Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s Anna Sanalitro Named One of Canada’s Outstanding Principals

Now celebrating its 13th year, The Learning Partnership’s Canada’s Outstanding Principals program recognizes the unique and vital contribution of principals in publicly funded schools. The 40 principals, nominated by parents, colleagues, and community members, and chosen by a national selection committee, are being celebrated for demonstrating innovation, leadership and for employing creativity in finding solutions and opportunities within their school communities. They will be awarded for their accomplishments at the annual Canada’s Outstanding Principals gala on February 28 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel. The other Quebecer is Mary Lazaris, Principal of Twin Oaks Elementary School in Laval.

The winners also benefit from an exclusive five-day executive leadership training program at one of Canada’s top business schools, the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. The program will introduce them to leadership and management practices presented by business, government and education leaders as well as Rotman faculty. Principals also participate in The World of Work: Wellbeing and Resilience, a professional learning day hosted by CIBC, where they have the opportunity to learn about today’s workforce from leaders in business, health and education.

The 2017 winners will join the prestigious ranks of the National Academy of Canada’s Outstanding Principals, which now boasts over 400 members. The National Academy offers principals ongoing networking, mentoring and professional development opportunities so they can enhance their leadership skills.

Anna Sanalitro has been a teacher, mathematics consultant, and administrator at both the elementary and secondary school levels. In 2014, she became the Principal at Pierre Elliott Trudeau, a school with diverse student needs. She began by engaging all stakeholders to provide input and participate in the change process and used her expertise to focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) program. She upgraded the school’s technology, removed barriers to collaboration, and created two classrooms focusing on social, emotional and educational development. Supports are also in place to maximize learning opportunities for students with special needs. Ms. Sanalitro introduced acceleration as an approach to support underachieving students, and encouraged the use of an outdoor classroom to provide authentic learning experiences, supported by community volunteers. Not surprisingly, enrollment and achievement have increased under her leadership.

“We are delighted to be celebrating these exceptional principals for their contributions to their schools and communities,” says Rod Thompson, Director of Executive Leadership Programs at The Learning Partnership. “Their dedication to building and leading teams of great teachers plays a vital role in positively impacting student achievement and success and we are elated to recognize these dynamic leaders in the Canadian public education system.”

In the Canada’s Outstanding Principals program, principals are nominated by their colleagues, school staff and community members. Nominations are evaluated and final winners selected on a representation-by-population basis by a national selection committee made up of a distinguished group of Canadian education, community and private sector leaders. Candidates are chosen using the following criteria: leadership and student achievement; leadership and innovation; instructional leadership; professional learning teams; partnerships with families and communities; personal growth initiatives; and corresponding letters of support.

Canada’s Outstanding Principals is made possible through the generous support of CIBC and Deloitte.