Our principals starting our new century

…continued from last month

Jeanette PlonkaJEANNETTE PLONKA lives in the west end of Toronto, but there’s been a pull eastward to Leaside, where she’s been principal of Leaside High for nine years. Previously she had been at a junior high in North York and then vice-principal at York Mills Collegiate. Her daughter had played hockey for the Leaside Girls Hockey Association at Leaside Gardens. Since Leaside is a French immersion school, her teaching qualifications in French, as well as English, phys ed and drama, come in handy.

Rob PerryROB PERRY has also been working his way east, from small towns around London where he grew up, then degrees from Windsor, Western and York, but the new principal replacing Jeffrey Crane at Rolph Road school isn’t all new to Leaside. He  played soccer at Talbot Park and his son played soccer at Rolph Road. He has also been nearby as a vice-principal at Thorncliffe public school, where Crane has now become principal. Perry’s degree is in kinesiology, he has a passion for athletics and loves hockey, hiking in the woods – and singing.

Rosanna TropeaROSANNA LUBIANA TROPEA, in her fifth year as principal of St. Anselm, is a believer in volunteerism, for herself and her students. She has worked for such organizations as the Canadian Cancer Society and the CNIB. Her students and staff are encouraged to also get involved in charity and social justice initiatives, as well as extra-curricular activities. She has been with the TCDSB for 25 years and has worked extensively on school board committees and curriculum/writing teams. She has taught various grades, as well as special education, and served as a support teacher and teacher/librarian.