Building on Momentum: Our Winter/Spring 2026 Teacher Recruitment Campaign

Following a successful fall season, CIS Ontario continued its mission to attract qualified candidates to our member schools through a winter and spring recruitment circuit. From January through March, our association attended key university events, ensuring that independent schools remain a desirable career choice for new educators in the province.

This season, we focused on deepening our connections with candidates as they finalized their certifications and began their official job searches. By engaging with students at this key time, we highlighted the unique professional growth, community, and innovation that define the CIS Ontario experience.

Recruitment Fairs Attended

CIS Ontario represented our member schools and engaged with hundreds of candidates at the following events:

• Queen's University - January 12
• Wilfrid Laurier University - January 12
• York University - January 30
• McGill University - February 3
• McMaster University - March 3
• University of Ottawa - March 9

Huge Thanks to our Volunteers

Our recruitment efforts are strengthened by the voices of our member schools. This winter and spring, our presence was supported by a dedicated group of leaders and educators who volunteered their time to share their independent school experience.  Their ability to speak authentically about rewarding careers in our member schools is a key factor for many candidates considering their first placements.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the many volunteers from our member schools who demonstrated leadership and commitment throughout the recruitment season.

• Berta Carreco, Director of Admissions, De La Salle College
• Brad Moyle, Head of Senior School, Ashbury College
• Brad Read, Associate Head of School, Learning and Innovation, St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School
• Don Kawasoe, Interim Head of School, St. John's-Kilmarnock School
• James Lee, Head of School, Bayview Glen Independent School
• Karen McCallum-Ryan, Director, Junior School, Pickering College
• Lisa Picerno, Assistant Head of School - Curriculum, Villanova College
• Laura Poce, Vice Principal, Student Success, The Bishop Strachan School
• Marc Ayotte, Head of College, Hillfield Strathallan College
• Martha Perry, Principal, St. Clement's School
• Dr. Matina Mosun, Head of Junior School, Kingsway College School
• Myke Healy, Assistant Head of Senior School - Teaching & Learning, Trinity College School
• Rob Lundy, Principal, De La Salle College
• Dr. Suparna Roy, Coordinator of Teaching, Learning and Innovation, Ashbury College

Scaling Our Impact: Digital & Physical Resources

Building on the recruitment tools launched in fall 2025, we continued to leverage and refine our resources to ensure effective candidate follow-up:

• CIS Ontario Job Board: The new Job Board continues to serve as the central resource for candidates, with traffic increasing following our attendance at fairs.
• Recruitment Materials: Our new pamphlets and postcards were used to connect with candidates and serve as a jumping-off point for conversations about our member schools.
• Strategic Data Collection: A post-fair survey was sent to each of our volunteers to better understand what they heard as candidate priorities, allowing us to tailor our outreach going forward.

Looking Ahead: Building the 2026-2027 Recruitment Team

As we wrap up a successful spring, we are already looking toward the next academic year. To streamline our planning and ensure we have a strong representation of our member schools at every event, we have launched a new Volunteer Interest Form.

Share your expertise—sign up now to help us recruit outstanding educators for our member schools.

• Express Interest Early: You are encouraged to sign up for as many fairs as interest you.
• Flexible Commitment: Checking a box now does not lock you into a specific date. It simply tells us where you are willing to help.
• Finalizing the Schedule: Once the official university recruitment dates are released for the fall, we will reach out to find the specific "best fits" that align with your availability.

By building this roster now, we can ensure CIS Ontario member schools continue to be a leading choice for qualified teaching talent.

Thank you to everyone who made this year’s recruitment a success.

Fariha Shakeel,
Administrative & Membership Coordinator