Designing Better Systems: Joe Romano on Rethinking Leadership, Innovation, and Professional Learning
From public school principal to OISE’s Associate Director of Learning Innovation & Continuous Improvement, Joe Romano is building bridges between classrooms, research, and real-world innovation.
Joe Romano didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming an educator. He wasn’t the “model student” in elementary school, and he certainly didn’t come from a long line of teachers. But today, as Associate Director of Learning Innovation & Continuous Improvement at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto, Joe is one of the leading voices in rethinking how educators learn, collaborate, and lead change.
“I was disengaged as a student,” Joe shared on The LearnIt Podcast. “But by the end of high school, I realized I could be in the driver’s seat of my learning. That shift changed everything.”
From Arts Camps to System Leadership
Joe’s pathway into education started in a surprising place, visual arts. As a teenager, he led summer art camps through Toronto Parks and Recreation. “That gave me my first real experience with teaching,” he said. “I saw how powerful it was to guide young people and create something together.”
That experience sparked a career that spanned teaching, coaching, principalship, and system leadership at one of Canada’s top faculties of education. Today, Joe applies a continuous improvement lens to support Ontario’s K-12 education workforce, advancing workforce-aligned learning initiatives, strengthening relationships with schools and school boards, and developing responsive professional learning solutions that address educator needs and drive meaningful system improvement.
Leadership Isn’t a Solo Climb
One of Joe’s most powerful insights is how his view of leadership has changed over time. “At first, I thought leadership meant I had to know everything. That I’d set the direction and others would follow,” he reflected. “But I quickly realized: real leadership is collaborative. It’s about building community, sharing power, and creating space for others to grow.”
This approach, often called “distributed leadership,” is supported by a growing body of research. A 2023 report by Ontario’s Institute for Education Leadership highlights that collective efficacy among staff is one of the strongest predictors of student success. Joe puts that theory into practice every day, whether coaching teachers, leading school teams, or shaping system strategy.
Key Lessons from Every Role
Joe’s career offers a rare window into nearly every layer of the education system. As a teacher, he learned to lean on his network. “Don’t work in isolation. Tap into the hallway conversations. Share what works,” he advised.
As a teaching and learning coach, he was assigned to support 15 schools across a district. The lesson? “Every school interprets things differently. That local context matters more than we think.”
And as a principal and vice-principal, he became a connector. “I wasn’t just managing a building, I was building relationships with staff, students, and families. Leadership is community-building, full stop.”
Now at OISE, Joe brings all of that wisdom to bear in designing courses, programs, and improvement strategies that respond to today’s most pressing needs, from equity and digital fluency to continuous improvement models rooted in data and dialogue.
Joe Romano on The LearnIt Podcast
Innovation, Vulnerability, and the Power of Networks
Joe’s title includes the word “innovation,” but he’s quick to point out that it’s not about flashy tech or trendy programs. It’s about people. “Innovation isn’t always a shiny new thing. It’s about doing what works better. Rethinking how we teach, how we connect, and how we support one another.”
He’s particularly passionate about co-creating meaningful professional learning experiences that educators actually want to engage in. “We can’t just drop in a course and expect change. It’s about sustained engagement, real relationships, and relevance to what educators are living right now.”
He also stresses the importance of vulnerability in leadership. “When you’re trying something new, whether it’s a course design, a school improvement plan, or a lesson, it won’t always work the first time. That’s okay. Make space to iterate, and do it together.”
A Province-Wide Vision for Connection
One of Joe’s current goals is to reconnect OISE’s professional learning team with the K-12 sector across the province, and beyond. He’s launched a three-year strategy to re-engage with public, private, and independent schools, creating collaborations that bridge classroom practice and system research.
“It’s not just about what we teach,” he said. “It’s about who we bring to the table. Educators, policy leaders, entrepreneurs, students, everyone has a role in shaping what’s next.”
Final Words of Wisdom
Asked how to support teachers and learners to do hard things, Joe’s answer was grounded in empathy: “Context is everything. Scaffold the journey. Group learners strategically. And always design for belonging.”
Whether he’s dropping off his kids at school, co-developing a new course at OISE, or visiting schools across Ontario, Joe Romano brings the same mindset to everything he does: humble, collaborative, and deeply committed to making education better for everyone.