Educational leaders take the responsibility of crafting an educational set-up that promotes the upliftment of society by encouraging young minds to explore, learn, and excel in the educational domain. School principals work hard to take their schools to the pinnacle of educational excellence. They create an inclusive learning environment that takes care of the special academic needs of each and every student. They sustainably utilize the resources provided by the educational department and school community to nurture wholesome development at the school.

Phoebe A. Wasfy, the Principal of Philopateer Christian College (PCC) Private School, is a charming and efficient educational leader who has brought many progressive transformations. As a well-known member of ACSI, the institute has one of Canada’s fastest growth rates. It has been awarded the “Best Private School” in the City of Mississauga for five years. Open to all students, it is the first private school in North America founded by the Coptic Egyptian community, having opened its doors in 1999.

Education and Achievements

Phoebe graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of Toronto in 2002, where she studied history and religious studies. At New York, USA’s D’Youville College, she completed her professional program in education in 2004. In 2011, she earned additional qualifications in reading, history, and religious studies, and she was certified to teach kindergarten through grade 12. She had finished her Principal Qualification Courses (PQC).

She graduated with a Master of Education (MEd) from the University of Western Ontario in 2014. In 2019, she finished her Higher Education Teaching Certificate at Harvard University in the United States. She received the Arab Women of Excellence Awards in Academia from Life Transformation Academy (Calgary, Alberta – Canada) for her passion for learning and active field participation.

Phoebe has served on the ACSI-Eastern Canada board since 2017. She teaches adjunct courses in the Youth Ministry Certification Program (YMCP), which the Canadian Coptic Centre runs in partnership with Youth Train, New Zealand. She has been selected to participate in the 2018 World Youth Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

She encourages leadership and professional development among her staff members and enjoys interacting with parents, students, and other educators. Phoebe oversees numerous projects and school-age humanitarian missions worldwide in collaboration with various governments, international aid organizations, and charitable groups.

She enjoys interacting with parents, students, and other educators and supports her staff members’ leadership and professional growth. In cooperation with different governments, international aid organizations, and charitable groups, Phoebe manages many projects and school-age humanitarian missions across the globe.

Recently, she spearheaded the first fundraising campaign for the Egyptian presidential initiative Decent Life, which was organized by a group of 16 and 17-year-old students. She also initiated Arabic-accredited courses to support the Egyptian president’s Etkalem 3araby initiative. Phoebe is an influential figure in education, having been highlighted in numerous international magazines as a leader in the field. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi of Egypt recognized her for her contributions to educational reform in June 2023.

Kind Mission and Vision

To create individuals whose intellectual, spiritual, and physical qualities complement one another, Philopateer Christian College aims to educate and empower young people. The institute is grateful to God and feels that, with his help, it has successfully changed lives.

The institute’s goal is to equip its students to follow in the footsteps of their master’s and become well-rounded leaders of the future. They accomplish this by supporting their belief in and developing their God-given abilities in the appropriate setting under the direction of highly skilled educators.

Challenges in the Realm of Educational Leadership

Leadership is a very lonely place. Phoebe quotes John C. Maxwell and says, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” While being an educational leader, Phoebe finds herself in a stance where people do not like the challenge of correction or parents see that their child is the perfect child.

In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic became an additional strain on the education system. Educators had all the resources, but they had never put them to use. Phoebe, as an educational leader, had to rise to the challenge and think outside the box. She was not going to let the lockdowns or what became known as the “New Norm” become an obstacle to her school’s progress. She swiftly built an entire virtual high school with her faculty, and with it, the school’s global expansion began.

As an educational leader, she also deals with staff members who are reluctant to change. Despite the difficulties, Phoebe remains optimistic and seeks possibilities for growth and development.

Qualities of an Inspiring Educational Leader

According to Phoebe, the key qualities of influential educational leaders include:

• Believing that teachers matter.
• Always strives for success.
• Listens to students’ and teachers’ voices.
• Sees mistakes as opportunities for improvement and growth.
• Gives direction by example.
• Says we, not I.

Constructing an Innovative Educational Set-up

The innovative and entrepreneurial leader Phoebe is determined that an educational institution’s ability to innovate and be creative is essential to its success.  Every day presents a new chance to learn about the field of education, and the ones that arise during the most trying times promote the inventiveness and imagination necessary to produce opportunities for the students of today who will lead the world of tomorrow.

To see obstacles as chances for creativity, an educational leader must end periods of weakness and use innovation to transform them into strengths. According to Phoebe, a team’s ability to apply what is taught to students and think creatively makes educational institutions successful.

Projects and Initiatives that Inspire

With the help of a group of people who supported what they called “Our Crazy Ideas,” Phoebe managed to accomplish several projects. Every year, the school’s Arts department puts on a spring production that includes all students and faculty. In the production’s finale, nearly five hundred people take the stage, and the show is presented on the most critical stage in the city.

She finds it exciting that the school consistently produces programs that garner international attention, especially considering that today’s student body comprises people worldwide who attend in person and virtually. Since its launch, the institute’s online high school program has shown its worth and is expanding.

As evidence of the demanding academic programming implemented at the school, Phoebe is incredibly proud to report that the students have routinely placed in the top 25 percentile in international academic competitions. Regarding humanitarian work, they have organized yearly mission trips abroad and provided students with firsthand experience of what it means to help the less fortunate.

As part of the institute’s ambassadorship to Decent Life, a United Nations sustainability project and Egyptian Presidential initiative, Phoebe and her staff have also engaged in fundraising activities to improve the lives of 54 million Egyptians below the poverty line by 2030.

Forming a Collateral Work Environment

Phoebe adores her staff and school and is a cooperative team player. From little coffee pots and treats during the busiest times of the year to surprise matching Christmas pajamas, she believes that as a school leader, it is her responsibility to work towards creating a positive atmosphere for her staff.

These small gestures help to keep morale high and encourage the resilient to persevere when times are hard. In addition to inspiring the staff to work more progressively, this fosters a feeling of community.

Crafting a Bright Future

Speaking of future enhancements, Phoebe states that many changes have already begun with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the activation of AI has put the education world to the test. Today, under her visionary guidance, the school has embarked on the virtual school model and has started to educate students and staff on the proper use of AI tools. From her point of view, education is about innovation and empowerment; hence, it is a new stage for her and her staff to embark on and lighten the path for the future.

In fact, Phoebe has everything planned for the future, and by executing these strategies, her vision for the future of education aims to create an adaptive, inclusive, and dynamic learning environment that prepares students for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

To promote a love of learning, she seeks to prioritize students’ needs and interests during the educational process. She is committed to introducing project-based learning, flexible curriculum structures adapted to each student’s strengths and goals, and personalized learning plans to foster inclusivity.

She intends to embrace technology as an essential education component to increase student engagement and prepare them for a tech-driven future. She would invest in cutting-edge technological infrastructure, offer professional development on tech integration to educators, and integrate advanced educational apps and platforms.

She wants to cultivate global citizenship and cultural competence among students to prepare them for a diverse and interconnected world, and she plans to execute it by integrating international perspectives into the curriculum, establishing cultural exchange programs, and leveraging technology for virtual collaborations with students worldwide.

She will prioritize the development of critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and adaptability. This is possible by revising the curriculum to emphasize 21st-century skills, incorporating project-based assessments, and creating partnerships with businesses and industries to align education with workforce needs.

Empowering educators with the skills and knowledge needed to adapt to evolving educational paradigms is also essential, and it will be done by establishing a robust professional development program, encouraging collaboration and peer learning, and supporting educators in staying current with pedagogical advancements.

She wants to foster strong partnerships between schools, parents, businesses, and community organizations. Host community forums, involve parents in decision-making processes, establish internship programs with local businesses, and engage community members as guest speakers and mentors.

Phoebe is determined to establish a culture of continuous improvement through ongoing assessment and feedback mechanisms. This will be implemented by formative assessments, gathering feedback from students, parents, and educators, and using data to make informed decisions for continuous enhancement.

Nurturing Students with Care

Each student has unique academic needs, and as an efficient educational leader, Phoebe knows how to form strategies that enhance the quality of education, catering to the individual needs of her students. Some of the policies that help her through her journey of educational excellence are:

• Acknowledge and value every student’s skills, talents, and abilities.
• Encourage an atmosphere that allows students to pursue their passions and interests.
• Encourage students to believe in themselves by highlighting their potential for success and positive impact.
• To increase self-efficacy and confidence, give constructive criticism and positive reinforcement.
• Rather than forcing students to choose a career path you have predetermined, provide them with guidance and mentorship to help them find their own.
• Encourage students to participate in career exploration programs, internships, and various experiences to extend their horizons.
• Implement leadership development initiatives emphasizing emotional intelligence, communication abilities, and self-awareness.
• Give students the chance to assume leadership positions within the school community.
• Encourage cooperative learning settings where students can benefit from one another’s experiences and strengths.
• Promote cooperation and group projects that imitate practical collaborative situations.
• To maximize each student’s strengths and avoid concentrating on their shortcomings, emphasize a strengths-based approach to education.
• Use evaluations and feedback systems that accentuate and expand upon personal assets.
• Encourage inclusive leadership that honors and respects differences.
• Make sure every student feels included and supported in their educational journey, regardless of background or ability.
• Create a student support network with resources, mentorship, and counseling to help them overcome obstacles.
• Establish open communication lines so students can voice their wants and worries.
• Foster a lifelong learning attitude by encouraging curiosity, flexibility, and an openness to change.
• Emphasize the value of lifelong learning and skill development outside the classroom.

By implementing these ideas, Phoebe’s leadership style seeks to enable students to identify and realize their potential, creating a climate in which they feel capable, appreciated, and motivated to succeed in the twenty-first century.

Precious Insights

Phoebe reveals her success formula. She says that no matter your obstacles, you should always have big dreams and keep an open mind. As educational leaders, occasionally, options are available. While some may lead to higher professional levels, others may choose the easy route. Take the difficult path if determined to succeed and make a lasting impression on those you lead.