uLead2026 - The Summit of Educational Leadership: Full Schedule

This is the Sched site for the uLead 2026.

Welcome to uLead 2026. We are thrilled you will be joining us at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel for our annual school leadership conference hosted by the Council for School Leadership of The Alberta Teachers’ Association.

If you have any questions during the event, we will have uLead team members throughout the venue wearing red and black plaid. The registration desk will also have our team available throughout the conference. This table can be found just outside of the Van Horne Ballroom, where all of our keynote presentations are taking place.

If you need a digital map of the facilities, you can click here

In order for our team to best determine room allocations for breakout sessions would ask that delegates log in (top right corner of this page) and select sessions that they are interested in attending.

Finally, if you are interested in earning University credits for attending uLead, please visit the uLead website

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6:30am MDT

Monday Morning Majestic Mountain Meandering (5km run/walk)

Monday April 20, 2026 6:30am - 7:30am MDT

Hotel Lobby

Join us for a slow 5km mountain jog and walk. In this out and back jog, participants will be lead up to a vantage point that overlooks the Bow river and our beautiful conference venue. All skill levels welcome.

Participants are asked to meet in the hotel lobby and we will depart at promptly at 6:30 and return between 7:00 and 7:30.

Join us for some morning exercise and an opportunity to meet new friends.

Monday April 20, 2026 6:30am - 7:30am MDT
Hotel Lobby

Social

6:45am MDT

Starbucks Stroll

Monday April 20, 2026 6:45am - 7:45am MDT

Hotel Lobby

Do you need caffeine? Do you want to meet new people? Come stretch your legs and fill your cup - both figuratively and literally. Join us for a morning stroll into town, where the coffee is hot, the conversation is fresh, and your step count soars. The Starbucks Stroll—because leadership is best fueled by caffeine and connection!

Monday April 20, 2026 6:45am - 7:45am MDT
Hotel Lobby

Social

7:30am MDT

BREAKFAST

Monday April 20, 2026 7:30am - Tuesday April 21, 2026 9:00am MDT

Riverview Lounge (Main Building)

Monday April 20, 2026 7:30am - Tuesday April 21, 2026 9:00am MDT
Riverview Lounge (Main Building)

Meals and Breaks

8:00am MDT

ULEAD CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

Monday April 20, 2026 8:00am - 8:15am MDT

Van Horne Foyer (Conference Centre)

Monday April 20, 2026 8:00am - 8:15am MDT
Van Horne Foyer (Conference Centre)

Registration

9:00am MDT

Coffee with the Custodian - Keynote

Monday April 20, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT

Van Horne Ballroom (Conference Centre)

An EduFable™ on Why Education Is a People Business (And Always Will Be)
From the creator of the EduFable™, a new genre that transforms professional learning through story, comes this powerful and heartfelt keynote about the kind of leadership that truly lasts.
In Coffee with the Custodian, Dr. Brad Johnson weaves narrative and neuroscience to remind leaders that trust, consistency, and humility are what sustain a healthy culture. But it goes deeper than trust alone. It is about truly knowing your people, understanding their stories, recognizing their strengths, and building a culture where those strengths are seen, developed, and multiplied.
This keynote challenges leaders to shift from proving what they can do to elevating what others can accomplish. Leadership is not about the talent of the person at the top. It is about the growth of the people inside the organization. It is about building capacity, not control.
Through this original EduFable™, audiences experience leadership not as a theory, but as a story, one that feels real, relatable, and unforgettable.

Speakers

Brad Johnson

Dr. Brad Johnson is a globally recognized education thought leader, ranked #2 on the Global Gurus Top 30 in Education. As the best-selling author of 20 books, many of which have been translated into multiple languages, he is a leading voice in leadership, motivation, and teacher empowerment.With... Read More →

Monday April 20, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Van Horne Ballroom (Conference Centre)

Keynote

10:15am MDT

BREAK and Transition(COFFEE AND REFRESHMENTS)

Monday April 20, 2026 10:15am - 10:45am MDT

Van Horne Foyer (Conference Centre)

Monday April 20, 2026 10:15am - 10:45am MDT
Van Horne Foyer (Conference Centre)

Meals and Breaks

10:45am MDT

Leading Through Polycrises: Building Community and Improving Learning in Complex Environments

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

Alberta Room (Main Building)

School and system leaders in Alberta are leading in a moment unlike any other. At the same time as they are nurturing learning communities and improving classroom and organizational conditions, they are also responding to repeated and compounding shocks—labour disruption, staffing shortages, growing student complexity, fiscal constraint, policy volatility, and heightened public scrutiny. The result is leadership work that is more emotionally demanding, cognitively complex, and relationally intensive than ever before.

Drawing on Alberta-specific findings from TALIS 2024 and Alberta Teachers’ Association pulse research, this session explores what the data tell us about leadership conditions, workload, well-being, trust, and professional agency in today’s public education system. Participants will examine how system pressures are experienced in schools and impact culture. This session will also explore how school leaders can use compassionate approaches as powerful mechanisms to strengthen community, sustain staff, and protect the core work of teaching and learning.

This session will invite school and system leaders to move beyond deficit narratives and crisis management toward evidence-informed strategies for leading through uncertainty. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the structural forces shaping their work, shared language for naming complexity and moral tension, and practical insights for fostering collective resilience, relational trust, and purpose-driven leadership—even when the system itself feels unstable.

Speakers

Dr. Phil McRae

Associate Coordinator, Research, The Alberta Teachers' Association

Dr. Phil McRae
www.philmcrae.com

Dr. Phil McRae is an internationally recognized thought leader and speaker focused on K to 20 education, school improvement, artificial intelligence and change in complex human systems. By combining novel research with keynote, advisory, and policy engagements on megatrends, societal... Read More →

Dr. Lisa Everitt

Executive Staff Officer, The Alberta Teachers' Association

Dr. Lisa Everitt is an Executive Staff Officer with the Alberta Teachers’ Association, a role she has held since 2006. Over nearly two decades with the Association, she has developed expertise in labour relations, employee benefits, educational research, and women’s leadership... Read More →

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Alberta Room (Main Building)

Alberta Teachers' Association

10:45am MDT

Walking the Broken Hearted Home: Responding to Critical Incidents in School Communities

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

Ivor Petrack Room (Main Building)

Mental health is integral to whole-person formation. This session will highlight how Catholic leaders respond to staff and student mental health needs â€” and even critical incidents â€” with strategies rooted in faith, compassion, and resilience. Participants will leave equipped with practical tools and a renewed focus on wellness in Catholic schools. Key Takeaways include: Strategies for critical incident response, tools for building staff/student wellness, and how the Catholic faith informs responses to mental health challenges.

Speakers

Dr. Kevin Warriner

Area Director, NE Schools, Calgary Catholic School District

Dr. Kevin Warriner currently serves in the role of Area Director, NE Schools for Calgary Catholic School District. Previously, he served as Supervisor, Religious Education and Family Life for 5 years. He completed his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership at the University... Read More →

Aileen Taylor

Aileen Taylor currently serves as the Coordinator of Mental Health Services for Christ the Redeemer Catholic School Division. She has 26 years of experience in school-based mental health, having worked as a teacher, school counsellor, and district leader. Her career began in the Rocky... Read More →

John Wasch

John Wasch serves as the Director, Catholicity for the Calgary Catholic School District. He has worked in Catholic education in Alberta for 31 years as a teacher, principal and district administrator. John currently supervises the work of Calgary Catholic's Critical Incident Response... Read More →

Walking the Broken Hearted Home DRAFT 3 pdf

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Ivor Petrack Room (Main Building)

Catholic

10:45am MDT

Be An Upstander: Finding Hope in Complex Times

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

Theatre (Conference Centre)

Global crisis', rights and equity issues are entering, and sometimes disrupting, classrooms with increasing frequency, leaving both students and educators feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. In this session, the Be an Upstander program and other approaches to create environments where they can explore complex topics and equip students with tools to address injustice. Participants will also examine how classroom culture, courage to engage in complex conversations and project-based learning, can be used together to help students find hope and equip them with skills to take action.

Speakers

Sarah Adomako-Ansah

Manager of Education Outreach, Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Sarah Adomako-Ansah is a graduate of the University of Alberta, B. Ed (’13). She is a former teacher with the Edmonton Catholic School Division, teaching grades three through six from 2013 until 2021. She was the Division’s first Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism Consultant... Read More →

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Theatre (Conference Centre)

DEHR

10:45am MDT

Renewing Treaty and Agreements Education: Learning From Elders

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

Baron Shaughnessy Room (Conference Centre)

As part of the new Alberta Teaching Quality Standard, teachers and system leaders across Alberta are required to have a foundational understanding of the implications of treaties with First Nations and legislation and agreements with MÃ©tis. However, questions remain about what this foundational understanding entails and how this work can be ethically enacted in schools by a largely non-Indigenous teaching population. This session will address these questions by presenting insights from a recent professional growth initiative that brought together system leaders and educators from the Calgary Catholic School Division and the Calgary Board of Education, with local Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Holders.

Speakers

Robert Ranger

Robert Ranger is the Learning Services Supervisor for the Calgary Catholic School District, and is MÃ©tis. In his role, he also leads the Indigenous Education Team focussing on empowering Indigenous youth.

David Scott

Associate Professor, University of Calgary

David Scott (Ph.D.) is an associate professor of curriculum and learning in the University of Calgary's Werklund School of Education. His research focuses on how non-Indigenous educators negotiate curricular directives to engage foundational Indigenous philosophies and historical... Read More →

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Baron Shaughnessy Room (Conference Centre)

Indigenous

10:45am MDT

Leading Place-Based Education to Strengthen Rural Student Pathways

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

Norquay Room (Main Building)

At Holden Rural Academy, Alberta's first place-based charter school, learning is organized around the principle that "the place is the teacher." The school has developed a model that ties student learning directly to community, work, and postsecondary pathways. This session will share insights from a multi-year researchâ€“practice partnership between researchers from the Werklund School of Education and Holden Rural Academy. Participants will hear how school leadership practices, ranging from designing curriculum with community partners to protecting time for work placements, are shaping student readiness for both postsecondary education and rural workforce futures. We will highlight successes, tensions, and practical leadership lessons that can be adapted to other contexts.

Speakers

Sharon Friesen

University of Calgary

Dr. Sharon Friesen is a Professor at the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary. Her research interests include the ways in which K-12 educational structures, leadership, teaching, and learning need to be redesigned to meet the demands of contemporary society. She... Read More →

Stephen MacGregor

Assistant Professor | Director, Experiential Learning, University of Calgary

Dr. Stephen MacGregor is an Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary's Werklund School of Education, where he works closely with schools and communities to strengthen leadership and teaching practice. His research focuses on how educators and leaders can work together to share... Read More →

Wesley Oginski

Superintendent, Holden Rural Academy

Wesley Oginski is an experienced Alberta educator and leader with experience in small rural and large urban school authorities, including Grande Yellowhead Public Schools, Rocky View Schools and Northland School Division. He began his career as a teacher in a small rural school in... Read More →

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Norquay Room (Main Building)

Instructional Leadership

10:45am MDT

The Importance of Instructional Leadership and Its Power to Change Schools

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

New Brunswick Room (Main Building)

Join Doug Duff to explore how instructional leadership can drive school-wide improvement through mathematics education. This session covers leadership capacity, connected number thinking, and aligning impactful instructional practices. Key questions include: How can math serve as a catalyst for school and system improvement? What measurable indicators enhance student achievement? How can shared understanding strengthen instructional and assessment practices across districts? Gain practical strategies and evidence-based insights to foster collaboration and improve teaching and learning outcomes in your school community.

Speakers

Doug Duff

Principal Instructional Leadership Coach

Doug Duff is a Principal Instructional Leadership Coach, working nationally and internationally with school districts on school improvement. During his 20 years as a principal and various supervisory roles, Doug has been particularly interested in math education and school and district... Read More →

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
New Brunswick Room (Main Building)

Instructional Leadership

10:45am MDT

Leadership Rewired

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

Cascade Room (Main Building)

Everyone is wired for survival — to protect, control, and react. But great leadership begins when we learn to rewire. In this dynamic, research-based keynote, Dr. Brad Johnson reveals how fear-based habits quietly shape culture and communication — and how leaders can reprogram their mindset toward trust, creativity, and connection. Drawing from neuroscience and real-world leadership stories, he shows how to shift from managing by instinct to leading with intention.

Speakers

Brad Johnson

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Cascade Room (Main Building)

School Culture

10:45am MDT

Beyond Control: Reimagining School Leadership and Teacher Agency in the Age of Generative AI

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

Alhambra Room (Main Building)

School leadership was built for an era that no longer exists, while generative AI is transforming teaching, learning, and knowledge work faster than systems and policies can adapt. In our work with school and district leaders, we see a consistent pattern in which conversations about AI often trigger control, restriction, or compliance-oriented responses, even though research shows this can undermine teacher agency. This session invites leaders to rethink their role by shifting their focus from managing technology and tightening rules to designing cultures where teachers retain ownership of their craft. Participants will explore real examples from the field and a practical, research-informed leadership playbook that supports ethical and empowering AI use. They will leave with new mental models, culture-building strategies, and policy tools that strengthen teacher professionalism and enable innovation to thrive.

Speakers

Anita Khakh

K-12 Education Advisor, Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (amii)

Anita Khakh is the K-12 Education Advisor on the Training team at the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii). She brings a unique blend of experience as a classroom teacher and fund development professional, having worked with a wide range of stakeholders across the education... Read More →

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Alhambra Room (Main Building)

Technology

10:45am MDT

Mobilizing Inquiry-Based Learning at Scale: Lessons from Maple Ridge’s 1:1 Journey

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

D C Coleman (Conference Centre)

Join us for an engaging exploration of strategies for mobilizing inquiry-based learning at scale. This session highlights how leaders from Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows partnered with Apple Education to activate their inquiry program to deepen curiosity, foster student agency, and unlock authentic learning experiences—supported by a 1:1 iPad environment, intentional leadership, and focused professional learning. This session distinguishes itself with its practical lens on system-level change management. Presenters will share hard-won insights on moving beyond isolated innovations to achieve district-wide coherence, supporting every educator, and redesigning learning environments to sustain the pedagogy of inquiry. Participants will engage with candid reflections on challenges, breakthrough moments, and the leadership moves that shift mindsets and build lasting capacity. System and school leaders will leave with actionable strategies to guide culture change, strengthen inquiry practices, and drive meaningful, scalable transformation across their own communities.

Speakers

David Vandergutten

Assistant Superintendent, SD42 Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows

Apple Distinguished Educator Class of 2004. David Vandergugten M.Ed, is a Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence 1997 recipient and is the Assistant Superintendent in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, British Columbia. David has taught at all levels of the public school system... Read More →

Yas Mann

Apple Distinguished Educator Class of 2026. With 18 years of experience in education, Yas Mann is the District Helping Teacher for Grade 6/7 Inquiry and K–7 Numeracy in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, British Columbia. She co-leads a district-wide inquiry program that integrates purposeful... Read More →

Shawn Lennie

National Lead: Strategic Iniatives, Research and Leadership Enablement, Apple

Apple Education Some of the most powerful opportunities for technology are realized in the hands of students and teachers. Apple designs technology that empowers every individual, no matter how they learn and what they love to do. And Apple Education is dedicated to helping schools... Read More →

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
D C Coleman (Conference Centre)

Technology

Company Apple

10:45am MDT

Shane Safir Book Signing

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

uLead Book Store

Speakers

Shane Safir

Keynote Speaker, Listening & Leading for Equity

Shane Safir has worked at every level of the education system, from the classroom to the boardroom, for over 25 years. In 2003, after teaching in San Francisco and Oakland and organizing in the community to launch a new public high school, Safir became the founding principal of June... Read More →

Sawsan Jaber

Consultant / Educator, D212/ Education Unfiltered Consulting

DDr. Sawsan Jaber is a global educator, presenter, equity strategist, and keynote speaker of 20+ years. She has held a variety of leadership positions both in the U.S. and abroad. Dr. Jaber is currently a high school English teacher and a District Equity Leader at East Leyden High... Read More →

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
uLead Book Store

uLead Book Signing

10:45am MDT

Leading After Leaving: Leadership Beyond the Position

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

Oak Room (Main Building)

What does it mean to lead when you're no longer in a formal leadership role? Drawing from rich narrative research with retired male educators now teaching pre-service teachers, this session explores how leadership evolvesâ€”but never ends. Delegates will gain insight into sustaining purpose, mentoring the next generation, and navigating identity in new professional contexts. This session invites reflection on legacy, lifelong learning, and the power of leading from wherever you are.

Speakers

Garry Jones

sessional instructor, University of Calgary

Dr. Garry Jones has been teaching in Calgary for 45 years, from kindergarten to university. He is an experienced teacher, curriculum specialist, principal and researcher. He has presented workshops about teaching boys, and about the experiences of male elementary teachers. On "retiring... Read More →

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Oak Room (Main Building)

Wellness

10:45am MDT

Leading Voices in Education - Professional Learning Reimagined

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

Sir Edward Beatty (Conference Centre)

What if you didn't need to drive across the city to attend Pro-D? Come hear how two female leaders in education helped redefine professional learning by launching the Leading Voices in Education podcast. They will weave in highlight reels from episodes with world leader Jacinda Ardern, and thought leaders - Dr Gabor Mate, Dr. Gordon Neufeld, Dr. Lori Desautels, Dr. Shelley Moore, Dr, Peter Senge, Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl and more! This will be an engaging, inspiring workshop, with free resources to use in your school tomorrow!

Speakers

Dr. Kristi Blakeway

Director of Instruction, Surrey Schools

Dr. Kristi Blakeway is a Director of Instruction in Surrey Schools, TEDx speaker, and YWCA Woman of Distinction. She is a co-host on the Leading Voices in Education podcast showcasing educators and thought leaders around the world!

Sundeep Chohan

Principal and Podcast co-host of Leading Voices in Education, Surrey Schools

Sundeep Chohan is an elementary school principal from Surrey BC who redefined professional learning by proposing the idea of a new podcast. She is co-host of the Leading Voices in Education podcast featuring educators and thought leaders around the globe. Leading Voices in Education... Read More →

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Sir Edward Beatty (Conference Centre)

WIL

10:45am MDT

Multi-Faith Space (open and available to all)

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

Robert Ritchie Room (Conference Centre)

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Robert Ritchie Room (Conference Centre)

Zero Stimulation Zones

10:45am MDT

Quiet Work Space

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

David Obrien Room (Conference Center)

This space is set aside for school leaders who may need to make a phone call, send an email, or sit an think. No programing is in the room.

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
David Obrien Room (Conference Center)

Zero Stimulation Zones

12:00pm MDT

LUNCH (Baron Shaugngessy, DC Coleman, Sir Edward Beatty, Van Horne Ballroom)

Monday April 20, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm MDT

TBA

Monday April 20, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm MDT
TBA

Meals and Breaks

1:00pm MDT

Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy and School Transformation

Monday April 20, 2026 1:00pm - 2:15pm MDT

Van Horne Ballroom (Conference Centre)

Street data is the qualitative and experiential data that emerges at eye level and on lower frequencies when we train our brains to discern it. Street data is asset based, building on culturally responsive education by focusing on what’s right in our students, schools, and communities instead of seeking out what’s wrong. Street data embodies an ethos and a change methodology that will transform how we analyze, diagnose, and assess everything from student learning to district improvement to policy. Join us for this dynamic keynote as Shane Safir, author of the best-selling Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation (Corwin, 2021), lays out this transformational model, which will help you shift your focus from satellite-level data (test scores and other metrics) to real-time, on-the-ground stories, experiences, and artifacts.

Speakers

Shane Safir

Keynote Speaker, Listening & Leading for Equity

Monday April 20, 2026 1:00pm - 2:15pm MDT
Van Horne Ballroom (Conference Centre)

Keynote

2:15pm MDT

TRANSITION

Monday April 20, 2026 2:15pm - 2:45pm MDT

TBA

Monday April 20, 2026 2:15pm - 2:45pm MDT
TBA

Transition

2:45pm MDT

Mitigating Risks in a Digital World

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

Theatre (Conference Centre)

This session explores the growing risks and responsibilities associated with digital technology in education, focusing on how misuse can lead to serious professional and legal consequences. Leaders will learn strategies to mitigate e-liability, protect staff and students, and uphold privacy and professional boundaries in an increasingly connected world. Practical guidance and case studies will help administrators develop policies and responses that safeguard both reputation and compliance.

Speakers

Dr. Amy Villneff

Executive Staff Officer, Teacher Employment Services, The Alberta Teachers' Association

Amy has been an educator for over two decades including as an assistant principal and principal. She attained a BEd and MEd from the University of Alberta and an EdD from Western University. She has been with the ATA since 2024 and is passionate about supporting teachers and administrators... Read More →

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Theatre (Conference Centre)

Alberta Teachers' Association

2:45pm MDT

Being an Influencer in Catholic Education - Fanning the Flames of Joy - Attracting and Growing Catholic Education

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

Ivor Petrack Room (Main Building)

A session on how to share the JOY of Catholic Education with shareholders utilizing social media and other communication tools to share the Good News of publicly funded Catholic Education. Participants will leave with tangible examples of best practices in use of social media and sharing the Good News of Catholic Education.

Speakers

Lisa Kleparchuk

Lisa Kleparchuk is the dedicated Principal of St. Gabriel Education Centre, the Outreach High School for Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools. With 12 years of experience as an administrator and a deeply held belief in the mission of Catholic education, Lisa is an influential advocate... Read More →

Shanlynn Cunningham

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Ivor Petrack Room (Main Building)

Catholic

2:45pm MDT

Who's Included in Inclusion? Creating Inclusive Environments for 2SLGBTQ+ Youth

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

Sir Edward Beatty (Conference Centre)

This session explores the challenges school leaders face in fostering safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments for all students, with a particular focus on supporting 2SLGBTQ+ youth. Drawing on the Catholic social teaching of dignity, the presentation focuses on ethical and transformative leadership approaches that can help navigate the challenges of providing a safe and inclusive space for gender and sexually diverse youth.

Here is a link to the presentation: https://canva.link/mleyuq6u3klkfu1

Speakers

Daron Van Lingen

Dr. Daron Van Lingen is a principal with Fort McMurray Catholic Schools. With 9 years of experience in administration from ECS to grade 12, she is passionate about fostering an equitable and inclusive educational environment for all students to learn and grow. She is excited to share... Read More →

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Sir Edward Beatty (Conference Centre)

DEHR

2:45pm MDT

De l’inscription à l’intégration : Coordonner l’équipe-école pour l’accueil des nouveaux arrivants

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

Norquay Room (Main Building)

Comment votre établissement assure-t-il un accueil pratique et efficace des nouveaux arrivants et de leurs familles ? Cet atelier présente le Protocole d'accueil des nouveaux arrivants du Conseil scolaire FrancoSud, un processus structuré qui transforme l'inscription initiale en une intégration réussie.
Nous explorerons :

Les étapes clés du processus, de l'inscription au plan d'accueil personnalisé.
Le rôle précis de chaque intervenant pour assurer un continuum de services.

Repartez avec un modèle d'action concret pour mobiliser votre équipe et garantir l’intégration des élèves nouvellement arrivés.

Speakers

Isabelle Rioux

Conseillère pédagogique, Conseil scolaire FrancoSud

Madame Isabelle Rioux oeuvre dans le domaine de l'éducation depuis plus de 20 ans et occupe présentement un des postes de conseillère pédagogique au sein du conseil scolaire FrancoSud. Son parcours inclut aussi l’occupation des rôles d’enseignante de français au secondaire... Read More →

Julie Vaillancourt

Directrice d’école engagée dans l’éducation francophone depuis 2005, Julie Vaillancourt cumule 18 ans d’expérience en administration scolaire. Véritablement investie dans le développement et le succès de chaque élève, elle est reconnue pour sa vision claire et son leadership... Read More →

Monique Baker

Superintendent, FrancoSud School Division

Monique Baker est une éducatrice chevronnée et directrice générale comptant plus de 37 ans d’expérience en éducation. Francophone fière de ses racines manitobaines, elle détient des diplômes en arts et en éducation ainsi qu’une maîtrise en administration et leadership... Read More →

Petronille Makuetche

Petronille Makuetche est enseignante accompagnatrice et responsable du pôle carrefour au sein du conseil scolaire francosud où elle joue un rôle clé dans la réussite des élèves à risque et dans l’intégration scolaire, sociale et culturelle des élèves nouveaux arrivants... Read More →

Présentation ULead Protocole d'accueil 2026 pdf

Protocole daccueil nouveaux arrivants (4) pdf

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Norquay Room (Main Building)

Francophone

2:45pm MDT

Reconnecting With Our Roots

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

Baron Shaughnessy Room (Conference Centre)

A look at the First Nations, Metis & Inuit Education Team's approach that has developed a strong and meaningful relationship with students, families and staff. The growth of the F.N.M.I Education Program that has helped increase the number of self declared students from 318 (September 2018) to 642 (November 2025). Reconnecting with our roots through leadership guided by Respect, Truth, Humility, Courage, Wisdom, Love and Truth.

Speakers

Darrell R Willier

First Nations, Metis & Inuit Education Coordinator, MHSD 76

Darrell Willier is from Sucker Creek Cree Nation of north west Alberta. He has been in the education system since 1990 after graduating university and is currently with Medicine Hat Public School Division since August 2018.

Courtney Lagasse

Courtney is Metis, with her family roots originating from the Red River Settlement. Courtney is a First Nations, Metis, and Inuit support for Medicine Hat Public School Division. Courtney is currently in her fourth year with the school division and pursuing a bachelor's degree in... Read More →

Shirley Boomer

Shirley is from the Mistawasis Cree Nation of central Saskatchewan. She has been in the education system in western Canada for 25+ years and now with Medicine Hat Public School Division since December 2018.

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Baron Shaughnessy Room (Conference Centre)

Indigenous

2:45pm MDT

Direct Instruction 101: Building Strong Foundations for Every Learner

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

New Brunswick Room (Main Building)

What if every student could master essential skills with clarity and confidence? Direct Instruction (DI) offers a proven, practical approach to help make that happen. In this hands-on session, explore how explicit, systematic teaching accelerates learning, especially within a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). You'll analyze real classroom scenarios, unpack common myths, and discover how to use data to plan instruction that meets every learner's needs. Leave with concrete strategies, fresh insights, and tools you can use immediately to strengthen literacy and learning across all tiers.

Speakers

Sam Smith

Teaching & Learning Lead, Nelson Education

Sam Smith is the Teaching and Learning Lead with Nelson's Classroom Success Team. She is an Ontario certified teacher and has spent over a decade in classroom teaching, special education, and instructional leadership. Her experience spans both public and private sectors, where she... Read More →

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
New Brunswick Room (Main Building)

Instructional Leadership

2:45pm MDT

Introduction to Pedagogies of Student Voice Workshop

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

Van Horne Ballroom (Conference Centre)

Building on the bestselling book Pedagogies of Voice (PoV) (Corwin, 2025), this interactive workshop introduces the Student Agency/PoV model, a next-generation instructional framework designed to activate learner agency in response to the challenges and possibilities of the moment. Through artifacts, tools, and reflection prompts, participants explore the case for a Pedagogy of Voice, 10 Toxins that undermine student voice, and 8 research-based Pedagogies In Practice. Whether you work with students or adult learners, you'll leave with inspiration and actionable strategies to shift.

Speakers

Shane Safir

Keynote Speaker, Listening & Leading for Equity

Sawsan Jaber

Consultant / Educator, D212/ Education Unfiltered Consulting

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Van Horne Ballroom (Conference Centre)

Instructional Leadership

2:45pm MDT

A Short-Term Exchange: A Journey That Will Inspire, Inform and Transform

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

Oak Room (Main Building)

Participating in a leadership exchange offers school leaders a high-impact professional development experience grounded in peer-to-peer learning. These exchanges provide structured opportunities to examine leadership practices at both the school and system levels, fostering meaningful reflection and strategic insight. By stepping into another leader's context, you engage in rigorous dialogue, observe effective practices firsthand, and gain perspectives that can immediately inform your own work. Our short-term in-person exchanges include a ten-day hosted visit followed by reciprocal hosting, while virtual exchanges offer a flexible, travel-free option. We invite you to explore destinations such as Australia, Spain, Germany, Mexico, Alberta Accredited International Schools, and Icelandâ€”no language prerequisites required.

Speakers

Carolyn Freed

Exchange Liaison, The Alberta Teachers' Association

ATA Staff

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Oak Room (Main Building)

Outside Alberta

2:45pm MDT

Being in the Canoe: Leadership Competencies for Principals and Vice-Principals

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

Alberta Room (Main Building)

In July 2025, the BC Principals' & Vice-Principals' Association (BCPVPA) soft-launched a new Leadership Competencies framework, the culmination of 2.5 years of collaborative design led by Dr. Andrea McComb and Peter Johnston. Developed through extensive consultation, research, and field-testing, the Competencies offer both a philosophical shift and practical tools for school leadership development. The Competencies are not a checklist but a narrative framework we call Being in the Canoe. The metaphor reflects how school leaders paddle together with staff, students, and communities, navigating shifting currents while maintaining authenticity, humility, and shared direction. The Competencies emphasize five interwoven domains: â€¢ Stewardship For The Future of All Children â€¢ Fostering a Culture of Curiosity and Inquiry â€¢ Growing The Capacity of Self and Others â€¢ Contextual Literacy and Agency â€¢ Bridging Policy and Practice In this highly interactive session, participants will engage in a carousel-style workshop. Small groups will rotate through each of the five Competencies, exploring them in depth through guided activities, reflective prompts, and facilitated dialogue. At each station, participants will make direct connections between the Competencies and their own school leadership contexts, ensuring the framework is not only understood but meaningfully applied. This session shares how the Competencies were co-designed with members, Indigenous advisors, and international scholars. Participants will also have space to shape their own leadership stories. By the end, attendees will have both a conceptual understanding of Being in the Canoe and a set of practical, personalized connections to take back to their schools and systems.

Speakers

Peter Johnston

Director of Professional & Development, British Columbia Principals' and Vice Principals' Association

If you've ever left a workshop thinking, "That was actually fun — and I learned something," there's a good chance Peter Johnston was in the room.
Peter is a John Maxwell Certified Coach, Trainer, Speaker, and Behaviour Analyst whose approach to professional learning is grounded in a simple but powerful belief: when people are engaged, curious, and enjoying themselves, real learning happens. Every workshop he designs and delivers... Read More →

Dr. Andrea McComb

Director of Professional Learning & Development, BCPVPA

As the Director of Professional Learning and Development for the BCPVPA, Andrea is dedicated to designing and delivering impactful programming for aspiring, new to role, and experienced leaders. With extensive experience at both school and district levels, she holds portfolios in... Read More →

BCPVPA Program Highlights uLead pdf

bcpvpaleadershipcompetencies ashorttripinthecanoe pdf

bcpvpaleadershipcompetencies beinginthecanoeo pdf

leading through midlife clarity confidence and evidencebased support v2 pdf

2026 BCPVPA LeadingACultureOfLearning pdf

BCPVPA Leadership Story March2026 fillable pdf

2026 BCPVPA Foundations April2026 pdf

2026 BCPVPA Connecting Leaders Conference Final pdf

BCPVPA Associate pdf

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Alberta Room (Main Building)

School Culture

2:45pm MDT

Nothing More Important Than Culture

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

Cascade Room (Main Building)

Culture is the "invisible hand" that guides how people behave, perform and interact in a school. There is nothing more important. Culture shapes how teachers teach, how students learn, and how the broader staff team collaborate.

Speakers

Kim Hutzul

Kim Hutzul, Principal of D.A. Ferguson Middle School in Taber, Alberta, has over two decades of experience dedicated to creating supportive, inclusive, and innovative learning environments. She holds a BEd from the University of Saskatchewan, a Special Education certification, and... Read More →

Melissa Gartly

Melissa Gartly earned her BA/BEd from the University of Lethbridge and has since dedicated her career to rural Alberta education, teaching at the elementary and junior high level and serving as vice-principal before becoming principal. She is passionate about building leaders and... Read More →

Greg Bowes

Greg Bowes, born and raised in southern Saskatchewan, holds a BSc and BEd from the University of Saskatchewan, where he also played for the Huskies Basketball team. After beginning his teaching career in Lethbridge, he joined Horizon School Division in 2010, spending 12 years at WR... Read More →

Amber Doram

Teacher, Horizon School Div

Amber Doram holds a BA/BEd from the University of Lethbridge and a diploma in Broadcast Journalism. She began her teaching career in Horizon School Division and has taught across Kâ€“12, most recently at the high school level, where her engaging, hands-on approach and high expectations... Read More →

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Cascade Room (Main Building)

School Culture

2:45pm MDT

AI in Education: A Value-Driven Framework for Leadership, Decision-Making, and the Future of Learning

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

D C Coleman (Conference Centre)

In a landscape saturated with conversations about AI, this session offers something different: a grounded, values-driven approach that cuts through hype and fear to focus on what truly matters for learners and educators. Apple Education leaders will introduce Five Rules for Technological Change—a set of guiding principles that challenge prevailing narratives and offer a more thoughtful, strategic way to navigate AI’s impact on schools. Building on these rules, the session will unpack Apple’s value-based perspective on AI, providing school and system leaders with a clear framework for decision-making rooted in safety, equity, privacy, and purposeful pedagogy. Presenters will explore key questions facing education today: Where does AI meaningfully enhance learning? What risks and disruptions must leaders anticipate? And how can we ensure technology amplifies, rather than replaces, the human connections at the heart of great teaching? Participants will also gain insight into emerging global AI trends—shifts in assessment, creativity tools, accessibility, and workforce readiness—and what these developments mean for long-term strategy. Leaders will leave with practical tools, reflective prompts, and a principled framework to navigate AI with clarity, confidence, and integrity.

Speakers

Shawn Lennie

National Lead: Strategic Iniatives, Research and Leadership Enablement, Apple

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
D C Coleman (Conference Centre)

Technology

Company Apple

2:45pm MDT

Dr Brad Johnson Book Signing

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

uLead Book Store

Speakers

Brad Johnson

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
uLead Book Store

uLead Book Signing

2:45pm MDT

From Disruption to Deepened Purpose

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

Alhambra Room (Main Building)

How do school leaders respond when their foundation is tested? This session explores the immediate leadership lessons learned during a temporary disruption to school operations that removed essential staff. Participants will engage with practical strategies for distributed leadership, parent and community engagement, and building sustainable inclusive practices. This presentation emphasizes how leaders can proactively build cultures of trust and resilience, before the next disruption arrives. This session is ideal for school-based and system leaders looking to strengthen their teams, deepen stakeholder relationships, and cultivate a culture of collective responsibility that places well-being at the center.

Speakers

Sarah Clark

Principal, Foothills School Division

Sarah Clark is an experienced school leader with nearly two decades in education, currently serving as Principal in Foothills School Division. With a focus on inclusive education, literacy development, and evidence-based practice, she led dual-track French Immersion programming, mentored... Read More →

Christopher Fuzessy, PhD

Superintendent of Schools/Chief Education Officer, Foothills School Division

Dr. Chris Fuzessy joined the Foothills School Division team as Superintendent of Schools in June 2019. Since that time, the division has benefited from his commitment to excellence in serving students and their families, and his expertise in developing initiatives aimed at enhancing... Read More →

Teddi LaBrash

Vice Principal, Foothills School Division

Teddi LaBrash is in her fourth year as a Vice Principal at an elementary school, bringing more than a decade of experience rooted in inclusive education. Before moving into administration, she spent eight years as an Inclusive Learning Coach, partnering with teachers, educational... Read More →

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Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Alhambra Room (Main Building)

WIL

2:45pm MDT

Multi-Faith Space (open and available to all)

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

Robert Ritchie Room (Conference Centre)

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Robert Ritchie Room (Conference Centre)

Zero Stimulation Zones

2:45pm MDT

Quiet Work Space

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

David Obrien Room (Conference Center)

This space is set aside for school leaders who may need to make a phone call, send an email, or sit an think. No programing is in the room.

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
David Obrien Room (Conference Center)

Zero Stimulation Zones

4:00pm MDT

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING for The Council for School Leadership

Monday April 20, 2026 4:00pm - 4:30pm MDT

Baron Shaughnessy Room (Conference Centre)

This will be a CLOSED meeting. Only Alberta teachers who are members of CSL are permitted to vote.

This is the AGM of the Council for School Leadership. All members of CSL are welcome to attend. At this session you will learn about the events CSL hosted last year, vote on the 2026-27 budget as well as elect members to the executive of the CSL.

If you would like to join the AGM, but will not be in Banff for uLead, you may register to attend virtually, by clicking here.
Please note, we will be reviewing registrations and sending confirmation emails with the zoom link to eligible CSL members on Saturday April, 13th. Those who are not members of CSL at that time, will not receive a zoom link to the AGM.

We will not be able to accept virtual registrations after 0900 2024 04 13.

Monday April 20, 2026 4:00pm - 4:30pm MDT
Baron Shaughnessy Room (Conference Centre)

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