
Overview
Our Principal's Development Course (PDC) enables candidates to personalize their learning in a variety of leadership-focused areas.
Through the co-construction of knowledge and learning, candidates will further explore
- complex issues related to creating and sustaining equitable and inclusive school and system cultures
- culturally responsive and relevant strategies to enhance student well-being and learning and
- the ethical dimensions of leadership through critical reflection and refining professional judgement.
To receive the Additional Qualification (AQ) certification, candidates must complete Module 1 (mandatory) along with four additional self-selected modules. Modules can be completed in any order.
Module Information
This program is made up of five modules and some pre-module work that will need to be completed before the program start date. The breakdown of asynchronous and synchronous hours that total the required 125 hours is shown below.
Synchronous Hours
|
Total Required Hours
|
115 |
10 |
125 |
Pre-module 1 and Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) Access
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Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Pre-module (Module 1 only)
All candidates will be asked to complete an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) self-directed module (generally 2-5 hours) that is meant activate prior knowledge, provide an opportunity for self-reflection and new knowledge building. It is our hope that you will take the learning and reflection from this pre-module forward into the course as you engage with the facilitator and colleagues on a variety of topics.
Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) Access
All program content and the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) access will be available to candidates/participants one week in advance of the program/course and will remain active for two weeks after the end of the program/course. Following this period, candidates/participants will no longer have access to assignments, conversations, resources or other content. Please save any information that you would like to retain during the timeframe that you have access to the LMS.
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Module 1 - Principal Legal Duties and Responsibilities
(compulsory module)
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- What are the principal's duties and liabilities in relation to the Child and Family Services Act?
- What are the principal's legal duties and responsibilities?
- What does it mean to be an “agent of the board?”
- What does a principal need to know when investigating the misuse of social media?
- What does a principal need to know when using social media?
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Module 2 - Instructional Leadership for School Improvement
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- Co-leading the instructional program
- Instructional leadership and school management
- School culture and its impact on learning and teaching
- Student-centred learning
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Module 3 - Leading an Equitable and Inclusive School
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- Equity, inclusivity, social justice and schools
- Mindsets and equitable schools
- Positive school culture and leadership
- Privilege, bias and culturally responsive and relevant leadership
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Module 4 - Mentoring and School Leadership
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- How can leaders create a culture of Mentoring?
- To what extent can Mentoring skills enable leaders to successfully navigate hard conversations?
- To what extent can Mentoring skills improve relationships and organizational culture?
- What Mentoring attributes and/or skills do great leaders exhibit?
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Module 5 - Building a Digital Leadership Portfolio
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- Creating a digital leadership portfolio
- Creating a school and personal blog
- Creating a school and personal website
- Leading a collaborative inquiry
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Module 7 - Courageous Conversations
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- Lead schools as diverse workplaces
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Plan for and participate in courageous conversations
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Use strategies such as an Outcome Map to engage in courageous conversations that build trusting relationships and include impressive empathy, listening for meaning and asking powerful questions
- Continue to engage in courageous conversations which challenge traditional leadership practices and foster a school climate of inclusion, equity, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and anti-colonialism to support all staff and students
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Module 8 - Leading the Kindergarten Program
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- Dealing with uncertainties in pedagogical documentation
- Four frames of the kindergarten program
- Play-based learning in a culture of inquiry
- Principal as co-learner in creating the conditions for learning
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Module 9 - Leading the Innovative School
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- A shared vision of learning in a digital age
- Creating a culture of learning
- Innovative learning spaces
- Monitoring virtual spaces
- Rethinking digital citizenship
- Supporting virtual instruction and assessment
- Supporting virtual students and their families
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Module 10 - Supporting Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex or Asexual (2SLGBTQQIA+) in Your School
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- Exploring bias and student agency
- Fostering allies
- Fostering personal leadership resources
- Intersectionality
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Module 11 - Leading the Special Education Program
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- Building collaborative partnerships with parents
- Building the staff capacity to meet the needs of all students
- The complexities of Special Education student aggression
- The law, Special Education and the Individual Education Plan (IEP)
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Module 12 - Supporting Leadership in Mathematics
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- Assessment and evaluation
- Effective instructional approaches in effective math classrooms
- Foundational knowledge in mathematics
- Implications for professional learning and school improvement planning
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Module 13 - The Principal's Role in Mental Health Awareness and Trauma-informed Schools
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- A tiered support model for school mental health and well-being
- Creating mentally healthy schools
- Establishing a common language and understanding
- Everyday mental health practices
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Module 14 - Leading the French Immersion School
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- Effective practices in French Immersion classrooms
- French Immersion teacher retention and developing the French Immersion program
- Inclusion in the French Immersion program
- The evolution of French Immersion in Ontario
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Module 15 - I Stand in Treaty
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- Pre-contact to the Indian Act
- The Indian Act to Indian Residential Schools
- The White Paper to the Apology
- The Truth and Reconciliation Commission to Decolonization
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Module 18 – Anti-Oppressive School Improvement
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- Critical Pedagogy, Anti-Oppression and Indigenous Education
- Equity, Anti-Oppression and School Improvement – Application
- Interrogating SIP Goals & School Learning Plan from an Anti-Oppressive Space
- Positive School Culture and Leadership - Moving Forward
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Admission Requirements
The admission requirements follow Ontario Regulation 176/10 - Teachers' Qualifications, 34.
- Ontario College of Teacher's (OCT) Certificate of Qualification and Registration
- Principal's Qualifications (Part 1 and 2 or equivalent) and
- Two years of successful experience as a principal or vice-principal, certified by your Supervisory officer (SO).
Program Fee
$250 per module. Includes a $50 non-refundable registration fee.
Full payment is required for registration to be confirmed.
Upcoming Sessions
2024-25 Schedule |
Dates
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Module
|
Deadline
|
January 27 - February 28, 2025 |
Module 13 - The Principal's Role in Mental Health Awareness and Trauma-Informed Schools |
January 13, 2025 |
January 27 - February 28, 2025 |
Module 3 - Leading an Equitable and Inclusive School |
January 13, 2025 |
March 3 - April 11, 2025 |
Module 15 - I Stand in Treaty |
February 17, 2025 |
March 3 - April 11, 2025 |
Module 10 - Supporting Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex or Asexual (2SLGBTQQIA+) in Your School
|
February 17, 2025 |
April 7 - May 9, 2025 |
Module 18 – Anti-Oppressive School Improvement |
March 24, 2025 |
April 7 - May 9, 2025 |
Module 1 - Principal Legal Duties and Responsibilities*
|
March 24, 2025 |
May 12 - June 13, 2025 |
Module 2 - Instructional Leadership for School Improvement |
April 28, 2025 |
May 12 - June 13, 2025 |
Module 5 - Building a Digital Leadership Portfolio |
April 28, 2025 |
June 16 - July 18, 2025 |
Module 11 - Leading the Special Education Program |
June 2, 2025 |
June 16 - July 18, 2025 |
Module 4 - Mentoring and School Leadership |
June 2, 2025 |
|
2025-26 Schedule |
Dates
|
Module
|
Deadline
|
July 21 - August 22, 2025 |
Module 1 - Principal Legal Duties and Responsibilities*
|
July 7, 2025 |
September 22 - October 24, 2025 |
Module 7 - Courageous Conversations |
September 8,
2025
|
September 22 - October 24, 2025 |
Module 18 - Anti-Oppressive School Environment |
September 8, 2025
|
October 27 - November 21, 2025 |
Module 11 - Leading the Special Education Program |
October 13, 2025 |
October 27 - November 21, 2025 |
Module 12 - Supporting Leadership in Mathematics |
October 13, 2025 |
November 24 - January 9, 2026 |
Module 2 - Instructional Leadership for School Improvement
|
November 10, 2025 |
November 24 - January 9, 2026 |
Module 13 - The Principal's Role in Mental Health Awareness and Trauma-Informed Schools |
November 10, 2025 |
January 12 - February 13, 2026 |
Module 1 - Principal Legal Duties and Responsibilities*
|
December 29, 2025 |
January 12 - February 13, 2026 |
Module 4 - Mentoring and School Leadership |
December 29, 2025 |
February 17 - March 27, 2026 |
Module 3 - Leading an Equitable and Inclusive School |
February 3, 2026 |
March 30 - May 1, 2026 |
Module 9 - Leading the Innovative School |
March 16, 2026 |
March 30 - May 1, 2026 |
Module 10 - Supporting Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex or Asexual (2SLGBTQQIA+) in Your School |
March 16, 2026 |
May 4 - June 5, 2026 |
Module 14 - Leading the French Immersion School |
April 20, 2026 |
May 4 - June 5, 2026 |
Module 15 - I Stand in Treaty |
April 20, 2026 |
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*Completion of Module 1 is mandatory to receive the AQ certification.
Board Partnerships
The PDC can be locally customized to meet the unique needs of your district. If you are interested in offering this program or individual modules with your board, please complete our Additional Qualification (AQ) Board Cohort Request Form or contact us at learning@principals.ca for more information.
Terms and Conditions
Accessibility and Other Policies |
Our Accessibility and other policies that relate to our programs are outlined on the OPC Policies webpage. |
Program Tax Receipt |
A tax receipt will be generated and available on your OPC account by the end of February for the previous tax year.
To access the document:
- Log into the OPC website.
- Go to "My Profile" on the navy blue bar towards the top right of the browser window.
- Click on “Program Tax Receipts”.
- Select the appropriate year to open and print your tax receipt.
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Refund Policy |
Cancellation Date
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Refund Amount
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Up to two weeks before start date
|
$200
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One week before start date
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$100
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After start date
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$0
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A full refund applies when a session is cancelled due to low enrollment.
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For more information about the program, please contact pdc@principals.ca.