Top of the world, top of the class: N.W.T., Nunavut educators among Canada's outstanding principals

Principals from Clyde River, Nunavut, and Fort Resolution, N.W.T., were named among Canada's most outstandingprincipals of the year.

They are two of 40 outstanding principals from across the country selected in the annual list bythe Learning Partnership a national charitable organization dedicated to supporting publicly funded education in Canada.

The honour is awarded to principals who demonstrated outstanding leadership and creativity in finding solutions and opportunities in their school communities.

• From 2017 |Hay River, N.W.T., principal wins national recognition
• From 2016 |Three Northern principals named among top 40 in Canada

Rebecca Hainnu, principal of QuluaqSchool in Clyde River, says she gives all the credit to the people she works with the teachers, administrators,cleaning, cooking and maintenance staff and students.

"I'm very humbled by this gesture," said Hainnu. "I can't believe we get paid to do what we do. It's incredible."

The graduating class of QuluaqSchool celebrated arecord number of studentslast year.

• Record number of students may graduate this year in Clyde River, Nunavut

It's partly thanks to Hainnu's personal approach. She said when she first started working in her office,she wrote a list of all the students in the community who could be in school, but were currently not attending.

There were 138 students on her list.

"To date, 109 students have come back ... and I'm still pursuing the remainder," said Hainnu.

The school has also implemented literacy programs for parents to participate in, as well as peer academic classes. Hainnu also noted students are now bringing back livers and hearts of animals they hunt on the land for biology class.

'A genuine surprise,' says Fort Resolution principal

Kate Powell, principal ofDeninu School inFort Resolution, also says it's a great honour.

"It was a genuine surprise," said Powell. "It's an award for me, but I feel like I'm representing a lot of people's work here."

Powell says she's supporting revitalizing cultural activities among her students as well as the Chipewyan language teacher that creates her own program for students every day. Powell has also helped introduce northern distance learning to the school which allows access to more courses via video conferencing.

"Winningthis award will push me into further learning," said Powell.

The principals will attend an award gala at the end of February in Toronto.

• Teacher wins $1M global prize for work in northern Quebec