in the past, I believed I had something to contribute. Aside from responding to parent concerns, Trustees have responsibility for approving Policies, Budget, Strategic Priorities, which Administration, in turn, will operationalize. These responsibilities will determine the success of a Board.
Trustees are currently facing a threat from the Ministry of Education of being removed from our democratically elected position. Catholic School Board Trustees are no strangers to threats as they have always had to defend our faith-based education system. I am a strong advocate for our Catholic School Board and I want to make sure that I am at the table should a threat become real.
What have you found most rewarding about serving your school communities?
One very enjoyable part of my role is attending a school or event to see learning in action, and students living out their faith. The Board and schools organize special events throughout the school year that bring “our community” together to recognize and honour various histories and cultures, where we all have an opportunity to celebrate and learn together.
I have also had the opportunity to serve on the Supervised Alternative Learning Committee. This Committee reviews applications put forward from a school team on behalf of students who are struggling, for various reasons, to complete the necessary credits required to complete their secondary school diploma. The secondary school staff, administrators, guidance and student success staff, will band together to create unique programming, combined with community agency support, while being flexible enough to accommodate the student. The collaboration that goes into creating non-traditional programming for these students is remarkable.
What has been a memorable or proud moment during your time as a PVNC Catholic trustee?
I am very proud that our Board approved a balanced budget for 2025-2026. Making difficult budgetary adjustments was a challenge but the goal of Trustees and Senior Administration was to find ways to manage finances responsibly while ensuring that student learning and achievement remained the top priority.
What do you love most about the specific community you serve?
I live in Selwyn and I serve the County of Peterborough. There are four elementary schools within the County of Peterborough and two secondary schools. The four elementary schools are some of the finest buildings in our Board, most with expansive green spaces with a variety of natural playgrounds and play structures. All six schools have dedicated staff and engaged parent communities, all of which play an integral role in student development and school success.
Tell us one fun or surprising fact about yourself.
I am the first of my family to be born in Canada. My parents and sisters emigrated to Canada from the UK in 1960. My family was very grateful to be granted residency into this Country and were very proud to eventually become Canadian citizens. Our Board celebrates Citizenship Reaffirmation ceremonies each year and these ceremonies have a particular personal meaning to me.