New Principal Brings Fresh Ideas to Mississauga

Coming to us from France – via postings in Malaysia, Bangladesh and most recently Switzerland – Alain Delaune, the new Principal of the Mississauga campus, dove right into his role, despite losing all his clothes enroute!

His first step was to hold several workshops with all Mississauga staff. “I think I bring a different way of working, a different way of looking at things,” he says. He used the opportunity of those sessions to share his ideas and gain insight and inspiration from his experienced and knowledgeable staff.  “I told them that we would all move forward together,” M. Delaune recounts.

He also held two meetings with parents, presenting his thoughts on education and the role parents play within the School. Much of his perspective has been informed by his deep connection to the International Baccalaureate program, but also by living in so many diverse locations. “Living in countries like Bangladesh gives you a very different viewpoint on life,” he says.

His thoughtful presentation asked parents “How do we live up to our values? How do we teach them?” He also talked about what it means to be a global citizen, noting that among all the different definitions three points were universal to all: mankind is one family; unity is essential and is generated from diversity, and; there is no place for prejudice of any kind.

M. Delaune then put forth his ideal of an educational environment where parents, teachers, staff and students do not form distinct groups, but one unified community. He also wants to create a flatter school hierarchy “where it’s less top down, from principal to teacher, then teacher to student.” “It should all be about improving student learning and everything else flows from there,” he adds.

Already Mississauga has seen new developments. Originating from a staff idea, a project on global issues and citizenship has been initiated, and will ultimately involve every student from PK to Grade 7.  And while M. Delaune will be the project’s chief cheerleader, he will not be its chair. “I want the teachers and students to drive this,” he states.