Mrs. Searles has held leadership/administrative roles of teacher, chairperson, guidance counselor, vice principal and principal.  She has also been course director of the ‘Valuing Diversity’ course at George Brown College of Arts, Science and Technology.  Mrs. Searles has represented the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) at seven National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) Conferences which afforded her the opportunity to share best practices as it relates to all students, but particularly those of colour who are often seen as marginalized.  She culminated her outstanding thirty-one year career in education after serving as principal of three schools in Toronto — Dublin Heights Elementary and Middle School, Lawrence Heights Middle School, and J.S. Woodsworth Senior Public School.