uLead2026 - The Summit of Educational Leadership

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.

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. 

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.

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.
 

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.