Leadership Development


Principal Congress

Background

The Principal Congress is a unique, tri-level forum for Ontario's principals, supervisory officers, directors of education, education partners (including representatives from all Ontario leadership associations) and ministry staff. The first Principal Congress was held on February 10, 2009.

The Congress serves as a "think tank" to generate and exchange innovative ideas to improve schools and enhance student learning. The goal of the Congress is also to strengthen the ministry's relationship with school and system leaders and include their voice in ministry initiatives. The Congress builds on a professional learning network through dialogue that invites open exchange and solicits input on policy directions that impact schools and students.

February 2009 Principal Congress

The theme of the February 2009 Congress was "Sustaining the Momentum: Closing the Achievement Gap". Deputy Minister Ben Levin and former CEO of the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat Avis Glaze were key presenters, reporting back on input provided by Congress participants on closing student achievement gaps.

The keynote speaker was Roger Martin, Dean of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. He gave a relevant and thought provoking presentation on the thinking patterns of successful leaders and their creative solutions to apparently unpleasant tradeoffs. His presentation was based on his book, The Opposable Mind: How Successful Leaders Win Through Integrative Thinking.

Congress participants were, for the most part, practicing principals representing the 72 school boards and four school authorities. They were identified either by their directors of education or their provincial principal association as principals who are regarded as "system leaders". Recognizing the critical role that system leaders play in creating the conditions of success for principals, participants also included directors of education and supervisory officers representing the six regions in the province.

Principal Congress 2009 Highlights – Video Clips