Bendale BTI principal wins national award

Bendale BTI principal wins national award. Bendale Business and Technical Institute principal Cindy Zwicker-Reston, at school on Friday, is one of three Toronto-based educators one of Canada's Outstanding Principals. The award is given out once a year by The Learning Partnership, a non-for-profit organization that recognizes excellence and leadership in public education. (Jan. 29, 2010) Staff photo/BRAD PRITCHARD

Bendale, which is slated to be merged with another nearby high school, David and Mary Thomson Collegiate, will undergo an extensive period of revitalization during this period. However, Zwicker-Reston believes her success strategies as the principal of one of the TDSB's few remaining business and technical schools are tried and true.

"It's about creating a climate where students are engaged with what they are learning," she said. "Students feel they are making progress and that the information they receive in their courses is something they can get excited about and relate to."

Zwicker-Reston, a 28-year veteran of the TDSB, is one of three Toronto principals who received this accolade. Every year, it is given out by The Learning Partnership, a non-for-profit organization that recognizes leadership in public education.

Zwicker-Reston has been at Bendale's helm for the past four years and she says there are two main things that parents praise about the school, with the first being the rich programing. She says the hands-on, technical courses offered to the 660 students at Bendale exposes them to new ways of learning, which has very positive outcomes.

"By offering hands-on, real life projects, along with involvement in the community, students feel good about being here. They can see what they are working on has a purpose."

She pointed to one of the opportunities students get to achieve this.

Last year, an elderly woman who's fence backed onto the school property had collapsed. This prompted the staff and students to do something about it. As part of a class project and with the help of community supporters -- in this case Toronto Police -- the students, utilizing construction skills they learned in their classes, rebuilt the fence and revamped her lawn with new landscaping.

A reception was also held at the school to celebrate the success of the project. Students in the culinary programs provided food and refreshments.

"It was perfect how everything came together," she said. "We want to connect the students to the school as much as we can so they feel good about being in the classroom and outside the classroom"

Zwicker-Reston, a Scarborough-native who is married with two children, says parents also support Bendale for the "caring teachers who support the students."

"This award reflects the hard work everyone here has been doing," she said. "We have a great team of staff and support workers who are committed to improving learning for the students. This award affirms the work we've been doing here together."

Since being nominated, Zwicker-Reston has received pats on the back from both staff and parents, but students have taken notice too.

"The students here were happy about the publicity," she said. "It was really nice to see them pleased and proud of what we have accomplished as a school."

Zwicker-Reston will be receiving the award at a ceremony which is to be held here in Toronto later this month. She says what excites her most about that day is "the chance to bring and share ideas with other principals from across Canada."