I joined the Wildwood team in the fall of 2021. Before coming to Wildwood, I worked as a teacher for 12 years and then became a Vice Principal with the Halton District School Board. After 3 years as a VP, I became a Principal, a role I enjoyed for 17 years. Throughout my 32 years in public education, I had the pleasure of working in 3 different school boards. I opened a new elementary school in Milton and also worked as a System Principal. Each role and opportunity allowed me to learn and grow so I could better serve the needs of my school community. After retiring from public education, I worked for a teacher recruitment company in London, England. This was a very different experience and I felt privileged to visit teacher’s colleges across Canada and help new teachers find teaching jobs in the U.K. In 2021, at a time when we were finally enjoying relaxed restrictions with COVID, I was given an opportunity that turned out to be the highlight of my professional career. I received an email from a colleague who shared that Wildwood Academy was looking for a Principal. Feeling unsure if this was the right move for me, I came for a visit to learn more about the school and its philosophy. After 10 minutes, I was sold. This school’s “raison d’etre” re-ignited my passion for working with children, especially those who struggled to succeed or feel safe at school. This was my chance to serve the needs of students who are often underserved in mainstream schools. Seeing these children come to school with a smile and leave each day feeling successful was enough to put my retirement plans on pause. This school does what all schools should do: make students feel that, regardless of their past experiences and challenges, they are valued and respected and, like everyone else, they can be successful. My only regret is I didn’t start this role earlier. I am proud to be part of the Wildwood community.