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Canada’s outstanding public school principals honoured by education charity

Most of us remember our favourite or most influential teacher but I defy you to recall the name of one of your school principals, unless you spent a lot of time in their office.

We're probably better at remembering their movie counterparts, such as Principal Rooney (Bueller!).

Yet principals probably have the most influence on the kind of school you attended, the atmosphere, the quality of the teaching.

Each year, The Learning Partnership, a charitable group that champions strong public education in Canada, honours the country's top principals in publicly funded schools.

Of this year's 40 award winners, almost a quarter come from Metro Toronto schools, out of 15 Ontario principals honoured. Alberta has six and B.C. four.

In the four years since she took over as principal of Dublin Heights Elementary and Middle School in the Toronto suburb of North York, Amina Timol has seen standardized test scores climb well above the provincial average, with families from outside its catchment area lining up to get their kids a place there.

It's a long way from her start 37 years ago, when Timol first interviewed for a teaching job in the school district after arriving in Canada from South Africa.

Timol told the Globe and Mail she works with teachers to develop clear, intentional strategies for student instruction so results aren't hit and miss.

This year, for instance, they're focusing on students' number sense and familiarity with basic math, pulling those who need extra help from regular classes to work with the school's best math teachers in small groups.

Nearly half the school's students speak English as a second language. In the 2008-09 school year, 43 per cent of Grade 3 students met provincial reading standards. Last year it was 68 per cent.

Parent Paul Nash said Timol is very good at keeping her staff motivated, disciplined and focused.

"It seems effortless the way she makes sure that everyone gets their jobs done … and at the same time she is very focused on the children," said Nash.

Motivation is a common thread among the top principals.

Nancy Steinhauer, who heads Toronto's George Webster Elementary, helped fundraise for and open an in-school pediatric clinic, provide food for students' needy families, set up workshops for parents and set up free after-school tutoring.

"Her enthusiasm and passion for kids is second to none," said Toronto District School Board superintendent Roula Anastasakos, who nominated her.

"Her positive attitude is contagious; she motivates everyone around to strive to make the lives of everyone easier."

Winners of the outstanding principal award are invited to a leadership-training program held in Toronto at the end of next month via The Learning Partnership's National Academy of Canada's Outstanding Principals.