TDSB Director Chris Spence

1First joined the North York Board of Education as a teacher in 1991. Became a principal with the TDSB in 1998.

2 Helped create Boys 2 Men in 1993 — the program matching young boys with mentors launched in Toronto and later in Hamilton in 2005. Was also instrumental in developing Project G.O. (Girls Only); and Read to Succeed to help improve literacy in boys.

3 Wrote several books
including: Achieving, Believing and Caring; The Joys of Teaching Boys; and Racism, Sport and Education, On Time! On Task! On Mission!

4 Has won numerous awards in education, including: City of Toronto Award for best practices in education and the Harry Jerome President’s Award for community contributions.

5 In 2004 was featured in a special CBC radio documentary series, Growing Up Without Men saying, “Mentoring is something you can’t mandate. People have to have a real strong moral purpose to want to do something like that.”

6 While with Hamilton Wentworth he consolidated 19 schools and opened eight new ones.

7 In lieu of a parting gift from Hamilton-Wentworth, he requested the Board establish the Dr. Chris Spence Student Leadership Award. Launched in 2009, it recognizes elementary and secondary students for their outstanding contributions to social justice.

8 In August 2009, he said, “I’m just not in favour of ranking schools. I think that each school is unique, and they really are a reflection of the people that are in the building…. Student progress is a better proxy for quality learning than a summative test.”