Halton District School Board (HDSB)

It was the unscripted comment from a high school student during one of his virtual series of discussions with kids and families that resonated with Halton District School Board (HDSB) Director Curtis Ennis. For Ennis, the Board’s leadership, and the hundreds of families watching from home, the student’s words provided a window into the real-world pressures kids face today. This is the core of the HDSB Director’s Panel Series: a platform where the traditional walls of school board administration are lowered for honest, human connection.

Introduction: A Vision for Transparent Connection

Public institutions can often feel distant or overly formal. When Curtis Ennis joined HDSB as Director of Education in 2021, he wanted to change that. He envisioned a way to pull back the curtain on how decisions are made and to ensure the board was listening to the community in real-time.

“I thought if I, as the leader, put myself out there to engage the community in conversation, it might lead to a more worthwhile dialogue,” says Ennis.

The Director’s Panel Series, launched in 2022, was designed to align the board’s work with its Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) and, more recently, bring to life the Board’s commitment to Kindness, Connection, and Community. By moving away from scripted speeches and toward open discussion, the board has created a space where trust is built through transparency.

Solution: A Collaborative Approach to Big Questions

The series is built on the idea that everyone’s voice has value. To ensure the program was grounded in fairness and inclusion, the initial planning team brought together the Director’s Office, the Communications and Engagement department, and the Human Rights and Equity advisor. This collaboration ensures that the topics and voices featured reflect the diversity of the HDSB community.

The Director’s Panel is currently facilitated by Human Rights & Equity Advisor Pardeep Singh Nagra, and regularly features Board Chair Amy Collard and other trustees – offering parents and community members the opportunity to engage directly with leaders.

The format is clear and accessible:

●         Virtual Access: Sessions are held online during the evening, making it easier for busy families to join from home.

●         Diverse Perspectives: Panels include a mix of staff, guest experts, and, most importantly, students who speak from their own experiences.

●         Live Q&A: Participants use a live Google Form to submit questions before and during the session. This gives the leadership team a "pulse" on what families actually care about.

●         Relevant Topics: Discussions cover everything from artificial intelligence and global competency to navigating global events.

The goal is to host unfiltered conversations. The leadership team shows the community that their concerns are being heard directly.

Results: Student Voice and Community Trust

The impact of the series is visible in the way it empowers students and changes the tone of community engagement.

●     Centering Student Impact: The experience is transformative for participating students. They are more than guests; they are co-leaders of the conversation. One student shared that being on the panel made her feel "honoured and privileged" to have her lived experience taken seriously by the Director. This has created a ripple effect, encouraging other students to speak up about their mental health and academic needs.

●     Sustained Engagement: Each session attracts a consistent live audience of several hundred viewers, with hundreds more watching the recordings later. The high volume of live questions submitted during each broadcast shows a community that is deeply invested and eager to interact.

●     Humanizing Leadership: The series has helped break down the "us vs. them" dynamic that can sometimes exist between a community and its school board. By appearing on screen and answering tough questions without a script, the Director and his team have become more approachable.

●      Sparking Conversations at Home: Parents have reported that the panels provide a jumping-off point for difficult conversations with their children. The series provides a shared language for families to use at the dinner table whether the topic is the impact of social media or global conflicts.

“We’re not just a reflection of our society, but we can also be an example to our society,” Ennis explains.

HDSB has turned its strategic goals into a living conversation through the Director’s Panel Series. The board is proving that leadership is most effective when it is willing to listen by prioritizing student voices.