uLead2026 - The Summit of Educational Leadership

Research highlights the crucial role of cultivating a culture of belonging in schools, particularly for BIPOC students. It speaks to the significance of the role of school leaders to intentionally nurture and create inclusive environments, which can positively impact attendance, student well-being, and achievement. We know that a culture of belonging can have a positive impact on overall student wellbeing, but how do we create classrooms that embrace belonging as a connection to learning and to how students see themselves as learners? How do we know that we are making a difference for all students in our buildings, both socially and academically? This presentation will look at the impact of student voice and how one school worked to deepen their understanding of how belonging impacts learning.

Leadership is about decision making. This session will be focused around the phrase 'centering the needs of the under-represented and under-served' and will examine who school leaders centre in decision making and how school leaders can navigate the challenges of honouring human rights, competing human rights and facing resistance.

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.

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 

This interactive fireside chat brings together two perspectives on advancing anti-racism and equity within Alberta's education system. Dr. Shariff will share & reflect on her experiences and research, bringing equity and anti-racism professional learning into one of Edmonton's largest and diverse high schools, highlighting how she has empowered educators, celebrated successes, and helped them navigate resistance. The conversation then shifts as Owen Holloway shares how this foundational learning helped co-create a plan and a detailed formal proposal for the faculty council and the school administration, ensuring this work continued to have positional leverage to revise policy and provide more equitable practices. Together, they share the lessons learned, practical strategies for fostering educator-led professional development, and the challenges and possibilities required for institutional change in education. Designed as a dialogue rather than a lecture, this session models the relational and reflective practices at the heart of EDIAR work. A Q&A period will close the session, offering participants the opportunity to connect insights to their own leadership contexts.