Principal earns national honour
Paradise Elementary’s Michael Tobin recognized for fostering ‘Be the best you can be’ mantra in his school
Paradise Elementary School principal Michael Tobin is among a select group of school administrators.
He has been selected as one of the 40 recipients of the Canada’s Outstanding Principals award for 2018.
The Canada’s Outstanding Principals executive leadership program provides principals with training in proven management skills and leadership techniques that foster excellence in schools.
The 2018 winners will join the ranks of the National Academy of Canada’s Outstanding Principals, which now boasts more than 400 members.
“Our motto here at Paradise Elementary is, ‘Be the best you can be.’ We teach the students to be respectful in school and show them we believe in them every day,” Tobin said.
“I am proud of our school community. It is about the relationships you build. Our team is all working together to help the students be the best they can be every day. Our entire staff is a team and they do this type of job every day.”
Tobin is an experienced administrator who establishes personal trusting relationships with all members of Paradise Elementary School’s community.
He emphasizes the possibilities and successes in each of his students, and is visible in classrooms, around the school and in the community, soliciting input from teachers, students and community members. By doing this, teachers have felt
empowered and technology-facilitated learning has increased.
The school is inclusionary, ensuring students have a safe and supportive learning environment. Tobin and his team provide programs and tools for students requiring additional types of assistance.
Literacy is another focus for the school, and Tobin actively networks with colleagues, ensuring professional learning is current and effective.
His actions demonstrate his commitment to his personal slogan of, “Be the best you can be.”
“The big thing is the professional learning opportunity and leadership training at Rotman,” Tobin said.
“It will be a chance to connect with other administrators from across the country and learn
from them,” he added, noting ideas from those individuals may strike a chord with him, so he can bring those practices back to his school and pass them on to other colleagues at the school and throughout the district.
At the same time, those administrators may like something he is doing and could possibly take his ideas back to their respective schools.
“I have learned a lot over the years based on experience. I have worked for some great principals back when I was an assistant principal,” he said on how he arrived at this point in his career.
“It is all about building good relationships with students and staff. They believe in the children each and every day and we show them we believe in them
and care about them. I think that is the key to learning.”
The winners also benefit from an exclusive five-day executive leadership training program at one of Canada’s top business schools, the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.
The program will introduce them to leadership and management practices presented by business, government and educational leaders.
The principals will participate in The World of Work: Equity and Inclusion, a professional learning day hosted by CIBC, where they have the opportunity to learn about today’s workforce from leaders in business, health and education.
“Principals are vital leaders in Canada’s education system. They ensure our schools are open and operating effectively. They work closely with teachers to inspire our students every day. They contribute to creating positive learning environments for children to thrive both in and outside of the classroom,” Ron Canuel, president and CEO of The Learning Partnership, stated in a news release.
“They are the catalyst for connecting students, educators, families and the community together and we recognize their indispensable contributions to helping Canada continue as global leaders in education.”
More than 400 guests from schools, school boards, business and government attend the annual Canada’s Outstanding Principals gala every year to celebrate principals who are making a difference in their schools and communities.
Now celebrating its 14th year, The Learning Partnership’s Canada’s Outstanding Principals program recognizes the unique and vital contributions of principals in publicly funded schools.
Principals are nominated by parents, colleagues and community members, and the 40 winners are chosen by a national selection committee. Those winners are being celebrated for demonstrating innovation and leadership, and for employing creativity in finding solutions and opportunities within their school communities.
Tobin and the other winners will be awarded for their accomplishments at the annual Canada’s Outstanding Principals gala on Feb. 27 in Toronto.