Principal and Vice Principal Promotion Process - Elementary Principal, Elementary Vice Principal, and Secondary Vice Principal Positions
About the role
Principal and Vice Principal Promotion Process
Elementary Principal, Elementary Vice Principal, and Secondary Vice Principal Positions About The Board The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to learning, equity, engagement, and innovation. We are guided by our vision, Growing Together, the mission that every student experiences a sense of belonging and engages in dynamic learning to reach their potential and build their own future, and our values of Compassion, Dignity, Trust, and Joy to guide our daily work and ensure that we honour the unique identities and needs of all. Proudly serving a community of approximately 50,000 students in the City of Hamilton and surrounding area, HWDSB operates across 84 elementary schools, 13 secondary schools and 1 Adult Learning Centre, in addition to providing support and service to approximately 8,800 staff members.
About The Role We are proud to announce that we are creating a diverse leadership pool of qualified candidates for future Elementary and Secondary Principal and Vice-Principal positions. We invite innovative, collaborative, and change-focused applications from teachers & system leaders. We strive to hire staff with a demonstrated practice of Human Rights, anti-racist anti-oppressive (ARAO) approaches to leadership. Throughout this calendar year, we encourage applications from leaders who maintain the competency to confront and dismantle all forms of oppression to ensure students who are currently and historically underserved in our system excel. Successful candidates to these leadership pools will be placed on a ready list for a two-year period and may be assigned at any time.
Committed to our HWDSB Multi-Year Strategic Plan (2023-2028) , an applicant for this opportunity maintains the following competencies:
- Upholding Human Rights, Safety & Well-being
- Providing Equitable Quality Education
- Collaborating with Students, Families and Communities
- Building a Sustainable Education System
- Reinforcing Indigenous Educational Wellness & Reconciliation
Qualifications Principal Candidates:
- Enrollment in or completion of the Principal's Qualification Program Part Two (placement pending successful completion of PQP Part Two).
- Current experience as a Vice Principal or Principal
- Enrollment in or completion of the Special Education Additional Qualification Part One or other commensurate experience
- Good Standing with the Ontario College of Teachers - upload in Apply to Education
Vice-Principal Candidates
- Enrollment in or completion of the Principal's Qualification Program Part One (placement pending successful completion of PQP Part One).
- Enrollment in or completion of the Special Education Additional Qualification Part One or other commensurate experience
- Good Standing with the Ontario College of Teachers - upload in Apply to Education
Application Package Interested Candidates are required to submit the following documentation as part of their application package:
- Cover letter (one-page maximum)
- Resume (three-page maximum)
- Leadership Reflection Document (two-page maximum)
- OCT Certificate - uploaded
- References - contact information of three professional references, of which one may be a community reference. We encourage you to include your current supervisor (please add your references to your profile in Apply to Education)
- Permission to contact these references as part of the application process.
Application Deadline Please apply by Friday, October 17, 2025, by 12:00 p.m . to be considered for this round of the Principal/Vice-Principal promotion process.
Interviews will take place the week of November 3-5, 2025 .
Leadership Reflection Candidates are asked to provide a written response to the following question which demonstrates their lived leadership experiences in support of HWDSB Strategic Priorities as outlined in the Multi-Year Strategic Plan (2023-2028). This submission is to be no longer than two pages.
For Principal applicants: “Share an experience where you had to simultaneously uphold human rights, ensure well-being, and provide equitable education. How did you balance these priorities, and what did this experience teach you about complex decision-making in educational leadership? What was the impact of your leadership actions and how will this influence your leadership as a principal? ”
For Vice Principal applicants: “Can you discuss a challenging scenario where you had to address issues of inequity and student well-being? How did you navigate this situation, and what did it teach you about balancing diverse needs in a school environment? What was the impact of your leadership actions and how will this influence your leadership as a vice principal?”
Deadline for submission: October 17, 2025 by 12:00 p.m .
Information Session
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 (5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - HWDSB Board Office - 20 Education Court, Hamilton) All interested internal and external candidates are encouraged to attend the initial prep session to learn more about HWDSB, our Strategic Plan (2023 – 2028), our Equity Action Plan, the Indigenous Education Circle Strategic Action Plan (IECSAP) 2021-2025 and our promotion process. We look forward to welcoming you. To register for the preparation sessions please click the registration link
Applicant Self-Identification Form The information collected on this form is used to monitor HWDSB’s progress toward our equity goals including our commitment to diversity in HWDSB recruitment and hiring practices. We are committed to the security and confidentiality of information under our control, and to the protection of privacy with respect to personal and confidential information that is collected, used, disclosed and retained in the system . Information on this form is collected pursuant to (Ministry of Education) and in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act . Access to this form is restricted to specific individuals in Human Resources. The Research and Analytics Department will use aggregate data from all the forms (not individual data) for internal reporting. Their access and use of the data is governed by MFIPPA and . Applicant Self-Identification Forms will be maintained in the Human Resources job competition file and securely destroyed 1 year after the job posting for candidates not selected for an interview and 6 years after the job posting for candidates interviewed, in accordance with general records retention principles. If you prefer not to answer any of the questions, you can select “prefer not to answer”. This in no way affects your application or the applicant selection process. If you have questions or concerns about this form, please contact .
Promotion Process Critical Timelines Posting is open on Apply to Education
-
Monday, September 29, 2025
Candidate applications must be submitted to Apply to Education and contain the following information:
- Cover letter (one-page maximum)
- Resume (three-page maximum)
- Leadership Reflection Document (two-page maximum)
- References - contact information of three professional references, of which, one may be a community reference. We encourage you to include your current supervisor.
- OCT Certification uploaded
- Please add your references to your Apply to Education profile
Posting closes – October 17, 2025, by 12:00 p.m. Human Resource Services will distribute application packages to Executive Council for review. A team from the Executive Council will review the application packages, on a bi-monthly basis, and the reference checks and then shortlist for interviews.
October 28, 2025 Human Resources will contact recommended candidates to schedule interviews.
November 3,4,5, 2025 INTERVIEWS: Interview teams will consist of two Superintendents, and may also include: a current Principal, and staff from other HWDSB departments including Human Resources.
November 6 and 7, 2025 All references listed on the candidate’s application package will be sent a confidential reference check.
Week of November 12 onwards Executive Council will review and finalize list of successful candidates followed by notification to all candidates.
Employment Equity, Inclusion and Indigeneity Statement Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to building inclusive learning and working environments where students see themselves reflected in the curriculum, staff population, local environmental context and the broader community.
HWDSB’s vision of Growing Together is rooted in our mission to ensure every student experiences a sense of belonging and engages in dynamic learning to reach their potential and build their own future. Guided by this mission, HWDSB strives to build a workforce that embodies the values of Compassion, Dignity, Trust, and Joy, while reflecting and welcoming the diverse and distinct identities, experiences and unique needs of our students, staff and our communities.
HWDSB Seeks Qualified Candidates Who Share Our Commitment To Equity, Inclusion And Indigeneity, And Who Will Contribute To The Vision Of Creating Inclusive And Equitable Outcomes For Every Student. HWDSB Especially Invites And Welcomes Applications From
- Indigenous Peoples (e.g., First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples).
- Members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, colour, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin (e.g., Black and racialized communities, immigrant communities, etc.).
- Persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities.
- Persons who identify as women.
- Persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions (i.e., Two-spirit and BTQIA+).
As part of HWDSB’s commitment to employment equity, inclusion and Indigeneity and removing barriers to groups that have faced and continue to face barriers in employment, we invite all applicants to complete a voluntary questionnaire that collects identity-based information. The voluntary questionnaire is on the Apply to Education application page for this position.
Land Acknowledgement HWDSB is located on ancestral Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Confederacy land as determined by the Dish with One Spoon treaty. The Dish with One Spoon wampum belt represents the treaty relationship between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and Anishinaabe with respect to sharing the land and resources thereon. The intent of this agreement is for all nations sharing this territory to do so responsibly, respectfully, and sustainably in perpetuity. We respect the longstanding relationships with the local Indigenous communities, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and the Six Nations of the Grand River.
Principal and Vice Principal Promotion Process - Elementary Principal, Elementary Vice Principal, and Secondary Vice Principal Positions
About the role
Principal and Vice Principal Promotion Process
Elementary Principal, Elementary Vice Principal, and Secondary Vice Principal Positions About The Board The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to learning, equity, engagement, and innovation. We are guided by our vision, Growing Together, the mission that every student experiences a sense of belonging and engages in dynamic learning to reach their potential and build their own future, and our values of Compassion, Dignity, Trust, and Joy to guide our daily work and ensure that we honour the unique identities and needs of all. Proudly serving a community of approximately 50,000 students in the City of Hamilton and surrounding area, HWDSB operates across 84 elementary schools, 13 secondary schools and 1 Adult Learning Centre, in addition to providing support and service to approximately 8,800 staff members.
About The Role We are proud to announce that we are creating a diverse leadership pool of qualified candidates for future Elementary and Secondary Principal and Vice-Principal positions. We invite innovative, collaborative, and change-focused applications from teachers & system leaders. We strive to hire staff with a demonstrated practice of Human Rights, anti-racist anti-oppressive (ARAO) approaches to leadership. Throughout this calendar year, we encourage applications from leaders who maintain the competency to confront and dismantle all forms of oppression to ensure students who are currently and historically underserved in our system excel. Successful candidates to these leadership pools will be placed on a ready list for a two-year period and may be assigned at any time.
Committed to our HWDSB Multi-Year Strategic Plan (2023-2028) , an applicant for this opportunity maintains the following competencies:
- Upholding Human Rights, Safety & Well-being
- Providing Equitable Quality Education
- Collaborating with Students, Families and Communities
- Building a Sustainable Education System
- Reinforcing Indigenous Educational Wellness & Reconciliation
Qualifications Principal Candidates:
- Enrollment in or completion of the Principal's Qualification Program Part Two (placement pending successful completion of PQP Part Two).
- Current experience as a Vice Principal or Principal
- Enrollment in or completion of the Special Education Additional Qualification Part One or other commensurate experience
- Good Standing with the Ontario College of Teachers - upload in Apply to Education
Vice-Principal Candidates
- Enrollment in or completion of the Principal's Qualification Program Part One (placement pending successful completion of PQP Part One).
- Enrollment in or completion of the Special Education Additional Qualification Part One or other commensurate experience
- Good Standing with the Ontario College of Teachers - upload in Apply to Education
Application Package Interested Candidates are required to submit the following documentation as part of their application package:
- Cover letter (one-page maximum)
- Resume (three-page maximum)
- Leadership Reflection Document (two-page maximum)
- OCT Certificate - uploaded
- References - contact information of three professional references, of which one may be a community reference. We encourage you to include your current supervisor (please add your references to your profile in Apply to Education)
- Permission to contact these references as part of the application process.
Application Deadline Please apply by Friday, October 17, 2025, by 12:00 p.m . to be considered for this round of the Principal/Vice-Principal promotion process.
Interviews will take place the week of November 3-5, 2025 .
Leadership Reflection Candidates are asked to provide a written response to the following question which demonstrates their lived leadership experiences in support of HWDSB Strategic Priorities as outlined in the Multi-Year Strategic Plan (2023-2028). This submission is to be no longer than two pages.
For Principal applicants: “Share an experience where you had to simultaneously uphold human rights, ensure well-being, and provide equitable education. How did you balance these priorities, and what did this experience teach you about complex decision-making in educational leadership? What was the impact of your leadership actions and how will this influence your leadership as a principal? ”
For Vice Principal applicants: “Can you discuss a challenging scenario where you had to address issues of inequity and student well-being? How did you navigate this situation, and what did it teach you about balancing diverse needs in a school environment? What was the impact of your leadership actions and how will this influence your leadership as a vice principal?”
Deadline for submission: October 17, 2025 by 12:00 p.m .
Information Session
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 (5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - HWDSB Board Office - 20 Education Court, Hamilton) All interested internal and external candidates are encouraged to attend the initial prep session to learn more about HWDSB, our Strategic Plan (2023 – 2028), our Equity Action Plan, the Indigenous Education Circle Strategic Action Plan (IECSAP) 2021-2025 and our promotion process. We look forward to welcoming you. To register for the preparation sessions please click the registration link
Applicant Self-Identification Form The information collected on this form is used to monitor HWDSB’s progress toward our equity goals including our commitment to diversity in HWDSB recruitment and hiring practices. We are committed to the security and confidentiality of information under our control, and to the protection of privacy with respect to personal and confidential information that is collected, used, disclosed and retained in the system . Information on this form is collected pursuant to (Ministry of Education) and in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act . Access to this form is restricted to specific individuals in Human Resources. The Research and Analytics Department will use aggregate data from all the forms (not individual data) for internal reporting. Their access and use of the data is governed by MFIPPA and . Applicant Self-Identification Forms will be maintained in the Human Resources job competition file and securely destroyed 1 year after the job posting for candidates not selected for an interview and 6 years after the job posting for candidates interviewed, in accordance with general records retention principles. If you prefer not to answer any of the questions, you can select “prefer not to answer”. This in no way affects your application or the applicant selection process. If you have questions or concerns about this form, please contact .
Promotion Process Critical Timelines Posting is open on Apply to Education
-
Monday, September 29, 2025
Candidate applications must be submitted to Apply to Education and contain the following information:
- Cover letter (one-page maximum)
- Resume (three-page maximum)
- Leadership Reflection Document (two-page maximum)
- References - contact information of three professional references, of which, one may be a community reference. We encourage you to include your current supervisor.
- OCT Certification uploaded
- Please add your references to your Apply to Education profile
Posting closes – October 17, 2025, by 12:00 p.m. Human Resource Services will distribute application packages to Executive Council for review. A team from the Executive Council will review the application packages, on a bi-monthly basis, and the reference checks and then shortlist for interviews.
October 28, 2025 Human Resources will contact recommended candidates to schedule interviews.
November 3,4,5, 2025 INTERVIEWS: Interview teams will consist of two Superintendents, and may also include: a current Principal, and staff from other HWDSB departments including Human Resources.
November 6 and 7, 2025 All references listed on the candidate’s application package will be sent a confidential reference check.
Week of November 12 onwards Executive Council will review and finalize list of successful candidates followed by notification to all candidates.
Employment Equity, Inclusion and Indigeneity Statement Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to building inclusive learning and working environments where students see themselves reflected in the curriculum, staff population, local environmental context and the broader community.
HWDSB’s vision of Growing Together is rooted in our mission to ensure every student experiences a sense of belonging and engages in dynamic learning to reach their potential and build their own future. Guided by this mission, HWDSB strives to build a workforce that embodies the values of Compassion, Dignity, Trust, and Joy, while reflecting and welcoming the diverse and distinct identities, experiences and unique needs of our students, staff and our communities.
HWDSB Seeks Qualified Candidates Who Share Our Commitment To Equity, Inclusion And Indigeneity, And Who Will Contribute To The Vision Of Creating Inclusive And Equitable Outcomes For Every Student. HWDSB Especially Invites And Welcomes Applications From
- Indigenous Peoples (e.g., First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples).
- Members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, colour, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin (e.g., Black and racialized communities, immigrant communities, etc.).
- Persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities.
- Persons who identify as women.
- Persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions (i.e., Two-spirit and BTQIA+).
As part of HWDSB’s commitment to employment equity, inclusion and Indigeneity and removing barriers to groups that have faced and continue to face barriers in employment, we invite all applicants to complete a voluntary questionnaire that collects identity-based information. The voluntary questionnaire is on the Apply to Education application page for this position.
Land Acknowledgement HWDSB is located on ancestral Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Confederacy land as determined by the Dish with One Spoon treaty. The Dish with One Spoon wampum belt represents the treaty relationship between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and Anishinaabe with respect to sharing the land and resources thereon. The intent of this agreement is for all nations sharing this territory to do so responsibly, respectfully, and sustainably in perpetuity. We respect the longstanding relationships with the local Indigenous communities, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and the Six Nations of the Grand River.