LEADER OF THE PACK
David Thompson secondary principal Iona Whishaw has been named one of Canada's outstanding principals for 2012, according to The Learning Partnership. The Learning Partnership is a national organization that champions public education.
Whishaw is one of 40 principals across the country to earn the honour, including three others from B.C.
The Vancouver School Board's senior management team nominated Whishaw, who's also worked at Sir Charles Tupper secondary.
In a lengthy nomination letter that includes comments from several Tupper and David Thompson staff members and students, superintendent Steve Cardwell lauded Whishaw's leadership skills. "She is truly an outstanding educational leader because she loves to learn as much as she loves to teach. Iona's eclectic background as a dancer, singer, youth worker, teacher, painter, writer, and administrator have broadened her vision of leadership," he wrote. "This vision has allowed her to recognize strengths in others from different disciplines and through building strong relationships she encourages others to collaborate together and be a part of their desired change."
Whishaw was principal at Tupper from 2005 to 2009 and is credited with expanding their code of conduct known as ROARS-responsibility, ownership, attitude, respect and safety.
The school's reputation was hurt in 2003 after a 17-year-old student was murdered near the school grounds
Cardwell cites a comment from one of Tupper's teachers, Guy Demers, in the nomination letter. "When Iona first arrived at Tupper, the staff was unhappy, the school had a reputation as a dangerous school and every year the student population was declining," noted Demers, who explained that Whishaw helped turn the school into "the safest high school in the district" through developing
the code of conduct and by supporting the Tupper greenway project.
Failure rates also declined during Whishaw's tenure as principal at Tupper and have continued to drop, according to Cardwell. As principal of David Thompson, Cardwell wrote that she's built on its code of conduct known as CARES-connections, accountability, respect, encouragement, safety.
Whishaw introduced TLC (Thompson Leadership Cards) cards, which students earn through behaviour that reflects the school's values. The cards go into a draw for a weekly prize.
This year, Whishaw is part of the District Student Forum Planning Committee that's organized a student forum on personalized learning set for Jan. 31 (after the Courier's deadline).
"Truly Iona Whishaw's leadership has touched the lives of entire school communities. Through her values and vision of education, she has transformed the learning communities she works in. Her positive regard for others allow people to function at their very best," concluded Cardwell.
noconnor@vancourier.com
Twitter: @Naoibh
