The MFC has a new Executive Director
Dear MFC community,
The Montreal Fluency Centre, a non-profit organization, continues to meet the needs of children who have speech, language, literacy, and learning differences. By offering early identification and intervention, the Centre has supported thousands of children and their families, from those with emerging language delays to older children needing strategic academic support.
By providing them with the tools they needed at the right time, the Montreal Fluency Centre has helped these children develop their communication skills and shape their academic success.
Having heroically dealt with the challenges of the Covid-recovery period particular to a site-based one-on-one support model, the Centre is now thriving, much to the credit of departing Executive Director Véronique, whose thoughts follow below.
Furthermore, as Board Chair of the Montreal Fluency Centre, I am pleased to announce the appointment of our incoming Executive Director, Sandra Furfaro, an esteemed educator and Administrator formally with the English Montreal School Board (EMSB). Highlights of her distinguished career also follow below.
Welcome Sandra Furfaro
Sandra Furfaro began her career as a teacher at the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal (PSBGM) and then the English Montreal School Board (EMSB). She has held several positions including Vice-Principal and Principal at both the elementary and secondary levels, Assistant Director and Director of Pedagogical Services, as well as Director of Educational and Technology Services, also assuming responsibility for the Information Technology Services Department.
Under Mrs. Furfaro’s leadership the department oversaw the implementation of many new pedagogical initiatives, significant improvements in the areas of literacy education, STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics), robotics, French immersion, and physical literacy. Mrs. Furfaro is proud to have run a department which played a key role in the EMSB obtaining the highest success rate among public school boards in Quebec.
She has co-chaired and chaired several committees where her extensive knowledge was greatly appreciated. She is recognized by the larger English Educational community of Quebec as a leader who worked to ensure quality educational services for all students.
Mrs. Furfaro is extremely excited to now be part of the Montreal Fluency Centre. She believes in working closely together as a community of clinicians, students, and parents to create the conditions that will help students be globally aware, creative, lifelong learners, and to become successful in later life.
“As Executive Director my goal is to continue guiding the Centre in making a difference, in supporting all children with learning differences and needs.”
Words from our outgoing Executive Director, Véronique Paulet
“My time as Executive Director of the MFC has been stimulating, challenging, and rewarding. I have great respect for the Centre’s mission and team. Language, communication, literacy and learning skills provide the foundation for learning at school and are critical to both social and academic success, according to research.
“Our team has touched immeasurable lives over the years, and I am honoured to have had the opportunity to work alongside such an amazing team of clinicians, administrators, volunteers, donors, and our Board of Directors.
“Together we navigated the various phases of COVID, modernized our business, expanded our team, expanded our services to the Indigenous communities, restarted services directly to a private school, provided new workshops and webinars, relaunched summer preschool and kindergarten groups and developed new partnerships with the Centre Greene, Tyndale, the Westmount Library, Explorations, and others.
“We truly value our relationships with our donors and Foundations that support our work. We are working with existing and potential new donors on partnerships to benefit our Centre and the community we serve. I encourage anyone who can to donate to the Centre on a regular basis so that children with language, communication and learning differences can get the help they need, regardless of their financial situation.
“My departure as Executive Director was a difficult decision for me, but I feel that the work I undertook with the Centre has made a positive impact and will be able to carry forward under the leadership of Sandra Furfaro. In truth, I will never be far from the MFC as it is close to my heart and my family.
“I wish all the best to the Centre and its incredible community.”
As the Board Chair of the Montreal Fluency Centre, I wish to thank Véronique Paulet for her 3 years of dedicated and exemplary service as our outgoing Executive Director. I also extend a hearty welcome to Sandra Furfaro who now assumes the ED role of our Centre. The Board is most grateful for the smooth transition taking place between our outgoing and incoming Directors. Our future has never looked brighter.
James Officer, Board ChairJuly 14, 2023