Durham Catholic District School Board Recognizes the 2022-2023 Distinguished Catholic Leader

The Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) is pleased to recognize Secondary Vice-Principal, Mark Daranjo, as the recipient of the 2022-2023 Distinguished Catholic Leader Award. The award was announced following a System-Wide Mass on Monday, May 1, 2023, which also recognized Durham Catholic Distinguished Educators from each school and department across the board. 

“Mr. Daranjo has always strived to make meaningful connections with students, staff and families,” said Tracy Barill, Director of Education. “As a Catholic leader, he has been dedicated to creating and maintaining rich, faith-centered and inclusive learning environments for all students.”

Mr. Daranjo has been a valued Catholic educator and leader with the Durham Catholic District School Board for 24 years. He immigrated to Canada in 1998, after teaching for 14 years in Darjeeling, Calcutta, and Dubai. Mr. Daranjo began with the DCDSB in 1999, and has taught Grades 4-12, in addition to English as a Second Language courses for the Advanced Placement program. Since 2013, he has been an administrator serving as Vice-Principal at All Saints Catholic Secondary School, Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School, and Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School.

A true leader, Mr. Daranjo has extended his skills and strengths as a member of many board-wide initiatives beyond his role as vice-principal. These include being a mentor for new Vice-Principals and involvement as a leader in the New Teacher Induction Program, where he supported and guided new teachers. Mr. Daranjo has also shared his passion and knowledge by serving on the Board’s Equity and Diversity Committee to provide insight and training to Administrators, educators and staff.  In addition, he has served as an integral part of a team that worked to develop the DCDSB’s Policy on Equity and Inclusion.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to extend our sincere congratulations to Mr. Daranjo on receiving this year’s Distinguished Catholic Leader Award,” said Monique Forster, Chair of the Board. “To be recognized by his peers for his dedication to creating a welcome, inclusive, equitable and caring Catholic learning community is such an honour.”

“I am both humbled and honoured to be selected by my colleagues as the Distinguished Catholic Leader,” said Mark Daranjo, Vice-Principal of Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School. “As a new immigrant to Canada 25 years ago, I have always felt very fortunate to have been hired by the DCDSB to pursue a career in Catholic Education. I thank all those who placed their trust in me and gave me and my family a start to making Canada our new home. My sincere thanks also goes out to all those I have worked alongside over the years. May God grant you the strength to continue to build communities rooted in Christ.”