George Webster school principal earns national honours.
George Webster Junior public school principal Nancy Steinhauer has been named one of Canada's outstanding principals.
Staff photo/DAN PEARCE
George Webster Elementary School has had an exciting few years.
It started its first hockey team, it opened a pediatric clinic, after-school programs have increased, and, more importantly, test scores have improved. Those successes have taken place under the leadership of principal Nancy Steinhauer, who has been named one of Canada's Outstanding Principals for 2012.
"I was so thrilled and surprised and honoured that anyone had thought to nominate me," she said in an interview.
Canada's Outstanding Principals program was developed by The Learning Partnership and is now in its eighth year. Steinhauer is one of 40 principals from across Canada being honoured and joins a group of more than 219 previous recipients.
Steinhauer has been the principal at the East York school for four years. She attributes much of the school's highlights during her tenure to its designation as a Model School for Inner Cities.
"I walked in when it had already become a Model School, but that mandate aligns with my beliefs about education," she said.
Through the Model Schools program schools become the hub of the community and resources of parents, community partners and government are pooled to ensure students have the best chance to succeed.
"I really want the children to have the same opportunity as children living in other socio-economic areas," Steinhauer said. "One of the things I love about working in an inner city school is little things can make a big difference."
One of the school's goals this year is to increase the time students spend reading at home and specifically time they spend reading with adults at home.
Toronto District School Board superintendent Roula Anastasakos was one of the nominators who thought Steinhauer deserving of the Outstanding Principal honour.
"She's exceptional in terms of her leadership and her building of capacity with staff, students and parents," Anastasakos said.
It is Steinhauer's passion and enthusiasm for what she does that really shines through, she said, adding the passion inspires others.
"I see the amount of change that has occurred under her leadership," Anastasakos said. "I hear nothing but positive things about her."
While the George Webster community feels lucky to have Steinhauer, the feeling is mutual.
"I hope I've made a positive difference," she said. "I feel very lucky to be here because it's a really wonderful community."
Steinhauer is proud of the clinic, the hockey team and the improved scores, but she asserts those accomplishments were a team effort.
"I hope that I can claim some responsibility for that, but nothing I've done alone," she said.
Steinhauer will be honoured at a gala dinner event and awards ceremony on Feb. 28 at the Sheraton Centre and she will also take part in a five-day executive leadership program at the University of Toronto's Joseph L. Rotman School of Management.
"I'm really excited to learn from all the other principals," she said.