CDDHS Principal named one of elite 40

January 29, 2016 · 0 Comments

Centre Dufferin District High School (CDDHS) Principal Patrick Hamilton has been named as one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals, joining an elite group of only 40 who will receive the award from the Learning Partnership this year.

The announcement came January 26 as CDDHS students finished off their first term and headed into exams.

Upon finding out he was nominated and subsequently chosen, Mr. Hamilton says he was “very surprised and awestruck.

“Once the shock wore off, I was humbled and honoured that The Learning Partnership and my school community would put my name forward for such recognition,” he says.

Mr. Hamilton, who was born and raised in Orangeville and attended Orangeville District Secondary School, joins the ranks of the National Academy of Canada’s Outstanding Principals.

Mr. Hamilton is one of only 18 Principals from Ontario to receive the award this year.

“Any successes a principal experiences is due to the incredible people that work together in a school to educate our students,” says Mr. Hamilton. “I feel like the luckiest Principal in Canada because I have an amazing staff of teachers, office staff, educational assistants, custodians, maintenance workers, and school board officials who work tirelessly to help our students be successful.”

Patrick Hamilton lives in Orangeville with Trisha, his wife of 22 years, his two sons, Connor, 20, and Charlie, 15, and their Newfie-Retriever mix named Scout.

He holds a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Toronto in Educational Leadership and began his teaching career at Orangeville District Secondary School in 1994.

After five years, Hamilton was appointed as one of the Program Leaders to open the new Westside Secondary School.

In 2008, he was appointed Vice-Principal at Centre Dufferin District High School and in 2012, he moved to Guelph Collegiate and Vocational Institute as Vice-Principal, but returned the following year to Centre Dufferin as Principal.

Nominations for Canada’s Outstanding Principals are submitted by parents, co-workers, and community and chosen by a national selection committee made up by members of the government, business and education fields. The committee must decide the winners based on evidence based criteria demonstrating how each principal has improved student achievement. “Teaching is the most important job in the world and as Principal it is my job to support all my staff in their work,” says Hamilton. “I have always loved teaching, coaching and working with young people and I am constantly amazed and energized by the incredible things they accomplish. I have always believed that all children can learn and it is our job in education to inspire and ignite their potential.”

The awards will be presented at a gala February 23 at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto. Winners receive a five-day executive leadership training program through the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and attend a “Changing World of Work” day where they learn about today’s workforce from business leaders.

“Centre Dufferin District High School is home to compassionate and hard-working students who are supported by caring and engaged parents,” says Mr. Hamilton. “This award is a wonderful way to recognize the incredible work the entire school community does every day. I am grateful and honoured to be principal of such an incredible school.”

By Marni Walsh