The Top 10 VSB Earners of the 2021-2022 School Year

The VSB head office at 1580 West Broadway. | Photo Credit: Wyn Lok via Flickr via Global News

The Vancouver School Board (VSB) released their Statement of Financial Information for 2021/2022, detailing among other things, the individual remuneration of workers above $75,000. Below are the salaries of the top 10 earners in VSB:

10. John Dawson, Director of Edu Plan Student Info - $181,256

Kicking off this list in the six figures, John Sawson, the Director of Educational Plan Student Info, made a profit of $181,256 this financial year, a $20,000 raise from last year’s salary.

9. Peter Nuij, Associate Superintendent - $190,676

One of five associate superintendents, Nuij has yet to break the 200,000 dollar mark, with a salary of $190,676. Formerly the Director of Human Resources, he is now the Associate Superintendent of Employee Services, overseeing the hiring processes of potential staff and the logistics of the current staff. 

8. Shehzad Somji, Assistant Secretary Treasurer - $207,152

Making $17,000 more than the former, Shehzad Somji secures the eighth spot with a salary of $207,152. As Assistant Secretary Treasurer, Somji is part of the team that manages the finances of the VSB, alongside John David Green, Marlene Phillips, and others.

7. Janson Ho, Project Office Director - $220,548

Once again, another management position. Noticing a trend yet? Janson Ho, having worked the position of the Director of the Project Office at the VSB for eight years, compiled a remuneration of $220,548 this fiscal year.

6. Pedro Da Silva, Associate Superintendent - $225,340

The second Associate Superintendent, Pedro Da Silva’s income for the year 2021-2022 is $225,340. He formerly worked as a Director of Instruction during the financial year 2018-2019, with a salary that was half of his current one.

5. Carmen Batista, Associate Superintendent - $230,160

Another one of the Associate Superintendents, Carmen Batista has held this position for eight years, and her salary has been steadily increasing, peaking at $230,160 this year. Not only does she work at the VSB, but she also works as the Director of Human Resources and Labour Relations in the BC School Trustees Association.

4. Robert Schindel, Associate Superintendent - $231,798

Three Associate Superintendents in a row! Before he became one of the Associate Superintendents, Robert Schindel worked as a Director of Instruction, the same position Da Silva held in 2018-2019. After becoming an Associate Superintendent, similarly to Batista, his salary has been steadily increasing, also rising this year to $231,798.

3. Jocelyn Langlois, Associate Superintendent - $231,953

All five associate superintendents made this list; the highest-earning one breaking into the top three. However, the difference in remunerations of the last three individuals is less than 2,000 dollars––with only a $155 discrepancy.

2. David Nelson, Deputy Superintendent - $236,593

It is no surprise that the deputy superintendent achieves the second-place position, clocking in with a salary of $236,593. With 8 years of experience working at the VSB, he has been making over $200,000 since 2018.

2. (Honourary). Suzanne Hoffman, Former Superintendent - $148,202 (2021-2022), $276,397 (2018-2019)

Suzanne Hoffman joined the BC School Trustees Association at the beginning of 2021 as the Chief Executive Officer, replacing Mike Roberts, who is retiring from the position. Her duties as superintendent have therefore been relieved. Regardless, she still brought in $148,202 in 2021/2022, still a significant drop from when she actually held the position; her peak income was in 2018-2019, at $276,397. Now, Hoffman has been replaced by new superintendent Helen McGregor, whose salary started at $133,144, which does not crack the top ten.

1. John David Green, Secretary Treasurer, - $282,502

If the superintendent does not have the highest income under the VSB, then who does? That title goes to John David Green, the Secretary Treasurer. His wide breadth of responsibilities includes overseeing various divisions within the VSB, recording committee meetings, maintenance of records and the VSB website, and others. All that has earned him a salary of $282,505.

 The aforementioned individuals all work in positions of leadership and/or management. The highest-earning teachers hover around the $110,000 range, with the highest-earning principals around the $150,000 range. Gill Kalwant of Killarney Secondary was the highest paid principal, clocking in at $155,913 for the 2021/2022 fiscal year.