Principal Association Projects (PAP), a service partner of the Ontario Principals’ Council (OPC) is seeking a highly qualified recently retired OPC Member as a Project Lead for the Supporting Student Mental Health project, supported by School Mental Health Ontario (SMH-ON).

We are committed to supporting school leaders throughout the education system. As such, we seek input from a multitude of sources to identify, design, develop and deliver the learning and support needs of our Members and colleagues. The OPC and PAP recognize the value of job-embedded learning, sharing practices and the distributed leadership model of principals sharing with principals. We aim to ensure that professional learning offerings are equitable and provided within accessible environments, free from discrimination and harassment.

Project Scope

This project will provide learning opportunities for principals and vice-principals (P/VPs) in supporting student mental health.

A project leadership team, consisting of Association Leads and Project Leads, representing each Principals’ Association and at least one representative of SMH-ON, will collaborate for the design, development and implementation of all deliverables. The team will build upon the leadership resources that have been developed over the past three years. These resources will continue building the awareness and capacity of practising principals and vice-principals to effectively utilize SMH-ON materials in their daily work as leaders to normalize mental health conversations and create more mentally healthy school environments across the province.

The team will plan

●   Six regional sessions which include 3 bilingual sessions in late winter/ early spring that will focus on the Leading Mentally Healthy Schools (LMHS) resource and PPM 169: Student Mental Health to support school improvement processes and planning to support student well-being and mental health. 

In addition to being AODA compliant, all resources and training supports will be made available on each association’s website. All project activities will promote equity, diversity, inclusivity and culturally responsive and relevant pedagogy.

Responsibilities 

The first project meeting will take place virtually in late September/ early October 2023 and subsequent planning meetings will continue to be virtual. The project lead will report to the association lead or designated OPC staff member and be allocated up to a maximum of 20 days to support this initiative. Responsibilities include 

  • collaborating with all team representatives, including other project leads and stakeholders to ensure deliverables are implemented effectively, within specified project timelines and in accordance to the OPC Professional Learning Goals and Principles 

  • participating in project meetings

  • developing and delivering content as required for all expected deliverables with consideration of equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-oppression, anti-colonialism and respecting the unique identities of Ontario’s English, French, Public and Catholic sectors in education

  • providing input to communications, while referring to PPT and style guidelines

  • attending all six regional sessions onsite (this will include travel and possibly overnight accommodation)

  • reporting back to the association lead as per association protocol as applicable

  • referring any decisions that may require a change to the deliverables, timelines, or any other major issues to the association lead in a timely fashion and

  • drafting written reports as required. 

Selection Criteria

To qualify for consideration for this position, candidates must

  • be a recently retired principal or vice-principal

  • have expertise and knowledge of leading mentally healthy schools and School Mental Health Ontario resources. 

  • demonstrate success as a leader in literacy within the current context of Ontario schools

  • demonstrate a “lead learner/co-learner” stance as an educator

  • have knowledge and commitment to anti-oppressive and anti-colonial environments including knowledge of anti-oppression frameworks

  • have expertise in the development or review of professional learning or resources to ensure they reflect culturally relevant and responsive content for all adult learners

  • demonstrate an appreciation for the linguistic and denominational diversities within Ontario public education and

  • have experience in developing content for all expected deliverables with consideration of equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-oppression with consideration for the Ontario Leadership Framework (OLF), the School Effectiveness Framework (SEF) as foundations and adult learning principles

  • have displayed excellent performance as a project leader in a collaborative environment

  • demonstrate the ability to develop positive strategic relationships with partner organizations to ensure ongoing and effective collaboration with all partners

  • have a high level of comfort  using a variety of digital tools to enhance learning

  • demonstrate outstanding communication skills in facilitating, speaking and writing and

  • proficient in using various office programs including PowerPoint, Excel, Word and G-suite.

The following will be considered an asset:

  • experience in both elementary and secondary panels.

Selection Process 

Our selection team will review and assess all applications based on the identified success criteria. Candidates will be invited to take part in an online interview (with video) and will need to be available on September 19. This process also includes contacting references.  

Applicants are asked to submit the following documents in one PDF file:

  • a cover letter 

  • a curriculum vitae and

  • contact information for two references (one for a supervisory officer and one for a practising principal).

This independent contractor position will begin on September 25 with the understanding that this is a joint project, the successful candidate will be contracted with OPC’s service partner, PAP. 

Applications will be accepted until September 14 at 9:00 a.m. (EDT).

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Principal Association Projects (PAP) is committed to accommodating the individual needs of independent contractors, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation 191/11, within our recruitment processes and our skills assessment testing practices. Disability-related accommodations during the recruitment and selection process are available upon request.

PAP is an equal opportunity organization committed to diversity and inclusion and values the participation of candidates with different lived experiences. We recognize that the selection of candidates from members of equity-seeking and rights-seeking groups is an asset. Self-identification of membership in equity-seeking and rights-seeking groups is voluntary.