Requesting the immediate reinstatement of Ms. Lisa Watt as Principal of Pauline Jr. Public School in the Wallace Emerson neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. 

On June 16, the Pauline JPS school community was shocked to learn that its long-serving and beloved principal, Ms. Watt, would be removed from her position and replaced effective August 20, 2026. The timing left parents and caregivers at the small JK-Grade 6 school no time to respond to the news before children were let out on June 25th for summer break. 

Pauline JPS has thrived under Lisa Watt’s 17 year tenure. Ms. Watt knows all of the roughly 250 students by name, and makes an effort to know and welcome the diverse array of families that join the school each year. Her imperative to provide a safe and nurturing environment extends from the students to the faculty at the school, many of whom choose to keep teaching at Pauline for decades. This means that each child has the opportunity to develop close relationships with teachers that are invested in them.

In Superintendent John Currie’s letter to Pauline families on June 16th, there was no clear logic for the ‘administrative change’. There was little acknowledgement of the positive outcomes of Ms. Watt’s long tenure. Furthermore, her removal is the result of a policy that allows for very little transparency on decisions made by the school board, with little consideration given to the wishes of the school community. 

The tone of Mr. Currie’s letter suggested that the incoming principal would easily pick up where Ms. Watt left off, but Ms. Watt has not merely been a principal; she has been a mentor, a guide, and a beacon of positivity, inspiring not only students but staff and parents alike. Her removal will be a loss that our small community should not have to endure. 

Pauline has deep roots in the community, having been around for 112 years, and there are many 2nd and 3rd generation families attending. It has the sense of a village, where all of the children know each other and the schoolyard is often filled with the same children outside of school hours. Ms. Watt’s mandate to provide a safe, kind and respectful environment for the kids has been instrumental to this. 

This year, two longstanding members of the Pauline faculty are retiring. As a result, the school is already facing a period of significant transition, making the loss of Ms. Watt's leadership even more deeply felt. These circumstances should have been carefully considered by the school board before making a decision of such significance. 

We, as concerned parents, educators, members of the school community and the Toronto community at large, urge the decision-makers involved to re-instate Ms. Lisa Watt as Principal immediately. The children of this and every TDSB school need to be prioritized by respecting and supporting the ecosystems that exist within each school community. 

Please join us in signing this petition to support the immediate reinstatement of Ms. Lisa Watt as Principal of Pauline Jr. Public School, to ensure continued excellence and support for all students. 

Your signature can make a difference, helping us to keep a trusted and dedicated leader who is a beloved pillar of our community.