Meet the independent panel

The four-member Independent Panel will be leading the comprehensive review of the Department of Education. By examining the department’s core services, the panel will identify what is working well and where improvements can be made. The panel has begun their work and will gather feedback to help shape its recommendations. The panel members are guided by the following Terms of reference.

Biographies of the independent panel members 

Greg Storey   

Greg Storey has worked in education for more than 40 years, including 36 years in northern Canada. He has held a range of roles, including teacher, principal, guidance counsellor, consultant, district supervisor and superintendent. 

His work has focused on improving student learning and supporting educators. He contributed to the Nunavut High School Project, which brought together Elders and teachers to include Traditional Knowledge in the curriculum. In the Yukon, he helped develop the Rural Experiential Model, supporting hands-on learning opportunities for students. 

More recently, he worked with the Yukon First Nation Education Directorate to examine the root causes of learning gaps for Indigenous students and support approaches to improve outcomes.

Gillian Staveley   

Gillian Staveley is a Kaska Dena citizen and a leader in Indigenous education and land stewardship. She was an inaugural trustee of the First Nation School Board and continues to advocate for education systems that reflect Indigenous Knowledge and support language revitalization. 

She holds a Master of Arts in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia. Her work highlights the importance of multi-generational knowledge and community-based learning. 

Judith Arnold   

Judith Arnold has worked in education across Ontario, British Columbia and the Yukon. She has held roles as a teacher, vice-principal and system leader, with a focus on improving student achievement and literacy. 

In British Columbia, she worked with the Ministry of Education to review school districts and support improvements, with a focus on outcomes for First Nations learners. Her doctoral research examined how education policy connects to classroom practice and the importance of building capacity in schools. 

In the Yukon, she led the development of a school review process and worked with schools, families and First Nations to support better outcomes for all learners. 

Lorraine Taillefer   

Lorraine Taillefer has more than 30 years of experience in education in the North, including in the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. She worked in roles ranging from classroom teaching to senior leadership, including Assistant Deputy Minister of Education. 

Her work has included supporting French first-language and French immersion education, as well as working with First Nations governments and school communities. 

Ms. Taillefer is known for her collaborative approach and her commitment to strengthening education systems in ways that respect language, culture and community priorities.

 

Contact

To communicate with the independent panel, please email info@yeir.ca.