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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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

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

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 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Van Horne Ballroom (Conference Centre)

Instructional Leadership

10:45am MDT

10:45am MDT

2:45pm MDT

2:45pm MDT

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