​​​​​​​UTS Principal Appointment Effective August 1, 2023

From the Chair of the UTS Board of Directors:

On behalf of The UTS Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Leanne Foster will become the University of Toronto Schools’ 15th Principal in its 112-year history, beginning on August 1, 2023. The appointment was made following the unanimous recommendation of the Principal Search Committee.

Currently, Dr. Foster is Head of School at Trafalgar Castle, in Whitby, Ontario, where over the past seven years, she achieved great success building the academic program, and worked tirelessly to reinforce the school’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and giving all Trafalgar students the opportunity, platform and learning to allow them to achieve their goals.  A dedicated and experienced educator, Dr. Foster’s career in teaching and consulting has taken her from kindergarten classrooms to university lecture halls to government ministries, working in both public and independent schools, as well as the private sector.

Dr. Foster earned a B.A. from the University of Toronto, as well as a B.Ed. and M.Ed. from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE/UT). She completed her Ph.D. in Educational Administration at the University of Toronto, where her doctoral research focused on school improvement and educational change management.  

Dedicated to supporting her community, Dr. Foster serves on several boards, including the Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre in Oshawa and Station Gallery in Whitby and Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS). She is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army Meighen Health Centre in Toronto.

In considering its recommendation to the UTS Board, it was clear to the Principal Search Committee that Dr. Foster stands out as an educator ideally positioned to lead our community. Her academic credentials, strong leadership experience and expertise in education, coupled with a reflective nature, make her a natural choice to lead UTS. In making this appointment, the Board feels confident that the immense contributions of Principal Rosemary Evans will be continued by a leader with the depth of experience to drive the school’s strategic direction with purpose and momentum.

Dr. Foster shared her excitement about her appointment: 

I’m thrilled to be joining UTS, a school with a long and proud history of innovation, and importantly, an even brighter future. It was my commitment to students and to service, combined with a keen desire to blend theory with practice that led me to my work in schools. I often say to students, ‘this is your school. My job is simply to help you make it the best that it can be.’  UTS is a welcoming environment for a very special body of students and I am so excited to have the opportunity to work with the school’s faculty and staff, as well as UTS families, alumni and other members of the community to make it the best that it can be for UTS students.

In the short term, Dr. Foster is looking forward to meeting the UTS community and hearing the perspectives of the many people who have deep and meaningful connections to the school: 

I look forward to continuing the deep community-wide implementation of the work started through Rosemary Evans’ leadership in addressing Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as a shared responsibility.

Dr. Foster will begin her five-year tenure on August 1, 2023, succeeding Rosemary Evans who has served as Principal of UTS since 2011. 

On behalf of our entire community, we welcome Dr. Foster to UTS and look forward to working with her to advance the long-term success of the School.
 

Jim Fleck C.C. ’49, P ’72 

Chair, UTS Board of Directors