HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1991-07-17, Page 11THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17,1991. PAGE 11.
S. Toll reshaping Bermuda education system
Stewart Toll, a former resident of
Aubum, and his London based edu
cation management consulting
firm, Exemplary Consultants Ltd.,
have for the past three years been
doing a complete overhaul of the
Bermuda school system.
Establishing new programs, a
new philosophy and new school
buildings was a major undertaking >
for the company that had only just
begun.
Mr. Toll, who was bom, raised
and educated in East Wawanosh
township has two sisters and one
brother still living in the area; Mar
jorie McDougall of Aubum, Amy
MacCrostie of Goderich and
Aubrey Toll of Blyth. His sister-in-
law Marie, taught him in Grade 7
and 8 at the old East Wawanosh
S.S. 16, on Concession 2.
Mr. Toll began his own teaching
career at West Wawanosh S.S. 2, in
1949 at the age of 16, making him
the youngest teacher in the
province. He then took on a posi
tion at S.S. 5 Hullett before going
into sales, as a representative of a
school supply company throughout
southwestern Ontario.
Following that, Mr. Toll taught
for a year at Whitby Public School,
before the supply company offered
him a position as their District
Sales Manager in the Hamilton-
Niagara Region.
By 1956, he was back leaching in
Wentworth County, but decided to
further his own education and by
1961 he had graduated on the
Dean's Honour List at McMaster
University, with the Director's prize
for the highest standing.
He continued to work toward the
centralization of rural elementary
schools in Haldimand County after
becoming principal of Oneida Cen
tral School and then went on to
teach music, English, and geogra
phy at Caledonia High School.
After being appointed a Master at
Windsor Teacher's College, he
taught psychology and English
there until 1966 when he was
offered a position as a member of
the Canadian In-Service Team
associated with the Kenya Institute
of Education in Nairobi. While part
of the team he organized and devel
oped in-service courses for the
headmasters and teachers of Kenya.
Upon returning to Canada in
1968, he completed his Master's
Degree in Education al the Univer
sity of Toronto. Then in 1969 he
was appointed an Area Superinten
dent with the Middlesex Board of
Education, rising through the ranks
until eventually becoming Chief
Executive Officer in 1981.
He retired three years ago, but
instead of taking it easy, he began
Exemplary, as a shot at owning his
own business. In that short time the
company has grown to international
notoriety, with 12 associates and
unlimited growth potential.
Mr. Toll knew that with all the
changing trends it is hard for edu
cators to keep on top of things and
it was there that Mr. Toll saw a
tremendous business opportunity.
He gathered together a group of
associates with expertise in various
areas, from professional develop
ment to school engineering, in the
hopes of selling boards on the
advantage of engaging a consulting
firm over hiring staff to meet edu
cational changes.
The project in Bermuda began
small, when a visiting delegation
observed the Middlesex board
under Mr. Toll's leadership. They
were impressed and offered him the
position of Minister of Education.
He declined but saw then that a
consulting firm could help their
country with the same service.
As the Bermuda government
Auburn
Compiled by Mrs. Mildred Lawlor. Phone 526-7589
Community hosts
fastball tournee
The Ladies Fastball Tournament
will be held July 19, 20 and 21 at
the Aubum ball park. The tourna
ment includes teams from Strat
became more impressed with each
step completed by Exemplary, it
increased the workload and the
company name became well-
known throughout the country.
Now, Mr. Toll has even more
ambitious hopes for the future, hop
ing to take what the company has
achieved in Bermuda and adapt it
to the needs of other Caribbean
countries.
ford, Wingham, Belmore,
Wyoming, Goderich, Lucknow,
Dungannon, Auburn and Ben-
miller.