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Branksome Hall

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Meet our principal

Grace McCallum has nearly two decades of experience teaching in and leading International Baccalaureate schools across four continents.

Branksome Hall's 8th Principal at a Glance

Grace joined Branksome Hall from the Principal role at the American School of Brasilia in Brazil. She is passionate about educating girls in STEM, leadership and entrepreneurship to empower them with the skills and confidence to drive positive change, shape industries and create innovative solutions for a more equitable future for all. She particularly finds joy in mentoring aspiring leaders and is dedicated to ensuring that girls have the support and mentorship they need.

Education

BA, St. Thomas University
B. Ed., University of New Brunswick
M. Ed., University of New Brunswick

Fun Fact

Grace's family has a four-year-old Spoodle (a Cocker Spaniel-Poodle) named Maggie.

A STRATEGIC, RELATiONAL PRINCIPAL

A relationship-builder and strategic thinker committed to driving transformational change in the schools she leads, Grace has successfully led forward-thinking building projects and master planning, community-driven strategic planning and innovative student programming. Intercultural competency is an anchor in her leadership approach, as inclusion and belonging are core personal values.

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Career and Education

A career-long IB educator, Grace values an inquiry-based approach to education where students have authentic agency. She is passionate about moving beyond differentiation to create personalized pathways for each student to achieve individualized success.

Work Experience

Grace taught in New Brunswick and has led independent schools in China, Germany and Brazil. She has served as vice president on the executive board of the American Association of Schools in Brazil (AASB) and as a board member on the EU-based board for Pioneering Schools.

She has in-depth experience with IB and CIS accreditation, including serving as a New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) accreditation team visitor.

Grace served on the Women in Leadership Committee of the American International Schools in the Americas (AMISA) to design mentorship opportunities for female leaders in Latin America and abroad. 

She is a contributing author to the book, What Should Canada's Teachers Know? Teacher Capacities: Knowledge, Beliefs, and Skills, and she has also written articles for publications including School Rubric.

Experienced Public Speaker

An experienced public speaker, Grace has addressed the 2019 Association of German International Schools (AGIS) Conference in Germany, the 2020 Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE) Conference in New York City, the 2021 Women's Ed Conference in Germany as the keynote speaker, the 2022 AMISA Conference in Sao Paulo and the 2023 AAIE Conference in Washington, D.C.

Her speaking topics have included:

  • Women in leadership;
  • Innovative schools; and
  • DEI and the importance of female mentorship for aspiring leaders

PrincipalED Podcast

Interested in girls’ and women’s success? And in hearing from people who are invested in advancing girls’ education today and helping to shape its future?

Listen Here
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