About Us

The chair and members are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Persons interested in appointment as members of the Tribunal may apply on-line for appointment to this and other Ontario government agencies at the website of the Ontario Public Appointments Secretariat.

Members of the Tribunals are persons who have knowledge of, and experience with, exceptional children, the education system and the adjudicative process. An appeal is usually heard by a panel of three tribunal members, one of whom acts as the chair of the panel.

The current Chair and members of the Ontario Special Education (English) Tribunal are listed below.

• Code of Conduct For Chairs, Vice-Chairs and Members (PDF, 77 KB)

Marilyn Thain

Marilyn Thain is Chair of the Ontario Special Education (English) Tribunal. An educator for over 35 years, her career in education included classroom teacher, special education consultant, school principal and education officer for the Ministry of Education. She has led numerous workshops and presentations in special education across Ontario and continues to work as a reviewer of publications in special education. Ms. Thain instructs Special Education Additional Qualification Courses for the Faculty of Education, UWO. She holds a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Western Ontario.

Eva Nichols

Eva Nichols is the Tribunal's Vice-Chair. Her education, obtained in the UK, was in the field of pure sciences. Her work experience includes medical research, genetic counseling, being a school trustee, lecturing at the University of Toronto, acting as the Executive Director of the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario and as senior researcher for the Learning Opportunities Task Force. Her diverse volunteer activities, numerous published articles and conference presentations in Canada and overseas all relate to special education issues. Born in Hungary, she is the mother of two daughters, both identified as exceptional, and is the grandmother of six.

Ross Caradonna

Ross Caradonna was an educator for 36 years with the Toronto Board of Education/Toronto District School Board and enjoyed his role as Special Education Teacher, Chair, Co-Ordinator and Principal for 35 of those years. He has been very involved in many committees and IPRCs and has been an active member of Council for Exceptional Children for 41 years holding many executive positions. In retirement, Ross has been an Education Officer (Temporary) with the Ministry of Education as a team leader and validator for the fundingI process and participated in the revisions of other funding documents. Ross has had an active volunteer life serving as director and chair for The Crèche Child and Family Centre (Child Development Institute) and Pelletier Homes for Youth as well as volunteering for the Dorothy Ley Hospice. He has a BA from the University of Toronto and a Master of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

Derryn Gill

Derryn Gill was introduced to special education by her two sons who benefited from individualized programming. She became involved with their school's parents association, moved to the TDSB Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) and the Provincial Parent Association Advisory Committee on SEAC. She later served on the Minister's Advisory Council on Special Education. Derryn is proud to be the chair of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Ontario and the Folic Acid Alliance. She is a community representative on the Bloorview Kid's Rehab Research Ethics Board. Derryn has a Ph. D in biochemistry.

Janice Leroux

Janice Leroux is a former schoolteacher and principal with the Niagara South Board of Education. Dr. Leroux has taught at McGill University and Queen's University and was a Professor of Graduate Studies in education at the University of Ottawa where her responsibilities included active collaboration with Ontario boards of education, directing Master's and Doctoral theses and supervising major research grants in Ontario and across Canada. Dr. Leroux has been president of the Ontario Educational Research Council, treasurer and vice-president of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children, and has written two books and many articles in refereed journals.

Dr. Carlana Lindeman

Dr. Carlana Lindeman is a former teacher and principal with the Lakehead Board of Education. Carlana served with the Ministry of Education as an Education Officer, Provincial Coordinator of Private Schools and as a Regional Manager. She worked closely with school boards, and First Nation schools throughout Northwestern Ontario.

She received her Bachelor and Masters degrees from Lakehead University and a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Toronto.

Julie Lindhout

Julie Lindhout holds a M.Ed. and after sixteen years of secondary school teaching in London, Ontario, joined the Ontario Ministry of Education in the London Office. Transferred to Queen's Park in 1986, she held progressively senior positions with responsibilities at various times for Teacher Education, Native Education, Special Education, National and International Liaison, Legislation, and Policy Analysis and Research. Julie Lindhout was Executive Coordinator of Policy and Research for the Royal Commission on Learning. She was Acting Director of Policy when she retired from the Ontario Ministry of Education, and established Lindhout Associates Education Consulting.

Jim McCaughey

Jim McCaughey is currently a partner with Leadership Consultation Group Inc. Prior to this, he was a school principal in the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board as well as the system program leader of Staff Development. He has been involved in the community with the Out of the Cold Program as well as other outreach endeavours. Mr. McCaughey is a former member of the Ontario Principals' Council, Ontario College of Teachers and the Ontario Council for Exceptional Children.

Uma Madan

Uma Madan has worked with special need students for the last 34 years at the elementary level as a special education teacher. She designed programs for Religion and Values for the local school board and the Life Skills Program for learning disabled students. In order to meet the needs of her students, she acquired her certification in Language Difficulties Aphasia, and Bliss Symbols. She was the vice president of the local Federation of Women Teacher's Association of Ontario. She was an executive of The Association of Developmentally Challenged Children, and The Indo-Canadian Multicultural Association. Uma was a convener for professional development for the Teacher, Superannuation Pension Board, and for the Anti-Racist Education Program for the local school board. Uma has degrees in Science, Education, Special Education and honors in Psychology

Noel Williams

An educator for more than forty years, Noel Williams taught at the high school level as well as in special needs settings. During thirty years as a professor at the University of Windsor he was involved in teacher training with a focus on special education. He was appointed Professor Emeritus upon his retirement. He holds a PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Alberta and is the co-author of a text book on learning disabilities. Noel served for many years on the Regional Special Education Council for South Western Ontario, as well as other advisory committees, and currently serves on the Family and Children's Services Committee of the Windsor Regional Children's Centre.