TDSB & Me is a new staff storytelling series that celebrates the people who help our schools and workplaces thrive. Each profile recognizes the everyday leadership, creativity, and care that shapes our system and supports student success.
Andre Harriott
Assistant Curriculum Leader
Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute
When Andre Harriott first imagined his future, education was not part of the plan. He studied criminology with the intention of becoming a criminal lawyer, until his work facilitating equity- and social justice-focused workshops with youth revealed something unexpected. Andre realized he was drawn less to the courtroom and more to the conversations, the questions, and the responsibility of helping young people find their voice. Encouraged by a mentor, he chose a different path, pursuing a Master of Teaching at the University of Toronto and beginning a career in education.
Today, Andre serves as an Assistant Curriculum Leader, guided by the belief that leadership is about impact rather than title. His role centers on student voice, student leadership, and co-curricular life, working alongside students, staff, and administrators to build structures where students feel confident and supported. He describes the work as creating conditions for belonging, where students are encouraged to step forward and shape the culture of their school.
This philosophy is reflected in a student-led podcasting initiative that began with a simple idea and a willingness to innovate without a blueprint. Through a TDSB Community Connected Experiential Learning grant, Andre partnered with a student to launch a skilled trades podcast that challenges misconceptions and highlights postsecondary pathways. What started as a small project has grown into a broader student voice and school news platform, giving students hands-on experience with media production, collaboration, and public communication.
For Andre, the real impact goes deeper than technical skills. He believes creative programs help students develop confidence in their voice and a sense of agency. They learn how to ask strong questions, meet deadlines, and work as a team, while seeing their ideas taken seriously.
Andre is also candid about the realities of the work. As both an educator and guidance counsellor, he navigates complex student and family needs daily and understands the risk of burnout. Looking back, he reminds himself, and other educators, to “stay confident and authentic, to speak your truth even when your voice feels like the minority in a room, and to keep trying to do things differently while protecting your energy, so that you can sustain the work.” In spaces where conformity can feel easier, he continues to lead with clarity, care, and courage, showing how meaningful change begins with listening and trust in students.
