Jim Christopher is an independent school inspector for the BC Ministry of Education and a lead instructor in the BC Principal Certification programme in the area of evidence-informed decision-making and school leadership. Recently retired as Head of Kenneth Gordon Maplewood School, a K-12 Ministry-designated special education school in North Vancouver, Jim is a parent, author, long-time teacher, and educational administrator across Canada having served as an elementary and secondary principal and Superintendent of Schools in public system in Ontario; Executive Director of CESI and CAIS; and, Head of three independent schools in Montreal, Bermuda and North Vancouver. Throughout his career he has been actively involved in supporting schools in optimizing their use of the wide range of available research to create an effective and inclusive learning environment.
Research
Jim’s primary research focus is on how data analysis and current educational research can be applied to improving teaching and learning in K-12 schools across Canada.
Publications
- The American Challenge, Oxford University Press
- The North Americans, Oxford University Press
- Modern Western Civilization, Oxford University Press
- Beyond the Manual, A Guide for Independent School Governance, Smashwords Press
- The Trump Trap, A Primer for Aspiring School Heads, Smashwords Press
- The Maplewood Project, Dundurn Press (pre-publication)
- Learning to Learn Differently.com
Teaching
I strongly believe that an effective teaching environment is a product of three basic component parts: a well-structured, thoughtful and research-based curriculum; an open and interactive instructional style that is sensitive and responsive to the needs, interests and lived experiences of the learners; and, a learning environment that is mutually respectful, flexible and outcomes based.