Meet Giles Pinto: ISD Secondary Principal

We are pleased to introduce the new Secondary School Principal, Giles Pinto, to the International School of Dakar (ISD).

Mr. Pinto is an experienced and inclusive educational leader who is community-focused and committed to collaboration in every aspect of his work. A ‘third culture kid’ himself, his life was shaped by international education, and beyond his 20+ years as an educator in IB schools, he also brings a parent perspective, with his twin daughters moving through the IB Continuum.

“I have been fortunate to teach and lead within three high-performing IB Continuum schools, which has given me a broad and deep knowledge base on effective approaches for both daily operations and strategic growth.”

We asked Giles what he appreciates most about an IB education: “By its very design, an IB education privileges and draws the attention of students to critical thinking as a skill set while simultaneously embracing international mindedness; this unique pairing is woven throughout the IB Continuum and comes to life via student agency, which is something special to observe and experience as well as vital in a complex world.“ 

Giles is committed to progressive and supportive educational contexts grounded in high expectations, academic excellence, global citizenship and a love of learning. As a lover of sports, particularly basketball, he brings this team philosophy to his work, ensuring an equitable and effective approach with the entire Secondary staff and especially the Assistant Principal, Deans, Coordinators, and Counselors. 

“My leadership approach is driven by respectful engagement with all stakeholders so there are many values within that kind of context: it's defined by both openness and empathy as well as a commitment to clarity and principled, ethical decision-making.”

He believes that creativity, passion, energy, and optimism are necessary to inspire faculty members and expand their competencies in terms of instructional leadership. “Along with focused collaborative planning, these are the dispositions and attributes that I cultivate in successive leadership roles, and this is augmented by my training in Counseling Psychology.”

“A collaborative leader is one who empowers those around them to find solutions as co-designers and co-developers, which means intentionally creating spaces for psychological safety that support candor in communication,” shared Giles. “A collaborative spirit enables me to facilitate the ongoing growth of ISD’s inclusive vision in response to community needs and in alignment with the school’s overall mission as well as the IB Learner Profile.”

In line with the IB philosophy, Giles models the attributes of being a lifelong learner. Having earned an M.A. in Asian Studies and an M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology, both from the University of Toronto, he is currently pursuing a predoctoral fellowship in international school leadership through the Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE). 

Moving to new countries is not at all new for Giles or his family. With a South Asian family background, Giles moved throughout his childhood. In his educational career, he has lived and worked in Canada, Thailand, the Bahamas, and Japan. Giles is joined in Dakar by his wife, Marlene, and their dog Ozzie. Their twin daughters are currently at university in Canada. Gilles and Marlene shared what they are most excited about in their move to Senegal: “Since this is our first opportunity to live in the Sahel, it will be rewarding to see and experience the distinct ecosystems and coastal areas around the city itself. We are both fans of live music, and we look forward to taking in the vibrant Senegalese music scene given the quality and caliber of the musicians, as well as because blending musical traditions and styles is something that happens readily here.”

As Giles wraps up his first month at ISD, he shared what positive areas he feels he is building upon: “As it nears a half century of serving the community, ISD has developed a compelling legacy rooted in a strong sense of community and an inclusive as well as multinational identity. We have generally well-resourced facilities that our dedicated teachers are using with thoughtful intention to deliver the IB MYP and DP along with meaningful experiences in the arts, technology, and athletics. Even though I am still relatively new to the school, I can also see that in multiple ways there is a commitment to our overall vision with a sense of common purpose toward our goals of improving learning outcomes and building belonging.”

We extend a warm Jaguars welcome to Giles and his whole family.