Preparing for the
Principal and Vice-Principal
Selection Process
2018 – 2019
Applicant Information Sessions
September 13 & 17, 2018
Brett Reynolds, Associate Director of Education
Janice McCoy, Superintendent of HR
Nadia Towaij, Superintendent of Instruction
Mary Jane Farrish, Superintendent of Instruction
Pamela LeMaistre, Manager of HR
Jennifer Parato, HR Officer
Before You Apply
• Internal applicants must have the support of your
supervisor(s):
Principal Candidates
– current Principal & Superintendent
Vice-Principal Candidates
– current Principal
• Review the 2015 – 2019 strategic plan:
vision, mission, 5 strategic priorities, exit outcomes
• Review the Ontario Leadership Framework (OLF)
Steps in the Selection
Process
1.Leadership Portfolio Submission
2.Case Study Exercise
3.Reference Verification
4.Panel Interview
Important Dates
Online Posting September 7
Applicant Information Sessions September 13 & 17
Application Deadline October 4
Portfolio Reviews October 11 & 15
Case Study Exercise October 15 & 17
Case Study Evaluations October 17 & 18
Reference Checks October 26 – 30
Notify Candidates November 1
Panel Interviews November 8, 9, 12
Notify Candidates November 21
Candidate Debriefs By December 21
Documents
OCDSB website
→ About Us
→ Careers
→ Job Opportunities
→ Principal & Vice-Principal Opportunities
• Job Posting
• Competition Timelines
• Cover Page Template
• Professional Reference Template
• OLF for Principals
• OCDSB Conceptual Map
• OCDSB Leadership Rubric
• OCDSB Character Wheel
STEP 1 – Leadership Portfolio
Submission
Your leadership portfolio must include:
1. Cover Page
2. Resume (3 pages)
3. Performance Appraisal
4. Statement of Qualifications (OCT)
5. Statement of Leadership Experience (2 pages)
6. References (6 Principal, 4 Vice-Principal)
• Due Thursday, October 4 by 5:00 pm
• Submit to [email protected] or by
hard copy to Human Resources (3 copies).
• Arial 12 font
STEP 1 – Leadership Portfolio
Submission
Accommodations
Persons with disabilities who need
accommodations in the application or interview
process should email a request to
STEP 1 – Leadership Portfolio
Submission
Performance Appraisal
• Vice-Principal – most recent teacher
performance appraisal (TPA)
• Principal – most recent Vice-Principal
performance appraisal
What if I don’t have one within last 5 years?
• letter of reference from current supervisor, or
• letter from last year’s direct supervisor if you
have changed schools
STEP 1 – Leadership Portfolio
Submission
Professional Letter of Reference
• Based on Ontario Leadership Framework (OLF);
• Should include Personal Leadership Resources and
OCDSB Conceptual Map;
• Shows your readiness to assume Principal or Vice-
Principal role; and
• Includes details about your leadership and
instructional practices.
STEP 1 – Leadership Portfolio
Submission
Statement of Qualifications
In order to apply, you must have completed the following
at the time of application:
Principal Candidates
Principal’s Qualification Program (PQP)
Vice-Principal Candidates
Part 1 of the Principal’s Qualification Program
(PQP), with all PQP requirements complete prior
to your appointment date.
• Download your registered member information from
Ontario College of Teachers website www.oct.ca
STEP 1 – Leadership Portfolio
Submission
Statement of Leadership Experience
• Outline your leadership philosophy and practice;
• Describe up to 3 specific leadership experiences;
• Explain how these have prepared you for a Principal
or Vice-Principal role; and
• Should reflect criteria in Ontario Leadership
Framework (OLF).
• Maximum 2 pages, Arial 12 font.
STEP 1 – Leadership Portfolio
Submission
Professional References
Principal Candidates – 6 references
2 supervisors (including current)
2 community groups and/or parents (maximum 1 parent)
2 other staff members you have mentored or coached
Vice-Principal Candidates – 4 references
2 supervisors (including current)
2 community groups, parents (maximum 1 parent) and/or
other staff members you have mentored or coached
• Select referees who can provide strong oral and written
support for your applications.
• References for recommended candidates will be
contacted after the case study exercise for long-listed
candidates.
STEP 1 – Leadership Portfolio
Submission
Submission Requirements
Due no later than 5:00 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2018:
• by email to [email protected], or
• by hard copy (3 copies) to Human Resources at 133
Greenbank Road, Nepean, ON K2H 6L3
• HR will send confirmations for those applicants who
submit by email.
• HR will verify that the required documents are included
and that applicants meet the minimum qualifications.
• Applicants who submit Leadership Portfolios with missing
or incomplete information will be disqualified.
• Additional documentation will not be given consideration.
STEP 1 – Leadership Portfolio
Submission
Leadership Portfolio Evaluation
Principal Candidates
3 Superintendents
Vice-Principal Candidates
1 Superintendent
2 current Principals
STEP 2 – Case Study Exercise
Written Exercise
1 hour written case study exercise:
Date: Monday, October 15, 2018 or
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Time: To be determined.
Location: Confederation Education Centre
Computer Lab
• Opportunity to demonstrate critical thinking, decision-
making and creative problem-solving skills with a District
perspective.
• Written communication skills will also be evaluated.
STEP 2 – Case Study Exercise
Case Study Evaluation
Principal Candidates
1 Superintendent
2 current Principals
Vice-Principal Candidates
3 current Principals
• “Blind assessment” – assessor panels will not have
access to candidate names when assigning scores.
• A long-list of recommended candidates will be submitted
to School Operations Committee (SOC), based on the
results of the leadership portfolio review and case study.
STEP 3 – Reference Verification
Professional References
• References will be contacted from October 26 to 30 for
long-listed candidates recommended by School
Operations Committee.
• After references are reviewed, a short-list of candidates
will be submitted to SOC for review.
• Candidates will be contacted by HR regardless of
whether selected to proceed to interview stage.
• Debriefings will be offered to all candidates at conclusion
of process.
STEP 4 – Panel Interview
November 8, 9 and 12, 2018
Interview Components
1. Question Review (15 minutes)
2. Presentation (10 minutes + 5 minutes for questions)
3. Panel Interview (30 minutes)
STEP 4 – Panel Interview
Presentation
• Presentation topic will be emailed to you when you are
invited to the interview.
• Prepare slides in advance using Microsoft PowerPoint,
Google Slides or Prezi software applications (10 minutes).
• Laptop and Chromebook will be provided.
• Interview panel will have 5 minutes for questions.
• Presentations will be assessed for content, oral
communication skills and use of technology.
STEP 4 – Panel Interview
Interview Consider the following when preparing:
• Provide specific examples of your leadership experiences;
• Include sufficient details to answer questions thoroughly;
• Refer to Board policies, procedures and priorities;
• Frame responses around OCDSB’s mission, vision, exit
outcomes and strategic plan;
• Use OLF to frame responses and demonstrate
competencies; and
• Demonstrate OLF personal leadership resources
throughout your responses.
STEP 4 – Panel Interview
Interview Panel Evaluation
Principal Candidates
Associate Director of Education
2 Superintendents
1 Principal
1 representative from OCASC
Vice-Principal Candidates
1 Superintendent (Chair)
2 Principals
Candidate Recommendations &
Placements
Final Recommendations
• Interview panels make recommendations based on results
of presentation & interview.
• HR submits overall results to School Operations
Committee (SOC) for review on November 15.
• SOC submits final recommendations to the Director’s
Executive Council (DEC) for approval on November 20.
• HR will contact candidates on November 21.
Candidate Recommendations &
Placements
Eligibility List
• HR maintains Principal and Vice-Principal eligibility lists for
elementary & secondary.
• Successful candidates are placed on the list as “interns”
and will be considered for appointments as they become
available.
• Interns remain on the list for 3 years.
Candidate Recommendations &
Placements
Mentoring Program
• Principals and Vice-Principals in their first and second
years are paired with mentors and will receive formal and
informal learning experiences throughout the year.
• The annual Principal/Vice-Principal Academy runs at
the end of August and is mandatory for all Principals and
Vice-Principals going into their first year.
• After school sessions are also scheduled throughout the
year.
• All P/VP’s are welcome to attend – it includes a mix of
operations and leadership training.
Candidate Recommendations &
Placements
Appointments
• Consideration is given to interns’ preferred school
configurations, locations and schedules.
• Final placement decisions are based on suitability for the
operational and leadership needs of the school.
Probationary Period
• 1 year
Candidate Debriefs
Prior to December 21, 2018
• Available to all applicants.
• Regardless of whether they proceeded to the interview
stage.
Questions?