School Principals
Mr. Joseph Colistro
Principal of Dalian Maple Leaf International School: Jinshitan High School Campus - BC Program (Boy’s Campus)
Mr. Joseph Colistro has been in education for the past thirty years. He holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the
University of Alberta and a Masters in Educational Administration from the University of Victoria. He has spent twenty-five
years of his career in administration at both the school and district levels.
Mr. Colistro has served as Principal of elementary, middle and high schools. For the past eight years he has served as
Superintendent of Schools. He has worked with the University of Victoria as a Practicum Supervisor and as a Chairperson with
Ministry of Education evaluating schools in British Columbia and China.
Mr. Colistro has presented at conferences and given workshops throughout Western Canada. He has a passion for education
which is evident through his commitment to excellence and desire to provide high quality learning opportunities for all students.
Mr. Craig Davis
Principal of Dalian Maple Leaf International School: Jinshitan High School Campus - BC Program (Girl’s Campus)
Mr. Davis entered the teaching profession in 1990 following a fifteen year career in investment and financial management. His first degree is in fine arts and he has taught secondary art, mathematics and creative enrichment programs. Mr. Davis brings a business and real world perspective to problem solving in education. He has served as a secondary vice-principal in the British Columbia public school system and as a principal in the BC independent school system. His qualifications include a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, a Bachelor of Education Degree and a Masters of Education Degree in Art Education. He was the winner of the Dr. Maxwell A. Cameron Memorial award for earning the highest GPA in the final year of his education program.
Mr. Zhao Ruimin
Principal of Dalian Maple Leaf International School: Daheishi Middle School Campus - Chinese Program
Mr. Zhao graduated from North Eastern Normal University. He has 30 years of experience in education. He served as a Teacher, Team Leader, Director, Deputy Principal and Principal in Fushun Senior High School. He was designated Excellent Teacher of Fushun in 1987, named Excellent Teacher in 1989, and awarded Excellent Teacher of Liaoning Province in 1996. He has written articles that have published in published in the Shenyang Normal University Newspaper and other academic journals.
Mr. Xu Shenggui
Principal of Dalian Maple Leaf International School: Kaifaqu Elementary Campus - Chinese Program
Mr. Xu is studying for a Master’s Degree in Education with UK University of Salford. He was named as one of the top Ten Young Teachers. He was the former Principal of Liaoning Experimental Elementary School and is a current Director of Maple Leaf Educational Systems and Principal of Dalian Maple Leaf International School’s Elementary Campus.
Mr. David Truss
Principal of Dalian Maple Leaf Foreign Nationals School - BC K-9 Program
Mr. David Truss was Vice Principal of a Middle School and has 11 years of experience as an educator in Coquitlam, British Columbia. He has an Undergraduate Degree from the University of Guelph, a Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia and a Masters in Educational Leadership from the University of Oregon. Mr. Truss has worked extensively with student leadership, both at the school and the district level, and his Masters paper is a resource that many educators have used to model programs after. He has written extensively on the topics of technology, teaching and learning, and he has presented to pre-service teachers, teachers and educational leaders about meaningfully integrating technology to improve student engagement and learning throughout Canada and the USA.
Mr. Leslie Dukowski
Principal of Wuhan Maple Leaf Foreign Nationals School and International High School - BC Program
Mr. Les Dukowski has 22 years experience as a school administrator including 17 years as principal at two
secondary schools in Langley, British Columbia. He has also held positions as mathematics teacher, department
head, mathematics consultant and district administrator over a 34 year career in education. He holds a Bachelor
of Science degree and a Master of Arts in Education.
Mr. Dukowski has served as president of the British Columbia Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association,
president-elect of the Canadian Association of Principals, president of the Canadian Association for the Practical
Study of Law in Education, and president of the University of British Columbia chapter of Phi Delta Kappa.
He co-authored a secondary school mathematics textbook series and authored sections of three provincial mathematics assessments.
Mr. Don Rogers
Principal of Tianjin Maple Leaf
International High School - BC Program
Mr. Don Rogers has 30 years of teaching and administration in British Columbia and Saskatchewan. He was former Principal
of Balcarres Community School, Saskatchewan serving seven communities including 4 First Nation Bands. He enjoyed 20
years in Cranbrook, BC as a Music teacher at the High School, as Director of Summer School, and as Vice-principal in
Fernie, BC. He has extensively toured with his music groups internationally and to many festivals as well as
teaching Mathematics, English and sharing Chair of 3 school accreditations.
His qualifications include a Bachelor of Education in Music and a Master of Arts in Music/Administration. Mr. Rogers
was the recipient of Citizen of the Year in Cranbrook and he received the BC Youth Advisory Recognition and Award
from the Province of British Columbia.
Mr. David Brecht
Principal of Chongqing Maple Leaf
International High School - BC Program
Mr. Dave Brecht has 21 years experience as a teacher with 10 of those as a school principal in K–12, 7-12, 6-8, and 9–12 configurations. He also started the Buffalo Trail Leadership Academy and piloted a Wireless Video conference Instructional Delivery System. His qualifications include a Bachelor of Physical Education and Bachelor of Education degrees, Teaching Certificate and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration. He co-authored textbooks in use by the faculty of physical education at the University of Calgary. Mr. Brecht is presently in the dissertation phase of his PhD. His research is investigating the impact of student’s use of technology and its impact on standardized tests.