In this podcast episode, Peter Singh shares his journey from childhood in India to becoming an executive officer at the Toronto District School Board. He discusses his early education, the importance of play and creativity, his immigration experience, and how he found his way into IT and education. Peter also reflects on the amalgamation of Toronto's school boards and the lessons learned from significant organizational change. In this conversation, Peter Singh discusses the importance of building strong relationships and trust within teams, the joy of mentoring, and the challenges of navigating budget constraints in the education sector. He highlights the complexity of running the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and shares inspiring success stories from innovative programs aimed at enhancing student learning. Singh also offers valuable advice for EdTech companies and reflects on the strengths of Canadian education, concluding with a vision for the future of public education.
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Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:00:43] Guest Introduction and Background
[02:59] Peter Singh’s Background & Role at TDSB
[04:56] Growing Up in Punjab, India
[07:25] Childhood Sports & Creative Play
[09:44] Early Love of Numbers & Curiosity
[13:30] First Steps Toward Technology & Immigration
[18:08] Finding a Career Path in IT
[20:34] Starting Out at the Etobicoke Board of Education
[23:02] The Amalgamation of Six Toronto Boards
[27:54] Consolidating Tech Infrastructure Across TDSB
[29:56] Lessons Learned from Large-Scale Mergers
[34:21] TDSB’s Scale & City-Wide Complexity
[38:05] Ongoing Challenges & Public Perception
[41:19] Budget Constraints & The Need to Do More With Less
[43:43] TDSB as a Reflection of the City
[46:10] Overcoming Distractions & Sustaining Good Work
[48:35] Inspiring Classroom Initiatives & Literacy Focus
[50:59] STEM, Robotics, and “Girls Who Game”
[53:22] Data Dunkers & Hackathon Success
[55:45] One-to-One Device Strategy & Closing the Digital Divide
[58:15] Forming Community & Corporate Partnerships
[01:00:32] Advice to EdTech Companies Entering the K–12 Market
[01:05:20] The Importance of Cybersecurity & Privacy by Design
[01:06:28] Canada’s Public Education System & Its Strengths
[01:08:50] Magic Wand Wish: Investing More in Early Education
[01:09:02] Recommended Shows & AI Book
[01:15:48] Closing Remarks & Credits