Earl graduated from Carleton University with an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Economics. He went on to further his studies at the University of Toronto, receiving a Bachelor of Education.

Earl spent the first 10 years of his teaching career with the Grey County District School Board. From there, he moved on to serve on the executive for the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation. In 1995, Earl was elected as the President of OSSTF. From 2003 to 2007, he worked with various stakeholders as a consultant in labour relations and communications, including the Trillium Lakelands District School Board.  Earl was the Human Resources Administrator for the Trillium Lakelands District School Board from 2007 until his retirement in 2016. Earl’s reputation for strategic decision-making and drive for achieving results has been recognized by school boards, federations and unions, and government representatives of all political stripes.

Earl has conducted negotiations on behalf of a school authority, acted as a sidesperson in arbitrations for a social service agency and been a public speaker or conducted workshops for the Rotman School of Business, school boards, the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, the Ontario Law Society and the North American Arbitrators Association.  Earl has also written for the Ontario Principals’ Council and been a guest speaker at the Supervisory Officers Qualification Program. 

Since retirement, Earl has continued to be engaged with public education. Earl has acted as a Labour Relations Consultant with a Provincial School Authority, been a guest speaker and coach for industrial relations workshops at Queen’s University and been an Instructor with the University of Guelph, OpenEd, teaching courses with the Certificate in Facilities Management program and the Certificate in Human Resources Management for School Board Administration program.

Earl was elected as Councillor for Ward 3, Township of the Archipelago in 2018.

Earl currently lives in Lindsay with his wife and two children.