The Toronto District School Board has chosen a new director of education.
Christopher Spence, 46, was confirmed Sunday at a special board meeting. He will replace Gerry Connelly, who retires this year.
He will be the first black educator to assume the leadership of the country's largest and most diverse school board.
Spence is currently director of education with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board.
In Toronto, he will oversee 560 schools with an overall budget of $2 billion.
Spence has worked as a principal in the Toronto school system and was once a running back for the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League.
He is expected to assume his new job at the end of the school year.
The search for Connelly's replacement had been going on for more than a year.
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