2020 Leading for Learning Program for Experienced School Leaders

The 14th Annual Leading for Learning course for Alberta school administrators, sponsored by the College of Alberta School Superintendents (CASS), will be offered at Olds College beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 6, 2020 and ending at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. The registration fee is $925.00 (includes GST) or $625.00 (includes GST) if accommodation is not required . Registration is limited to 30 participants. Over the past thirteen years approximately 400 experienced school administrators have participated in the Leading for Learning course.

The course is designed to bring participants together as a leadership learning community with a focus on providing opportunities for:

• Gaining new ideas and resources through engaging presentations and interactive learning sessions facilitated by educational leaders with a wealth of school and school system experience;
• Reflecting, sharing ideas, and building on school leadership experiences and best practices;
• Meaningfully addressing issues, and challenges encountered by school leaders and developing practical strategies for action;
• Networking with colleagues from other school jurisdictions;
• Establishing through group activities a forum for building relationships, learning with and from each other, and an opportunity to offer assistance as an extension of the course learning experience;
• Extending the learning experience through university graduate coursework if desired;
• Further developing a personal understanding, and vision for successful school leadership, and
• Providing further support by regular email and articles throughout the 2020-2021 school year.

Leading for Learning targets four groups:

• Administrators who took Start Right previously and want to take the next learning leadership step.
• New administrative teams – building relationships around educational leadership!
• Administrators who need support with instructional leadership and leading learning.
• Experienced administrators who are learners.

Some of the same presenters will be coming (e.g. Kurt Sacher, Konsctancija A deGoei, (Konni), and Scott Morrison) but ALL the 2020 Leading for Learning sessions are significantly different than previous Start Right sessions that participants may have attended.

Leading for Learning 2020 will be co-coordinated by CASS Directors of Leadership Learning —Colleen Symyrozum-Watt and Elizabeth Gouthro.

Participants will be accommodated in private rooms at Centennial Village, meals will be provided through campus food services, and all sessions will be held on the beautiful Olds College campus. 

The feedback from the Leading for Learning participants has been very positive each year.  In fact, in each of the thirteen years Leading for Learning has been offered, a significant majority (in most years 100%) of participants rated the learning experience as very good or excellent, and indicated they would recommend the program to their colleagues in school administration.  Participants have expressed appreciation regarding the emphasis on facilitating group discussions and sharing best practices. They have welcomed the opportunity to network with fellow administrators from school jurisdictions across Alberta and elsewhere. (Out-of-province participants are most welcome!) Many of the previous Leading for Learning participants commented on the value of having school leadership teams attend the course.

Leading for Learning representative comments from the evaluation forms over the years include the following:

• This was an outstanding PD opportunity! Best I’ve had—EVER!
• Sessions offered information on a variety of areas with regard to administration. Never felt like the sessions were repetitive. Such an amazing opportunity and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to any of my colleagues.
• Very organized and seemingly effortless—but I know it is a tremendous amount of work.
• Super organized; professional but with an excellent balance of “serious” and “fun”. Great hosts—knowledgeable and approachable..
• Actually should be mandatory for Principals and Vice-Principals.
• Compiled amazing speakers. So grateful to have the opportunity to learn from all of them.
• Truly one of the best conferences I’ve attended. No improvements are necessary. Keep up the fantastic work that you do!

Arrangements can be made through Alberta universities to extend the Leading for Learning 2020 experience for graduate level course credit.  Participants will be required to pay a tuition fee to the university and to meet additional course requirements. Information regarding university credit is available at the University Graduate Coursework tab. Individuals who are interested in receiving more information regarding university course credit may also contact Colleen Symyrozum-Watt at 587 879 70267 (symwatt.colleen@gmail.com).

Note: If you require more information or have any questions, please contact: Colleen Symyrozum-Watt at 587 879 70267 (symwatt.colleen@gmail.com).