The Elms Junior Middle School A Marvellous Work In Progress

Principal, Isabelle Khan, The Elms JM School

Located in North Etobicoke, the Elm Junior Middle School has served the community at large for 50 years. Since its inauguration in 1960, the school has served as an edifice of learning to a myriad of cultures and creeds from around the world. The inner city JK to Grade 8 program accommodates approximately 550 students and has had to endure and embrace some difficult challenges associated with the assimilation and cross cultural education in a community troubled with real economic issues associated with immigrant migration.
Throughout the years, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has dispatched many capable principals and educators to the Elm. Yet, maintaining its educational heritage has never been an easy endeavour. The current Principal and the focus of this article is the magnanimous Isabelle Khan. Mrs Khan’s long and commendable history as an educator made her the obvious choice for the job when the Superintendant went looking for the next Principal of the school. Mrs Khans challenge when accepting the assignment so close to her retirement, was to carry on the mantle and vision of the school’s educational architect s.

During the 60’s, the Elm Junior Middle School adopted the motto, “Together We Are Better” and Mrs Khan decided to take this slogan and run with it. Remaining true to the legacy of her predecessors, Mrs Khan worked hard to infuse the school with an aura of benevolent support and trust. Emboldened by her carefully chosen support staff and teachers, Mrs Khan cleverly elucidates her directives and determinations through adages and fist hand stories of personal responsibility and community success. When asked about her strategy in addressing the many issues that exist such as truancy, bullying, behavioural issues which often manifest in the form of uncooperative or violent children, Mrs Khan said emphatically, “There is a lot of shared leadership employed to tap into the brilliance of the children”. I personally cannot think of a more gracious and commendable statement more deserving of her role and title.

The stats also bear testimony to Mrs Khan’s creative contribution to the Elm. Since taking office in September 2008, uniform compliance has increased to nearly 100%. Suspensions are down and the police are not called to the school to deal with student hostility anymore. Security has been significantly beefed up. All entrances have been secured and every visitor is required to identify themselves to office staff upon arrival.

Preparations are underway to celebrate the Elms bi-centennial, a magnificent milestone in the fascinating history of the TDSB middle school and there is no one better to champion this event and represent the half a century of steadfast educators gone before, other than the current labourer of love and educator, Principal Isabelle Khan.

Simon Shirley
photojournalist; Immigrant Post Magazine