​SD43 Board of Education Announces New Superintendent of Schools

Coquitlam, BC — October 7, 2024 — The School District 43 (Coquitlam) Board of Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Zambrano as the new Superintendent of Schools for SD43. Mr. Zambrano will begin to transition into the role in the coming weeks and assume full responsibility effective December 1, 2024. Current Superintendent Patricia Gartland announced her retirement in August.

Robert Zambrano has served SD43 for the last 34 years and brings deep and rich experience to the role from an array of diverse settings. Mr. Zambrano has been a teacher of Science, Math, and French at the secondary level, has been both a Vice-Principal and Principal at 5 Middle and Secondary schools, coached numerous sports teams, and has been an Assistant Superintendent in SD43 for the last nine years. In his most recent role as Assistant Superintendent, he has overseen 17 schools (including 2 alternate schools), the Student Wellness and Safety Portfolio, Community Link, Community Connections, Feeding Futures, Indigenous Education, and has been the primary liaison to other government, non-profit, and municipal agencies such as Fraser Health, MCFD, RCMP/Port Moody Police, SHARE, and various other organizations. Mr. Zambrano was co-District lead during the Pandemic response and has overseen the District Emergency Operation Center and the District Critical Incident Response Team. He possesses a Bachelor of Science in Zoology (1989) and a Bachelor of Education in Secondary Education (1990) both from the University of British Columbia. He has also earned a Master's Degree in Science in Instructional Leadership from the University of Oregon in 1999. Mr. Zambrano is an expert in school connectedness, community and culture building in schools, and school climate. Mr. Zambrano has worked with and mentored educators across BC, in addition to educators from England, Spain and Australia in a consultancy and teaching capacity.​