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

2:45pm MDT

The Well Principal: Balancing Leadership, Wellness, and School Culture

Sunday April 19, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

Cascade Room (Main Building)

In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving educational landscape, School Administrators are expected to lead with strength, compassion, and resiliency, often at the expense of their own well-being. The Well Principal explores the vital interconnection between School Administrator health, effective leadership, and the cultivation of a positive school culture. This presentation will offer practical strategies to support personal wellness, foster sustainable leadership practices, and highlight how a "Well Principal" may positively influence the entire school community. Because when leaders are well, schools thrive.

Speakers

Justin Noseworthy

School Principal, NL Schools / Newfoundland Labrador Teachers Association

Justin Noseworthy is an educational leader currently serving as the Principal of a small rural Elementary School in Newfoundland and Labrador. Justin has been a Principal since 2018. With experience leading Elementary and K-12 All-Grade schools, Justin brings a broad perspective to... Read More →

The Well Principal Systemic Literature Review (Presentation Supporting Document) pdf

Sunday April 19, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Cascade Room (Main Building)

Wellness

4:00pm MDT

Who Takes Care of the Leaders?

Sunday April 19, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT

New Brunswick Room (Main Building)

There is a robust conversation in schools and school divisions across Canada about mental health and wellbeing, and this is necessary. Our schools, systems and teams need to continue this conversation to support our students in their challenges and in their wellness, and in supporting our staff alongside them. As system leaders, we champion this work and support it fully; but we have also identified a gap: Who takes care of the leaders?

Speakers

Nadia Delanoy

Assistant Professor- Leadership, Policy, and Governance and Learning Sciences, University of Calgary

Nadia Delanoy (PhD) has her roots in K-12 from an educator, department head, educational technologist and director. In post-secondary, Dr. Delanoy's research focuses on how people lead and learn in complex and dynamic systems. Her doctoral research examined the use of big data and... Read More →

Christopher Fuzessy, PhD

Superintendent of Schools/Chief Education Officer, Foothills School Division

Dr. Chris Fuzessy joined the Foothills School Division team as Superintendent of Schools in June 2019. Since that time, the division has benefited from his commitment to excellence in serving students and their families, and his expertise in developing initiatives aimed at enhancing... 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 →

Sunday April 19, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
New Brunswick Room (Main Building)

Wellness

10:45am MDT

Leading After Leaving: Leadership Beyond the Position

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

Oak Room (Main Building)

What does it mean to lead when you're no longer in a formal leadership role? Drawing from rich narrative research with retired male educators now teaching pre-service teachers, this session explores how leadership evolvesâ€”but never ends. Delegates will gain insight into sustaining purpose, mentoring the next generation, and navigating identity in new professional contexts. This session invites reflection on legacy, lifelong learning, and the power of leading from wherever you are.

Speakers

Garry Jones

sessional instructor, University of Calgary

Dr. Garry Jones has been teaching in Calgary for 45 years, from kindergarten to university. He is an experienced teacher, curriculum specialist, principal and researcher. He has presented workshops about teaching boys, and about the experiences of male elementary teachers. On "retiring... Read More →

Monday April 20, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Oak Room (Main Building)

Wellness

10:30am MDT

Leading for Wellbeing: School Leadership that Sustains Staff and Students

Tuesday April 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am MDT

Van Horne Ballroom (Conference Centre)

How can school leaders make mental health a shared condition for learning, rather than an add-on initiative? Drawing on recent Alberta pilots and whole-school cases, this session examines how leadership practices can protect staff wellbeing, integrate mental health supports into pedagogy, and sustain student outcomes. We will share concrete strategies such as embedding short daily regulation routines, protecting collaboration time, using light-touch data for improvement, and learning from implementation missteps. Participants will leave with practical guidance to strengthen both adult and student wellbeing in their own contexts.

Speakers

Stephen MacGregor

Assistant Professor | Director, Experiential Learning, University of Calgary

Nyasha Nyereyemhuka

Assistant Professor, University of Calgary

Dr. Nyasha Nyereyemhuka is an Assistant Professor of K-12 School leadership and governance at the Werklund School of Education. Dr. Nyereyemhuka joined Werklund as a previous SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow from Queen's University's Faculty of Education. Her writing employs qualitative... Read More →

Tuesday April 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am MDT
Van Horne Ballroom (Conference Centre)

Wellness

10:30am MDT

Towards Flourishing: School Leadership in a Complex World

Tuesday April 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am MDT

New Brunswick Room (Main Building)

School leadership is at once a highly rewarding and highly challenging career. As school leaders, our work enhances the lives of each learner, educator and family in our school community. At the same time, it can feel as if we are navigating a never-ending set of demands and expectations. Drawing on the job demands â€“ resources model, this session weaves together current research and practice, highlighting effective strategies school leaders use to support their own wellbeing and to foster flourishing school communities.

Speakers

Kathleen Lane

Kathleen Lane is the Executive Director for the EdCan Network. Kathleen studied population health before earning her Master of Business Administration from the University of British Columbia, where her research focused on how the university learning environment affects student mental... Read More →

Tuesday April 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am MDT
New Brunswick Room (Main Building)

Wellness

2:45pm MDT

4:00pm MDT

10:45am MDT

10:30am MDT

10:30am MDT

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