OTTAWA CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
School Board Director of Education Tom D'Amico Wins Provincial Distinguished Leadership Award

Director of Education for Ottawa Catholic School Board, Tom D'Amico, is the 2022-2023 provincial winner of the Distinguished Leadership Award presented by the Ontario Catholic Supervisory Officers' Association (OCSOA).

The award recognizes local and provincial leadership that enhances students' interests and needs and for leadership contributions in the parish, civic, or humanitarian activities. Upon learning of this award, Mr. D'Amico indicated, "I'm humbled to have been nominated for this award by my colleagues. I know how fortunate I am to work with a fabulous Ottawa team and caring and innovative staff across our Board. I'm privileged to network with Directors of Education across the province and country, each working hard to support their staff and students in publicly funded education".

The OCSOA Distinguished Leadership Award was instituted in 2004. The inaugural winner was OCSB Superintendent, Michael Baine. Since then, former Director of Education, Jamie McCraken was recognized in 2010 and former Director of Education, Julian Hanlon in 2015. Chair of the Board Mark Mullan, who has served with all of the previous OCSB Directors of Education who have been recognized as OCSOA Distinguished Leadership Award Winners, said education leaders across the province and the country respect Tom's commitment to student and staff well-being, community engagement and Deep Learning. He is undoubtedly a most deserving recipient, and we are very fortunate that Tom is our Director.

OCSOA works in partnership with Catholic education leaders to ensure high expectations of student achievement and well-being. The Association advocates for the inclusion of all students and their individual learning needs. It supports the care of vulnerable and marginalized students in our systems. OCSOA is also a provincial leader in the advancement of environmental stewardship.

The award will be presented to Director D'Amico at the OCSOA AGM later this month.