The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is one of the most diverse boards of education in all of Canada. With this, comes a responsibility on the part of system leaders to goal-set through a lens of equity – to ensure that all students have equal access to programs, resources and opportunities regardless of age, gender, ethnicity and socio-economic status. Recent studies of future income projections in the city of Toronto indicate great disparities in income and suggest that in just 11 years, most residents of Toronto will either live at or below the poverty line with only about 30% that fall in the high income bracket. Both the TDSB and city data demonstrate a clear problem for the future of our city unless a concerted effort is made on our part as an education system to keep these increasing disparities from becoming a determinant of certain students’ future. Through the Model Schools for Inner Cities Program (MSIC), the TDSB is undertaking specific strategies to address the inequities that are faced daily in our schools and is outlining clear actions for the systemic support of disadvantaged students. One pillar of this strategy is to support our schools with maintaining high expectations of all students, and to do so by helping them develop strong 21st century skills for global citizenship. These skills include: - Creative, innovative thinking - Critical thinking - Collaboration and team work - Respect for diversity - Problem solving - Proficiency in content areas (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Social Studies, the Arts etc.) - Self-advocacy In this interactive, hands-on workshop, school leaders will participate in activities that familiarize them with unique programs designed and implemented by the TDSB, specifically intended to foster the above-mentioned skills. These include initiatives in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), pilot projects such as Innovative Intelligence (I2Q) and significant partnerships that enhance teaching and learning for global education. Participants will examine how such initiatives address opportunity and achievement gaps and provide all students with equity of outcomes. Helpful resources will be shared with all educators interested in undertaking similar systemic directions.
