Elliott Richards

Transformational education leader with over 20 years of experience advancing equity, inclusion, and student success. Proven track record in rebuilding school culture, leading staff development, and driving instructional improvement across diverse school communities. Skilled in mentoring educators, engaging families, and fostering collaborative school-wide change. Committed to data-informed decision-making and systems thinking to support thriving, identity-affirming environments.

• Led board-wide instructional improvement as a central team member supporting multiple schools in analyzing student data (EQAO, CAT-4, DRA, CASI), identifying equity gaps, and implementing responsive math and literacy strategies across K–8 classrooms.
• Mentored 30+ early-career and pre-service educators through an anti-oppressive lens, promoting inclusive classroom practices, culturally relevant pedagogy, and data-informed planning.
• Coordinated collaborative inquiries and HUB teams to build capacity in critical literacy, STEM, play-based math, and coding integration, improving student engagement and teacher confidence across divisions.
• Designed school-wide timetables and learning structures that enabled cross-grade PLCs, increased instructional consistency, and fostered professional collaboration around underserved student success.
• Presented to 1,000+ educators and families at the TDSB LC3 Math Symposium; developed parent-facing resources to build home-school math partnerships and student perseverance through complex problem-solving.

• Elementary Equity Representative, OPC – Durham District School Board
  Elected representative serving on the Durham OPC Equity Committee, advocating for equitable leadership practices and supporting system-wide anti-oppression initiatives.
• Former Equity Representative, Durham Elementary School Administrators (DESA) – DDSB
  Supported inclusive planning, facilitated equity-focused discussions, and contributed to building leadership capacity across elementary schools.
• CYPHER Committee Member – DDSB
  Actively promote identity-affirming mentorship and equitable access to post-secondary pathways for marginalized youth;
• Nelson Maxwell Award Committee – DDSB
  Voting member on the equity leadership selection panel; evaluate nominations and honour outstanding contributions to equity and inclusion.
• DDSB Anti-Oppression Strategy Committee
  Collaborate on system strategy design and implementation to address systemic inequities and foster inclusive school environments.
• Equity-Centered Hiring & Leadership Development – DDSB
  Support recruitment and onboarding of racialized administrators and educators by advising on role expectations for new vice-principals.
  Serve as panelist and thought leader on topics such as internalized racism among racialized administrators and anti-oppression in educational leadership.

Primary and Junior Divisions

Intermediate Division, Mathematics

Honour Specialist, Contemporary Studies

Guidance and Career Education, Specialist

Principal's Qualification, Part 1 & 2

Special Education for Administrators

Supervisory Officer's Qualification (ongoing)