The Hanover School Division Board of Trustees has appointed Kevin Clace as the new Superintendent-CEO, taking over leadership of Steinbach-area schools on or before January 1, 2027. Clace arrives from the Prairie Rose School Division, where he has served as Superintendent-CEO since 2024, and will succeed Joe Thiessen, who is stepping down after more than 30 years in education.
Clace brings 23 years of leadership experience across K-12 and post-secondary education to his new role. Before leading Prairie Rose, he was Dean of the University of Winnipeg Collegiate from 2018 to 2024. He holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and a Master of Education from the University of North Dakota, along with a Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba.
Board Chair Dallas Wiebe praised Clace as a ‘collaborative and forward-thinking leader’ whose vision for a growing division aligns with the needs of local students, staff, and communities. The division includes Steinbach Regional Secondary School, Manitoba’s largest high school with roughly 2,200 students, and serves approximately 8,900 students across 20 schools in Southeast Manitoba.
Thiessen will step down on December 31, 2026, and has been named the next Superintendent-CEO of Winnipeg Mennonite School, effective January 2027. His career with Hanover included 20 years as principal of Mitchell Elementary School before becoming Superintendent-CEO in 2024.
In a related move, the board appointed Vince Hiebert as Assistant Superintendent, effective September 1, 2026. Hiebert is currently principal of Woodlawn School and will transition into his new role as the division navigates ongoing enrollment growth.
