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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
Type: Alberta Teachers\' Association clear filter
Sunday, April 19
 

11:15am MDT

2:45pm MDT

Off Script with the Alberta Teachers Association President
Sunday April 19, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Join ATA President Jason Schilling for an open and engaging discussion focused on key provincial issues influencing Alberta schools and school leaders. Designed as a conversation rather than a presentation, the session offers school leaders the opportunity to ask questions, share concerns, and reflect on the broader context in which their work is unfolding. This is a valuable opportunity to connect provincial perspectives with on the ground leadership experience and to engage directly in dialogue about the future of public education in Alberta.
Speakers
avatar for Jason Schilling

Jason Schilling

President, Alberta Teachers' Association
Jason Schilling (he/him) was re-elected president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association in 2023, following four years of service as president, two years of service as vice-president and more than eight years of service as district representative for South West. As vice-president, Schillingchaired... Read More →
Sunday April 19, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Oak Room (Main Building)

4:00pm MDT

AI for School Leadership: Supporting Meaningful, Ethical, and Practical Change
Sunday April 19, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Leading a school community through digital change isn't just about learning the newest tools; as leaders, we also need a deliberate focus on culture, skills and collaboration. In this session, we will discover practical ways to use AI tools, develop ethical AI practices, and explore strategies to lead AI implementation in your school community. 
Speakers
avatar for Nancy Luyckfassel

Nancy Luyckfassel

Coordinator, Professional Development, The Alberta Teachers' Association
Nancy Luyckfassel is an educational leader from Alberta. She holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta and two master's degrees: one in secondary education and another in school counselling, with a focus on teacher wellness. Nancy’s career began in the classroom... Read More →
Sunday April 19, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Alberta Room (Main Building)

4:00pm MDT

Navigating the World of Professional Regulation-From an Alberta and Global Perspective
Sunday April 19, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Educational regulators have statutory authority to impose disciplinary and certification decisions with legally binding consequences for teachers and teacher leaders. While these processes are essential to maintaining public trust and professional standards, they can be complex, disruptive, and high-stakes for the educators involved. Even highly competent teachers may become subject to complaints or regulatory scrutiny due to the sensitive and demanding nature of classroom and school environments.
This session is designed for school and system administrators and examines regulatory disciplinary processes through a leadership lens. Participants will gain insight into how these processes affect teachers’ professional performance and wellbeing, why preparedness and informed responses matter, and how administrators can provide appropriate guidance and support while upholding accountability and organizational responsibilities.
Speakers
avatar for Tim Jeffares

Tim Jeffares

Associate Coordinator, Regulatory Affairs, The Alberta Teachers' Association
Tim Jeffares is the Association's associate coordinator responsible for regulatory affairs. Prior to being hired by the Associaiton, Tim was the director of investigations and as a senior manager in leadership excellence with Alberta Education, and worked as a teacher and school leader... Read More →
Sunday April 19, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Oak Room (Main Building)
 
Monday, April 20
 

10:45am MDT

Leading Through Polycrises: Building Community and Improving Learning in Complex Environments
Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
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
avatar for Dr. Phil McRae

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 →
avatar for Dr. Lisa Everitt

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)

2:45pm MDT

Mitigating Risks in a Digital World
Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
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
avatar for Dr. Amy Villneff

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)
 
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