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

Deepening a Culture of Belonging

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

New Brunswick Room (Main Building)

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.

Speakers

Cori Fraser

Principal, EPSB

Cori Fraser has been a principal with Edmonton Public Schools for the past ten years. Since September 2020, she has been the principal at Westmount Jr High, where she leads a diverse learning community.

uLead 2026 Belonging Pt 2 pptx

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

DEHR

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

The Importance of Instructional Leadership and Its Power to Change Schools

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

New Brunswick Room (Main Building)

Join Doug Duff to explore how instructional leadership can drive school-wide improvement through mathematics education. This session covers leadership capacity, connected number thinking, and aligning impactful instructional practices. Key questions include: How can math serve as a catalyst for school and system improvement? What measurable indicators enhance student achievement? How can shared understanding strengthen instructional and assessment practices across districts? Gain practical strategies and evidence-based insights to foster collaboration and improve teaching and learning outcomes in your school community.

Speakers

Doug Duff

Principal Instructional Leadership Coach

Doug Duff is a Principal Instructional Leadership Coach, working nationally and internationally with school districts on school improvement. During his 20 years as a principal and various supervisory roles, Doug has been particularly interested in math education and school and district... Read More →

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

Instructional Leadership

2:45pm MDT

Direct Instruction 101: Building Strong Foundations for Every Learner

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

New Brunswick Room (Main Building)

What if every student could master essential skills with clarity and confidence? Direct Instruction (DI) offers a proven, practical approach to help make that happen. In this hands-on session, explore how explicit, systematic teaching accelerates learning, especially within a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). You'll analyze real classroom scenarios, unpack common myths, and discover how to use data to plan instruction that meets every learner's needs. Leave with concrete strategies, fresh insights, and tools you can use immediately to strengthen literacy and learning across all tiers.

Speakers

Sam Smith

Teaching & Learning Lead, Nelson Education

Sam Smith is the Teaching and Learning Lead with Nelson's Classroom Success Team. She is an Ontario certified teacher and has spent over a decade in classroom teaching, special education, and instructional leadership. Her experience spans both public and private sectors, where she... Read More →

Monday April 20, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
New Brunswick Room (Main Building)

Instructional Leadership

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

2:45pm MDT

10:30am MDT

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