uLead2026 - The Summit of Educational Leadership

School systems around the world are navigating a complex set of priorities—from addressing unfinished learning and retaining exceptional educators to ensuring students develop the digital skills needed for an evolving future. These challenges require thoughtful, intentional approaches. While there may not be a single solution, equipping schools with the right tools is an important first step.

In this context, many leaders are making significant investments in technology with the promise of transforming learning. But one critical question remains: How do we know it’s working?

This session supports school and system leaders in moving beyond assumptions of impact toward a clear, evidence-informed understanding of how technology shapes teaching and learning. Grounded in Apple’s approach to innovation in education, participants will explore how to capture meaningful evidence at the point of learning, connect that evidence to shifts in pedagogical practice, and identify patterns of impact across classrooms and systems.

Leaders will leave with a practical framework to measure what matters—aligning technology investments with student experiences, instructional priorities, and system goals—and the tools to communicate a clear, compelling story of impact to stakeholders.

When leaders start with the question of impact, technology becomes more than a tool—it becomes the foundation for meaningful, measurable change in learning.

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.

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.

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.

Step into a play-based, future-focused experience designed to spark imagination and illuminate what’s possible when districts partner with Apple on bold, strategic projects. In this highly interactive session, participants will get hands-on with cutting-edge tools—including AR, VR, spatial computing, and emerging AI experiences—and explore how purposeful integration of technology can catalyze powerful shifts in teaching, learning, and system culture. Apple leaders will guide participants through experiential stations that blend creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. Along the way, we’ll spotlight real examples of district-level strategic projects, highlighting how organizations across Canada are leveraging Apple ecosystems to strengthen educator capacity, enhance student engagement, and design more inclusive, future-ready learning environments.What makes this session unique is its emphasis on doing: leaders will experiment, prototype ideas, and explore strategic pathways aligned to their local priorities—from workforce readiness to assessment innovation to digital ecosystems and beyond. Join us to imagine, co-create, and chart the next wave of strategic innovation for your district—powered by Apple and grounded in the transformation of teaching and learning.