Mr. Donald Kawasoe

Mr. Donald Kawasoe brings over 40 years of strategic and operational experience in independent schools. After earning his B.Sc. from the University of Toronto, he began his career teaching science and mathematics, as well as coaching team sports, at the Prep at Upper Canada College (UCC). He also served as an Associate Boarding Housemaster in the Upper School’s boarding program for two years.

Following this, Mr. Kawasoe pursued a B.Ed. at Queen’s University, specializing in Outdoor Experiential Education, and returned to UCC to become the first on-site Director of the College’s Norval Outdoor School. He later completed an M.Ed. at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), after which he was appointed Assistant Head and subsequently Head of the Prep School.

During his tenure, a major school restructuring created four distinct divisions designed to foster a small-school feel within a large-school context. The Principal entrusted Mr. Kawasoe and his team with ensuring seamless student transitions across these divisions. As the Head of Prep and Upper Schools, he gained valuable experience leading strategic change.

After retiring from UCC in 2015, Mr. Kawasoe joined the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) team as a Peer Review Facilitator, supporting over 20 review teams over the past decade. He also helped coordinate the CAIS Leadership Institute, student leadership programs, the 2051 Accelerator, and contributed to CAIS's early foray into pluralism.

His governance experience includes serving on the Board of Montcrest School in Toronto, where he was later appointed Interim Head of School. There, he guided the community through the second year of the pandemic, and with a committed staff and leadership, the school launched several strategic initiatives to prepare for the incoming Head of School.

Mr. Kawasoe’s professional development includes participation in the NAIS Institute for New Heads and the "Leadership: An Evolving Vision" workshop at the Harvard Graduate School of Education—both of which reinforced his belief in the power of strong relationships to foster a healthy school culture. He values clarity, transparency, and open-minded collaboration as essential to enhancing the student learning experience.