High praise for Mac's principal

BY ALBERT KRAMBERGER

editor@transcontinental.ca

Macdonald High School principal Jim Aitken has been chosen as one of the country's top principals this year by The Learning Partnership and the Canadian Association of Principals.

Aitken, an educator since 1970 and Mac's principal for seven years, was one of 33 named as Canada's Outstanding Principals for 2008. The program, now in its fourth year, honours contributions promoting quality education in publicly-funded schools across the country.

"It's very flattering," Aitken, 61, said of the award.

Mac High's governing board chairman has nothing but praise for the Ste. Anne de Bellevue school's top administrator.

"He's an outstanding administrator," said Robert Hamel, a Pincourt resident. "He always has the welfare of students at heart."

Hamel added Aitken has done everything from living up to the zero tolerance policy for violence to getting involved with students one-on-one. "You see him in the halls and at special activities and at teacher's night," he said. "The kids know him and they're not afraid of him."

Aitken is very transparent with governing board members and is open to answering queries from parents, Hamel said, adding he's had nothing but "full co-operation from the school's administration dealing with any issues."

Meanwhile, Aitken said his main focus as principal has been on student success. He said he's not looking for quick solutions but wants students to "learn how to learn."

"I want them to take ownership of their education and to get their parents into it as well," he said.

"I don't want students to accept lower marks in Grade 7 or 8," he added.

As part of the Outstanding Principals initiative, Aitken and the other winners will participate in a five-day leadership training program in late February in Toronto. They will be formally honoured at a gala on Feb. 26. For more information, check www.thelearningpartnership.ca.