Episode Details

Cissy Goodridge is passionate about the Middle Years and the Performing Arts. She has taught instrumental (band) and vocal music for 30 years in both single-sex and co-ed independent schools in Toronto, Oakville, and in Melbourne, Australia. Cissy holds a Bachelor of Musical Arts in Music Ed from Western University and a Masters in Education from the University of Victoria. She has worked with students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 and finds joy in helping students find their voices.  In her 30 year career, Cissy has held many leadership roles, including, Assistant House Advisor, Department Head of Music, Director of Performing Arts and most recently, the Head of Middle School at Havergal College in Toronto.

Deirdre Timusk has been teaching since she was just seven years old, starting with her younger sister as her first and only student. For years, she conducted lessons on reading, math, and science from a school desk in their basement. She later earned a B.Sc. in Physics from Queen’s University and a Masters of Arts in Curriculum Design and Education from the University of Toronto. Deirdre began her formal teaching career in Medellin, Colombia, where she taught math. She later moved to the Hazelwood School District in St. Louis, Missouri before returning to Canada to teach at an all-boys school in Toronto. During her 19 years at the school, Deirdre held various leadership positions, including Department Chair of Mathematics, Senior House Advisor, Director of Community Service, and Assistant Head of the Upper School in charge of Operations and Strategic Projects. In her most recent career move, Deirdre became the Head of the Senior School at Havergal, an all-girls institution in Toronto, Canada, just 18 months ago.

Can you fill in the gaps on the intros and tell listeners something else they may be surprised to know about you?

• Deirdre – I’ve lived in Medellin, Colombia in the late 90s and taught there for two years  a love for Spanish and Latin dancing and am currently taking Salsa lessons. 
• Cissy – I was nominated for a Juno (Cdn equivalent of Grammy) and Much Music Video Award and spent the first decade of my teaching career moonlighting as a pop singer.

What offerings and experiences are available at Havergal College that you would like other education leaders to know about?

• Deirdre
  • HC-X, our innovation hub which is designed to support students and faculty through new contemporary programs and innovative learning experiences. As a lead-learning organization, we believe in providing the tools to adapt and thrive no matter what the future brings.
  • We are a Round Square school with a thriving exchange program
  • We have a Forum for Change which helps to connect our students with meaningful volunteer opportunities with our community partners as well as outside opportunities 
• Cissy
  • We are a boarding school with students from 7 countries around the world
  • We have a robust Arts program that spans JK – 12, band, vocal, strings, drama, dance and visual arts.
  • Our competitive athletic program, with over 75 teams, begins in grade 5

Can you share the stories of transition in your leadership journeys that brought you into your current roles?

• Deirdre
  • Never thought I would be an administrator
  • Wanted to make the school better and kept getting involved and putting my hand up
  • Began in a pastoral role as a senior house advisor at an all-boys school in charge of 80 students
  • Took on an academic leadership role and loved to create a vision and help the department work towards it
  • needed new ch