Leadership interview with Grace McCallum, Branksome Hall

As an educational leader, it's essential that I connect with the mission and vision of any school I join. Branksome Hall’s commitment to academic excellence, global education, and well-being is something I deeply align with. Branksome teaches girls the skills they need to thrive in a changing world, and I love that my own daughters will be attending the school.

What stands out to me is how Branksome encourages students to develop strong voices and become lifelong learners.

Branksome Hall’s history and location make it truly unique. The school has been around since 1903, with thousands of women passing through its halls and making positive impacts in the world. Located on a 13-acre campus in downtown Toronto, Branksome is unparalleled. It’s a school that has maintained Scottish traditions while fostering a close-knit, caring community.

Branksome Hall balances academic excellence with a focus on student well-being, and provides a wide range of co-curricular activities that allow students to explore and discover their passions. A key strategy is personalized learning, ensuring students’ experiences are tailored to their needs.

This year, we introduced the IB Select pathways for diploma students, offering a new way to balance rigor with personalization. It’s an exciting development that I’m eager to see evolve.

At Branksome, our School-based Research Center (CRC) explores the use of technology and its impact on learning. This research-based approach helps us stay curious and model that curiosity for our students. Branksome’s innovative mindset in addressing educational challenges is something I am deeply proud to be part of.

The involvement of parents is key to student success, and I value the partnership we have with them. I see it as vital, as no one knows a student better than their parents. This partnership helps us provide personalized learning experiences, ensuring students receive the support they need to thrive.

In conflict resolution, I believe in listening to understand, rather than listening to respond. It’s important to approach conflict with the understanding that everyone has the best intentions. Shared values, particularly what’s best for students, often provide common ground for peaceful resolutions.

Making decisions that are best for students is at the heart of everything I do. I remind myself of this every day to guide me through challenging decisions. Keeping that focus makes difficult decisions easier.

I believe that nothing gets done without relationships, and I hope to be remembered as a relationship builder. The success I’ve had in my career is due to the incredible people I’ve worked with and the relationships we’ve built. Empowering others and coaching them to bring out their best is what leads to great impact in schools.

I see Branksome Hall on an incredible trajectory in terms of global mindedness and interaction with the international community. I am excited to explore these connections and to continue our leadership in education through initiatives like the upcoming ICAST building, which will advance STEM education for girls.

The ICAST building, opening in 2025, will be a game-changer for Branksome Hall, focusing on girls in STEM fields and helping address inequities faced by women in tech and entrepreneurship. We will also continue to leverage our sister campus in Jeju Island, Korea, to enrich our offerings and further elevate Branksome’s global standing. I’m thrilled to continue building on the incredible work of those who came before me.