BLOOMFIELD, P.E.I. - As principal of Bloomfield Elementary School, Andrew Stewart makes it a point to be at the door to greet students as they arrive for their school day and to be back at the door to see them off at the end of the school day.
It’s just one of the things Stewart does to make the school he leads a welcoming place, suggests Rachel Noye, a Bloomfield Elementary School teacher.
Noye had a hand in filling out the nomination that has resulted in The Learning Partnership naming Stewart as one of Canada’s outstanding principals for 2019.
Stewart and 29 fellow principals from across Canada will be attending an expenses-paid awards gala in Toronto and a four-day executive leadership training program at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management in late February.
The award recipients also become part of a National Academy of Canada’s Outstanding Principals which now numbers more than 500 over a 15-year period.
“I understand his motto, which he regularly articulates, is, ‘kids come first,’” Rod Thompson, The Learning Partnership’s Director of Executive Leadership Programs, said in reviewing Stewart’s nomination.
“He’s really distinguished himself as very welcoming, very open-door. He’s created a caring place of learning at Bloomfield Elementary,” said Thompson who indicated he’s looking forward to meeting Stewart in Toronto.
Thompson said award-winners form a “pretty tight bond” during the time they are together in Toronto.
Members of Stewart’s teaching staff say he is very deserving of the national recognition.
“I can’t imagine a core compatible, compassionate person to work with,” says his vice-principal, Giselle Smallman.
“He builds relationships,” said Noye. “He’s built a relationship with ever student at the school.”
They talk about his open-door policy and how all students, staff and parents are made to feel welcome.
“I’ve seen him, when a student is coming and that child looks upset, he takes a minute to talk to them, before he sends them on their way, just to make sure that they feel cared for, that they are important and they have a voice,” said Noye.
“He does the same thing for the whole staff,” Smallman adds.
Donna Wood recalls how Stewart provided strong leadership during the school review process two years ago when the Bloomfield school was being considered for closure. She said he provided encouragement and reassurance. “I just feel, as a professional, how he professionally led us. He always said to be positive.”
Last fall Stewart was recognized by the P.E.I. Teachers’ Federation with a Teaching Excellence award.
He’s humbled by the recognition
“I would probably still feel I’m more of a teacher than I am a principal,” he said. “I really think the same skill set applies, whether you’re leading students in a classroom, or leading the building in a larger sense.”
He also feels honoured that both awards resulted from nomination processes initiated by members of his staff.
Stating his belief in lifelong learning, he said he’s looking forward to the leadership training. “You can always build capacity, and I do think I have leadership skills, but I’m really interested to see what the Rotman School of Management is all about. I think you can always learn from hearing other people’s perspectives. And education is not a static thing.”
Grade 6 student MaryAnne Gard had this to say about her principal: “He has a really big heart for kids, so he is really nice with all of us.” Classmates Anthony Clements and Carlie Doucette remarked that he makes learning fun.
Noye notes the school symbol has three intertwined circles representing parents, students and staff. “He’s taken that very literally and he makes sure the three are always connected:
"Open communication, open door policy. “
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