TMS was proud to announce that our own Mr. David Young, Head of School was awarded a fully-funded fellowship to the Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership’s 2019 Heads of Schools program at Teachers College, Columbia University (located in New York City). This distinguished honour is granted annually to just twenty heads of schools from around the world. Mr. Young is the only Canadian Head of School to be awarded the fellowship this year.
The 2019 cohort includes Heads from Independent and International Schools from across the United States in addition to participants from Brazil, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Myanmar, Taiwan, and Thailand. On January 25th, Mr. Young joined this group at the Columbia University campus for a two-week intensive study, examining educational issues facing independent and international schools and seeking to consider the next strategic chapter of TMS. The program is an opportunity, through networking and learning with leading educators and professors, to impact and elevate the strategic direction of a school.
“I am incredibly honoured to have been afforded this opportunity. I’m excited to be able to spend time learning with and from some of independent education’s leaders for a chance to explore how we can continue to push the envelope within our schools, and for the benefit of our students”, said Mr. Young. “To be honest, it was the unique work occurring at TMS that attracted the selection committee, so being selected is a testament to the tremendous work happening at our school. It captured their imagination.”
No stranger to pushing the envelope himself, Mr. Young began his career as a professional soccer player in Scotland but in 1993 transitioned into education, teaching in Trinidad, England, and the Czech Republic before coming to Canada 15 years ago. He has held a variety of leadership roles in several independent schools in Ontario and in 2015, joined TMS as Head of School.
It was this impressive background and demonstrated thought-leadership that earned him recognition from the Klingenstein Center that attracts and selects educators who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishment and who lead innovative schools.
“It’s exciting to have the work of our school receive this international attention and it’s my hope to honour the opportunity by sharing our work with others from around the world and seeking, throughout the duration of the fellowship, to consider the next strategic phase of our work at TMS. We aspire to develop our innovative academic program further, equip our students with the three interconnected mindsets of positivity, resilience and entrepreneurial thinking and empower them to seek more than mere success but rather significance. It’s a special time to be at TMS.”
