Pearls Of Wisdom

Andrea Strachan, Department Head- Participant of PTC Curriculum “So as an international school leader, always keep in mind, you are not as open minded or internationally minded as you think, but you do have the power to change this.”

Anna-Marie Brunskill, Principal- Participant of PTC Assessment “So those, like I said, they're very simple strategies, but they've been a revelation for me. Um, the first one about making sure you're meeting has a purpose and a plan. And the second about, um, making sure people feel listened, even listened to, even if they haven't actually spoken.”

Ayeshat Addison, MYP Coordinator- Participant of PTC Curriculum ”A leader is a person who you would follow to a place you would not go to by yourself.' Big question: would you follow yourself to the places you are leading people through and to?”

Douglas Beam, Grade Level Coordinator- Participant of PTC Assessment and Instructional Supervision”We find out what's unimportant, what's it not urgent, and we remove it from our schedule so that we can spend time taking care of the things that need to be taken care of and giving excellent care to the people around us.”

Emily Morgan, Curriculum Director - Participant of PTC Curriculum“So the Pearl that as a leader know thyself and embrace all of the points of the compass.”

Jacqueline Mallais, Director of Student Life- Participant of PTC Leadership and Instructional Supervision ”So my Pearl today is a powerful and low cost way to build a whole school community of learners.”

Janelle Garrett, Lower Secondary Coordinator- Participant of PTC Leadership”Sometimes the best way to walk the talk is just to talk the walk.”

Joe Cloutier, Assistant Principal- Participant of PTC Creating Effective Schools“So my Pearl is all about being seen and involved in your school. Take the opportunity to get back in the classroom from time to time. Plant the seed, create the perception that you're involved in your school. And again, one, two, three, all about perception [inaudible] and go forth.”

John Liu, Department Head- Participant of PTC Leadership and Team Dynamics“I think it's important that when we go sit in those meetings with our principals, we are actively listening. We are trying to also build empathy for the principals and see how can we add value to that.”

John Woodward, Teacher- Participant of PTC Creating Effective Schools”Think about getting to yes as often as you can.”

Leslie Tait, Curriculum Director- Participant of PTC Curriculum”My Pearl really is out of the mouths of babes sometimes comes the realities of really what, what is going on in a place and it can make a difference and move things forward.”

Lydia Okutoro-Sack, Department Head- Participant of PTC Curriculum, and Leadership and Team Dynamic“I want to leave this Pearl of wisdom with you, which is again, under the umbrella of showing vulnerability, but really it's learning how to say it, how to live, and how to sit in and be comfortable with the ideas of, I don't know, I need help. I messed up and just with it one more time.

Mark McGowan, Department Head - Participant of PTC Instructional Supervision“We're human beings first and everything else is kind of second. And that's just what I wanted to share with you today.”

Julie O’Donohue, Principal- Participant of PTC Instructional Supervision “My Pearl today is when you're considering your career trajectory, draw strength and inspiration from your mentors and allow people to believe in you."

Melodi Jordan, Assistant Head- Participant of PTC Assessment and Instructional Supervision “my pearl today is this. We are so fortunate to be part of a network of professionals that know what it means to be an international leader. I encourage you to seek out those inspiring leaders that you trust, that are willing to ask the hard questions of you, and I challenge you to take the risk of asking them to actively, purposefully coach you, work together to identify those obstacles that are impeding your growth and plan those small steps that will make all the difference.”

Michele Basu, Counselor- Participant of PTC Creating Effective Schools “So my Pearl is this: , it's just remember that as the adults in the building, we need to take care of everybody else first.”

Ruth Sanderson, Assistant Head- Participant of PTC Finance "You need to be determined and also remember that you're investing in people.”

Ryan Persaud, Director of IT- Participant of PTC Leadership and Team Dynamics, and Technology “So my Pearl is when one door closes, you have to figure out why it's not opening and seek out another door.”

Sal Sule, Assistant Principal- Participant of PTC Curriculum “So my pearl this morning is no matter how strong or great you think your idea is, no matter how deeply rooted it might be in best practices or research or whatever, always go actively seek out people who find the flaws so you can make your ideas stronger, better, or they want to get to know by politics or as struggle or distance.”

Sam Stover, Assistant Principal- Participant of PTC Leadership and Team Dynamics “I would encourage you to think about, um, the next time you pick off a project or initiative at your school, is it a potentially beneficial to think about dividing it up, thinking about it through the lens of the law of marginal gains and also as a starting point, um, start within those flexible elements.”

Scott Jackson, Principal- Participant of PTC Assessment “sometimes when you're having heated conversations, you've got to bring it back to what is best for the learners in your school.”

Shaun Hudson, Principal- Participant of PTC Finance “I knew that trust and authenticity were vital variables and influencing the change.”

Shiheim Lee, Grade Level Leader- Participant of PTC Curriculum “So my Pearl is this, get out of the classroom”

Trae Holland, Director- Participant of PTC Creating Effective Schools “And do you think about where we're Pearl comes from? We all know it starts with an irritant, right? And irritant and the organism hates it, but instead of rejecting it or ignoring it, or uses it, and then starts to build this layering, right? Consistent, methodical, predictable, layering of calcium and creating something beautiful at what was originally an irritant. Right? Um, but it's the, it's that predictability and the calmness of that change that I find really, really adorable.”

Victor MacClean, Principal- Participant of PTC Curriculum “So my Pearl is purposeful pausing, and taking time to reflect.”

Pearls: Lessons from Leadership Mistakes

Anne Dwyer, Curriculum Director- Participant of PTC Curriculum ”Because without that desire as an influential staff member, this was not going to work.”

Barry Phipps, Assistant Head- Participant of PTC Leadership ”So the 24 hour rule, if things don't go your way, it's not a real way because maybe you're not meant to go in that direction.”

Betsy Hanselmann, Assistant Head- Participant of PTC Creating Effective Schools ”Especially in the primary school, I think women have to be really careful with how they support little boys and their violent drawings.”

Brian Oliver, MYP Coordinator- Participant of PTC Curriculum and Creating Effective Schools ”My advice to you is that it's rarely just business. It's frequently, personally, uh, but our job as leaders is to make sure it's always professional.”

Danny Catano, Assistant Head- Participant of PTC Creating Effective Schools "We need to provide a caring and nurturing environment that supports people that have mental health issues."

Don Collins, School Head- Participant of PTC Assessment”Sometimes in the heat of conversation, we forget where we left our reasoning.”

Fatma Odaymat, Head of School - Participant of PTC Instructional Supervision ”Do not let your ego dictate what you see, what you believe and what you feel. And most importantly, do not let your past success ruin any possibility of future success.”

Jeremie Rostan, Psychology Teacher- Participant of PTC Instructional Supervision and Creating Effective Schools ”There's actually very little that you know, from experience alone.”

Justyna McMillan, Dean of Academics- Participant of PTC Assessment “So my pearl of wisdom is yes, it is about learning, but I would also argue that making sure that you're providing a psychologically safe atmosphere for everyone involved is also really important.”

Martin Jones, Assistant Head of School- Participant of PTC Instructional Supervision and Creating Effective Schools
”My Pearl is the idea of assigning someone very specifically into their role as the designated dissenter for each meeting.“

Michele Baker, Grade Level Leader- Participant of PTC Assessment. “So I encourage you to remember to make sure that all the members of your team feel seen, heard, and valued on a daily basis.”

Renee Fuller, Grade Level Leader- Participant of PTC Curriculum “A true leader models vulnerability by celebrating their weaknesses and their mistakes as opportunities for growth.”

Richard Nunns, Deputy Director- Participant of PTC Instructional Supervision“However, attitude is much more difficult to develop, to change to correct.”

Trevor Rehel, Curriculum Director- Participant of PTC Instructional Supervision“So my Pearl is if you are a colleague, feel like your world is in imploding or exploding around you. You can find a tool or a strategy and there are always people that can help you. You just have to reach out to it.”