The new general secretary of Scottish education directors’ body ADES is Sheena Devlin.
ADES told Tes Scotland that Ms Devlin, who is executive director of education and children’s services at Perth and Kinross Council, will succeed Michael Wood in January.
Mr Wood has been ADES general secretary since May 2017, having taken over from John Stodter after previously being director of Dundee’s children and families service.
Ms Devlin is a former primary school headteacher and also spent more than 11 years as an associate assessor for Scotland’s education inspectorate.
She has been at Perth and Kinross for more than 17 years, with previous roles for the council including school improvement service manager and head of early years and primary education. She has been in her current role since October 2015.
Ms Devlin recently concluded a year’s term as ADES president. In an interview with Tes Scotland in February, she spoke of the importance of keeping the primary school sector in the spotlight, the difficulties of contending with tight budgets and her hopes for education reform.
In her speech to the ADES annual conference in Cumbernauld in November, she shared her concern that “social isolation and loneliness are going to be the next pandemic”.
Just before the annual conference, ADES published a report on the potential impact of artificial intelligence on schools, which Ms Devlin said presented “a mixed picture”.
Praise for new ADES general secretary
ADES president Laurence Findlay said that he and his colleagues were “delighted” to have Ms Devlin as general secretary.
“Sheena brings many years of experience in educational leadership to the role and is hugely respected by colleagues locally and nationally who appreciate her expertise, knowledge and good humour,” said Mr Findlay.
“She has a great deal to bring to the role of general secretary and I know she will support the association and its members well.”
Mr Findlay also paid tribute to the outgoing ADES general secretary.
“Michael has been a huge champion for education and children and young people throughout his long and varied career, and over the past seven years he has been an exemplary advocate for ADES. His contribution to education in Scotland has been significant.
“We all wish him well for this next stage in his life.”
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