Durham Catholic District School Board Recognizes the 2023-2024 Distinguished Catholic Leader

The Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) is pleased to recognize Elementary Principal, Mike Goff, as the recipient of the 2023-2024 Distinguished Catholic Leader Award. The award was announced following a System- Wide Mass on Monday, May 6, 2024, which also recognized Durham Catholic Distinguished Educators from each school and department across the board.

“Mr. Goff has been dedicated to creating a positive and caring learning environment for all students, staff and families he has encountered,” said Tracy Barill, Director of Education. “As a Catholic leader, he has provided exemplary service in ensuring students throughout the system have many extra-curricular opportunities, he has worked diligently to create welcoming spaces, and has gone above and beyond to support students and families in need.”

Mr. Goff has been a valued educator and leader with the Durham Catholic District School Board for 32 years. Mr. Goff grew up in Newfoundland and completed his degree in Physical Education at Brock University, and his teaching degree from Memorial University in Newfoundland. In 1992 he moved to Oshawa and began as a supply teacher with the DCDSB. In his first 21 years, Mr. Goff enjoyed teaching at St. Jude Catholic School, St. Patrick Catholic School and St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic School. During this time, he served as co-chair of the Durham Elementary Catholic Athletic Association for eight years, in which he was presented with the Paul McCallister Award for his dedication and service to Durham Catholic athletics. 

In 2014, Mr. Goff began his career as a school administrator, where he was a Vice-Principal at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, and St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School. He then went on to be a Principal at St. John Bosco Catholic School and Monsignor Philip Coffey Catholic School, where he is currently the proud Principal.

During his time with the DCDSB, Mr. Goff has served on many committees, such as Safe Schools, Literacy Committee, Numeracy Committee, and the Principal and Vice-Principal Mentoring Program. Mr. Goff is proud to have served for 10 years on the Catholic School Principals’ Council of Ontario (CPCO) Executive for Durham Region. Through his work on the CPCO Executive, he has worked with Durham Catholic school administrators and is proud of his work organizing local conferences to bring together principals and vice-principals for professional development opportunities.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to extend our sincere congratulations to Mr. Goff on receiving the 2024 Distinguished Catholic Leader Award,” said Monique Forster, Chair of the Board. “It is always an honour to be recognized by colleagues. Mr. Goff’s leadership, dedication and commitment to Catholic education is truly worthy of this distinction.”

"I am very honored to have been recognized by my peers to receive this year's Distinguished Catholic Leader Award,” said Mike Goff, Principal at Monsignor Philip Coffey Catholic School. “I believe that our schools are wonderful places where amazing things are being done daily by educators, no matter their role, to help our students feel safe and cared for. I am always amazed at the amount of personal time and resources that our educators sacrifice for the students in their care. I feel very lucky to have worked alongside so many incredible people over the last 32 years. I have come to understand that life is about service and through serving others my life has been filled with joy, and I thank Durham Catholic District School Board for that.”