Full Props to Hermione: Discussing Women in Leadership with WCDSB Director of Education Loretta Notten

This episode is framed around a question: How has being female prevented you from bringing your whole self to the classroom?  It's an important conversation, and one that I am grateful to share a part. 

In this episode, we speak to Loretta Notten, the first woman to serve as Director of Education for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. Director Notten helps us unpack what it was like to be a woman in leadership in the early 90s, the challenges we continue to experience today, and speaks candidly about the importance of women and men working as allies to make progress. 

The episode will leave you reflecting on you own words, actions and perhaps even unconscious biases and micro aggressions. It will help you to consider the importance of seeing differently and embracing diversity in our staff rooms and, more importantly, in our classrooms. 

We also give a big shout out to Hermione Granger, the true heroine of the Harry Potter books.  While Harry is the title character, it is Heronine's wit and know-how that saves the day, time and time again.

Enjoy the conversation!