By: Fernando Arce, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
John Howitt still remembers the day he found two grade 5 students who had run away from home and had been missing for three days walking along a sidewalk nearly 20 kilometres from their school.
Howitt was vice principal at the time, but his duties didn’t end when the bell rang.
“After work those three days they were missing, I searched for a few hours from my car before heading home,” he recalls. “The students seemed relieved when I stumbled upon them.”
That’s just one of the many memorable highlights of Howitt’s illustrious career as an educator spanning over three decades, including a 27-year tenure with the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB), and the last six as director of education for the Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB).
Now, after 33 years as a teacher, vice-principal and principal, superintendent and finally a director, Howitt is looking forward to the peace that his recently announced retirement will bring.
“I felt it was important to live within the community I was serving and made the decision to purchase a second residence within the LKDSB while my family home remained in Tecumseh,” he tells the Tilbury Times Reporter.
“I’m looking forward to one wardrobe, one pillow and one toothbrush and of course being present with my wife of 31 years every day that ends in “y.’”
Howitt became eligible for retirement on Jan. 1, 2023, but he says he chose to stay until the end of this school year, in April 2025, because “seeing students excel is a very rewarding experience.”
“I made it clear that I would retire before the refresh of the Strategic Priorities in 2025-26. I felt it important that the new Director should be the one to develop those with Trustees,” he says. “This task requires some time in the role beforehand.”
That’s understandable, given that Howitt comes from an education background, his aunt Carol a teacher in the Halton District School Board, and his Uncle Richard a Trustee with Halton District School Board for more than 30 years.
Howitt’s own introduction to the world of mentoring young minds came during a summer working at camp where the philosophy of “camp is for the campers” resonated with him and set the tone for his “future of putting students first.”
In 1991, Howitt entered the educational system as a Core French teacher in Windsor, Ont., before becoming a vice principal during the school board amalgamations in 1998. In 2003, he was promoted to the role of principal, and in 2006 he had the honour of opening and being the inaugural principal at Lakeshore Discovery School.
In 2009, he advanced to the position of superintendent of education, overseeing a significant portfolio that included Information Technology, Elementary Staffing, and families of schools.
During this period, he was honoured with the Ontario Principals Council Paul Lajeunesse Award for Leadership, and Microsoft’s Bob Allison Award for Leadership in Educational Technology Implementation.
Shortly after entering his latest role as director of education of LKDSB in 2019, the COVID pandemic hit. “Leading an organization through COVID was a privilege. It was hard and wasn’t perfect,” he says, “but it was a time that leadership was needed and I have great pride and respect for the quality of work the team and LKDSB staff maintained and the degree to which we supported students through the pandemic.”
Throughout all that time, Howitt has seen a lot of changes in the education system. “Technology alone has been a huge area of growth,” he says, recalling that the Internet “was just emerging” when he began his career in the early ‘90s.
There’s also been a “greater focus on supporting students, all students, to reach success and to reach graduation following the pathway that meets their own, specific needs,” he says.
“Educators don’t just deliver programs; they take responsibility for students’ learning what they have been taught.”
That’s at the core of his ethos: putting students and their unique needs ahead of everything else, something only those with true vocation are able to do — and Howitt is chock full of that.
“I have had a quote hanging on my office wall since I became a principal,” he says.
“It is attributed to Sir Ken Robinson who said, ‘Never lose sight of the fact that the child as learner is not only the centre of the school system but the only reason it exists.’ This quote is a daily reminder of why we do what we do and who we do it for and has been a guiding theme throughout my career. The key lesson in each role is to never forget who we are there for – students!”
In every word, Howitt’s love for his profession is evident.
“Working in education is the best profession in the world,” he says, though he recognizes that “it is not … nor has it ever been, an easy job” and that “it requires sacrifice, flexibility and commitment to students – all students.”
When asked about the state of the education system today and what advice he has for those thinking or hoping to get into the field, he says the trick is to “avoid the disgruntled and their negativity, focus on your students and the good you are doing for them.”
“Be the positive outlook on your staff and be available to help others when they are in need – in return, they will be there on those days you need them,” he says.
“Only incredible people work in education. You are surrounded by incredible people who have a shared vision of supporting students to success. When you reach my years of experience you will look back and realize how fortunate you have been to be surrounded by such excellence.”
Howitt will be missed by the community, but his impact will remain.
Of the many he has, another memory that sticks in Howitt’s mind is the random phone call he once received from a parent kindly asking him to not wear ties to school every single day.
“Her senior kindergarten son demanded that he wear a dress shirt and tie everyday because principal Howitt did and the laundry was getting to be too much each evening,” he fondly recalls.
“It was such a concrete reminder that our students, our children are always noticing, perceiving and looking at us for behaviour to model. As an educator it was also a reminder of the potential of my impact.”
In 2000-2001, Howitt was honoured with yet another title: “Most Horrible Singing Voice” — awarded by the Gordon McGregor Public School’s grade 5M class. If we’re lucky, we’ll one day hear it on tour.
“Dare to Dream!” says Howitt.
