Humberview principal retiring following 33-year career in education

Written By ALYSSA PARKHILL

After 33 years working in education, Humberview Principal Sue Fried is retiring on Jan 29. 

Students and faculty at Humberview Secondary School prepare to say farewell as she enters a new time in her life.

Fried has enjoyed every bit of her career. From launching her career at Port Credit Secondary School in Mississauga more than three decades ago, to becoming a vital presence in the opening of John Fraser Secondary School, also in Mississauga, Sue loved her time as a teacher, before eventually moving her way up to becoming a Principal.

“It started in the South and ended in the North. I was working as a Vice Principal at Judith Nyman and then passed the Principal's process, and Humberview came up. My dad was a Vice Principal at Humberview, when it was an elementary school. And my sister taught here. So, it's like the perfect end to my career,” explains Fried. 

Fried and her family moved to Ontario from Quebec, where she was born and raised, in 1977. She went to Central Peel Secondary School in Brampton and attended York University in post-secondary. 

Like most teachers we all know, Fried always knew she wanted to go into education. 

“I always knew I was going to be a teacher. People don't just fall into teaching you have to take the schooling for it, you have to know you want it. People can fall out of it, but they don't usually fall into it,” says Fried. 

She added, “I genuinely love kids and so being able to spend time with them and see them flourish and follow their passions. When you give people the freedom to follow their passions, it's amazing what they can come up with. And I love walking around the school in the mornings and saying good morning to people and they tell me their stories.”

If you take a peek at Humberview Secondary's twitter page, you'll notice a hashtag pop up in almost every post. #ProudToBeAHusky.

When Fried came to Humberview, she wanted to create a way to show students that teachers, fellow peers and parents are proud of their hard work. 

“That's what we've been doing to show our pride and how to show the kids how proud that we are of them, “explains Fried. “And I am so proud of them.” 

Fried hasn't made any big or crucial plans going into retirement. The thing she's most excited about right now is being able to really enjoy the Fall season. She plans on travelling. First stop is going to be a beach, with her husband and enjoy some trips with her kids as well. But, she's letting time and life to take its own course of action.

“I'm not one to set goals, to say ‘I want to do this or I want to do that'. I just prepare myself the best that I can and when the door opens I walk through it. Whatever happens, happens next. I'm not planning to do anything, but I know something else will happen,” says Fried. 

Faculty, students and parents gathered together on Jan 15 to celebrate Fried's career and her new journey in her life; retirement. She's excited, yet nervous, but going to take the time to relax and really enjoy life. Her last official day is Jan 30.

“I've done so many things and I'm grateful for the opportunity that I've had. It's been amazing,” says Fried.