2023 Leading for Learning Program for Experienced School Leaders

The College of Alberta School Superintendents’ 16th Annual Leading for Learning short course is for newly or appointed system leaders and returning Start Right Leaders who want to delve deeper into leadership development.

Program Features

The Leading for Learning short course is designed to bring leaders together as a learning community to reflect on their own leadership style and education practices. This course offers leaders opportunities to:

• Explore and experience the Leadership Quality Standard and the Superintendent Leadership Quality Standard;

• Gain new ideas and resources through engaging presentations and interactive learning activities facilitated by Alberta educational leaders with a wealth of school and school system experience;

• Engage in job embedded tasks and experiences linked to:

• • inspiring a shared vision
  • providing instructional leadership
  • supporting Truth and Reconciliation
  • leading change initiatives
  • mentoring and coaching for peak performance
  • team building
  • strategic planning
  • leadership communication strategies
  • stakeholder relationships and engagement;

• Meaningfully address issues and challenges encountered by school leaders and develop practical strategies for action;

• • Reflect and build new leadership ideas for professional practice;
  • Connect with colleagues from other school jurisdictions to build an extended support network.

Arrangements can be made to extend the Leading for Learning 2023 learning experience for graduate level course credit. Participants will be required to pay a tuition fee to the university and to meet additional course requirements. More information can be obtained on the University Graduate Coursework tab. For any other inquiries, contact Colleen Symyrozum-Watt at 587 879-7026 or symwatt.colleen@gmail.com.

Overview of Working Together from a Place of Understanding

Learning Outcomes: To deepen the understanding and apply the learning to support implementation of professional practice with groups of system/school leaders and/or returning Start Right leaders.

Related LQS competencies participants will explore and experience:

1. Fostering Effective Relationships (such as – acting with fairness, respect and integrity; demonstrating empathy and a genuine concern for others; creating a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment; demonstrating a commitment to the health and well-being of all teachers, staff and students; engaging in collegial relationships while modeling and promoting open, collaborative dialogue; communicating, facilitating and solving problems effectively; and implementing processes for improving working relationships and dealing with conflict within the school community.)
2. Modeling Commitment to Professional Learning (such as – engaging with others such as teachers, principals and other leaders to build personal and collective professional capacities and expertise; actively seeking out feedback and information from a variety of sources to enhance leadership practice; engaging members of the school community to build a shared understanding of current trends and priorities in the Education system.)
3. Embodying Visionary Leadership (such as – recognizing the school community’s values and aspirations and demonstrating an appreciation for diversity; collaborating with other leaders and superintendents to address challenges and priorities; supporting school community members, including school councils, in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities)
4. Leading a Learning Community (such as – creating an inclusive learning environment in which diversity is embraced, a sense of belonging is emphasized, and all students and staff are welcomed, cared for, respected, and safe; establishing opportunities and expectations for the positive involvement of parents/guardians in supporting student learning)
5. Supporting the Application of Foundational Knowledge about First Nations, Métis and Inuit (such as – enabling all school staff and students to gain a knowledge and understanding of, and respect for, the histories, cultures, languages, contributions, perspectives, experiences and contemporary contexts of First Nations, Métis and Inuit; and pursuing opportunities and engaging in practices to facilitate reconciliation within the school community.)
6. Providing Instructional Leadership (such as – building the capacity of teachers to respond to the learning needs of all students; implementing professional growth, supervision and evaluation processes to ensure that all teachers meet the Teaching Quality Standard)

Difficult conversations with adults in school settings are becoming more commonplace and more intense.  How can you as a leader effectively communicate with those individuals with whom you work? Do you understand group dynamics? This presentation raises awareness of how behavior impacts people around us, and looks at the strengths everyone brings to the group that increases trust and respect so that relationships are maintained.

Presented by:
Dr. Konsctancija deGoeij joined the Alberta Teachers’ Association as an executive staff officer in the Member Services program area in 2004 and in 2006 became the Associate Coordinator Member Services, Administrator Assistance with a responsibility for professional learning and support for Alberta’s school leaders. She has considerable experience in professional relations, terminations, suspensions, transfers, evaluations, professional conduct investigations, and professional development, leadership training. She is a certified mediator and published author. Her focus is on relationships of trust in school settings and how these are related to important outcomes such as teacher behavior and student outcomes. Her presentations help school and district leaders to develop effective and intentional leadership practices in learning communities, where leaders feel comfortable with taking risks to bring out the best in the teachers in their schools and districts.

Prior to assuming her position with the Association, Konni had a wide variety of experience gained through working for four different school jurisdictions in Alberta. Konni has been a classroom teacher in grades 6 to grade 12 in a variety of disciplines and programs. Konni has taught has been a school administrator, both as Principal and Vice-Principal for 13 years. Being an administrator and teacher in schools from K – 12 in four different school divisions has allowed her the opportunity to work with a variety of teachers, administrators and division personnel.

Communicating with Conviction: Your Words Ripple Across the System 

  Presentation Slides

This session will help participants focus on effective communication practices as a foundation for all of their work. Everyone listens to the leader and tries to interpret the meaning of what is being shared. Whether in person, in writing written, or in informal settings such as a school visit, what the leader says, and how it is said ripples across the organization. Communicating is at the heart of the work in leadership. It provides a potential pathway to success for the teams we lead and to inspire the entire organization.  The presenters will share insights from four areas of leadership communications:

• Building trust through transparency
• Communicating the why
• Sharing the vision
• Modelling effective communications

Participants in this session will reflect upon, practice, and hear stories of practice from both the presenters and fellow participants. The presenters will share structures that have been both successful and unsuccessful, and also share insights on continued learning and wiser communications practices moving forward. Participants will leave the session with insight into their own communication style and practice, as well as with tools they can try to develop their communications practices further.

LQS Standards
Specifically, communication is a thread woven into the successful implementation of all of the Leadership Quality Standard competencies.

Presented by:
Dr. Chris Fuzessy joined the Foothills School Division team as Superintendent of Schools in June 2019. He moved to Alberta from Montreal at that time with his wife of 25 years, 3 children, 3 dogs and 2 cats to settle in the Foothills.  Since that time, Chris has worked closely with his Board of Trustees and Executive Team to develop the strategic direction of the division. With an investment in the prosperity of not only students, but families, and community members, Chris has guided the division to adopt the purpose of education at the center of a flourishing community.  From this, the region has benefited from the drive for excellence in serving students and their families and developing initiatives aimed at enhancing student empowerment, high-quality teaching, and learning.

Always learning, and ever-evolving, Chris continuously seeks information to guide his personal leadership skills and the practices at Foothills School Division. This information is synthesized and connected to real-work implications within the system; shared throughout via weekly communications and internal professional development opportunities. With a passion to exchange knowledge, Dr. Fuzessy collaborates with community partners and the FSD team to remove the barriers that impede a flourishing learning environment, resulting in a cohesive system-wide team that strives for the engagement, support, and success of each student. On a personal note, Chris carries this curiosity into the rest of his life and enjoys developing beginning skills of carpentry, running and hiking.

Dr. Fuzessy holds a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Arts, Educational Studies degree from Concordia University and a Doctor of Philosophy, Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning from the University of Toronto, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Throughout his 31 years of experience as an educator, Dr. Fuzessy has worked as an educational student life animator, education assistant, teacher, principal, and system level leader.  His academic studies focused on Inuit post-secondary students as well as the teachers’ role in the Nunavik education system. As Chris continues to share his knowledge with the larger community, he has come to be widely known as a leader who is consistently dedicated to the success and engagement of the greater school community.

Allen Davidson is an Assistant Superintendent of Employee Services with Foothills School Division (FSD). Al began his career in Peace River School Division before joining FSD in 1998 and has K-12 experience as a teacher with most of his time in Division 3 classrooms. During his 25 years with FSD he has served as a Teacher, Instructional Coach, Vice Principal, Principal, and system leader. He has benefited from strong mentorship throughout his career and seeks to reciprocate that gift to others through his leadership.

Context Impacts Leadership, Teaching, and Student Learning

  Presentation Slides

Principals, vice-principals, and other system leaders who participate in this session will engage in meaningful discussion approached through the lens of context and leave with deeper understanding about how context impacts systemic change.

This is a discussion-based session for developing school and system leaders in the area of systemic change. During our 2.5 hours together, we will engage in small and large group discussion around several scenarios and dilemmas that school leaders face each and every day. Come join us and be ready to share key ideas, and obstacles from your school and jurisdiction. Together, we will not only identify issues and challenges, but actual solutions that help us maximize quality teaching and optimum learning.

Related LQS Competencies:

Participants will have opportunities to add to their toolboxes in the following LQS competencies:

• Leadership Competency 1 – Fostering Effective Relationships
  • A leader builds positive working relationships with members of the school community and local community.
• Leadership Competency 3 – Embodying Visionary Leadership
  • A leader collaborates with the school community to create and implement a shared vision for student success, engagement, learning and well-being.
• Leadership Competency 4 – Leading a Learning Community
  • A leader nurtures and sustains a culture that supports evidence-informed teaching and learning.
• Leadership Competency 6- Providing Instructional Leadership
  • A Leader ensures that every student has access to quality teaching and optimum learning experiences.

Presented by:
Dr. Wilco Tymensen has worked in three school divisions and spent the last 28 years as a teacher, principal, director, associate superintendent and is currently the superintendent of the Horizon School Division. Wilco has an Educational Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Calgary. Wilco is serving as the past president of the College of Alberta School Superintendents for the 2023-2024 school year. A two-time nominee and finalist for Teaching in Excellence Award, he has taught at the elementary, junior, and senior high level, as well as at the Post Secondary (master’s) level. He has facilitated CASS professional development sessions for system leaders on topics such as the Superintendent Leadership Quality Standard, and presented at Alberta School Board Association (ASBA), Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and Alberta Education professional learning events. Wilco was born in the Netherlands and immigrated to Southern Alberta in the late 70’s. He is active in his community, is passionate about mountain biking and alpine skiing, and currently resides in Taber with his wife Dr. Lisa Tymensen.

21 Human Resources Skills that Help School Leaders

  Presentation Slides

Principals, vice-principals, and other leaders who participate in this session will engage in meaningful discussion and leave with a wide variety of tips, tricks, processes, resources, and key understandings in the area of human resources within the schoolhouse. 

Related LQS Competencies:  Participants will have opportunities to add to their toolboxes in the following LQS competencies:

• Leadership Competency 1 – Fostering Effective Relationships: For school leaders, developing and maintaining effective relationships with staff is just as important as relationships with other stakeholder groups.  And let it be said that it is not easy.  Great school leaders develop skills in serving their staff in the same manner that great teachers serve their students.
• Leadership Competency 8 – Managing School Operations and Resources: Many of us find ourselves in leadership positions without any formal training or background in the area of human resources.  We are great at teaching and learning, but need more support and learning opportunities when it comes to hiring, supporting, challenging, encouraging, managing, organizing, and celebrating staff.

This is a discussion-based session for developing school leaders in the area of human resources, personnel, staffing, people services and staff wellness.  During our 2 hours together we engage in small and large group discussion around several scenarios and dilemmas on human resource topics that school leaders face each and every day.    Come join us and be ready to share key ideas from your school and jurisdiction as well.  Together, we will not only identify issues and challenges, but actual solutions that help us manage our most important resource, our people.

Presented by:
Ray Hoppins has spent more than 30 years as a teacher, vice-principal, principal, and central office leader in Vegreville, Innisfail, Sundre, and Olds.  Ray has a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Calgary and is currently the Associate Superintendent of People Services with Chinook’s Edge School Division.  His teaching and leadership experiences transcend all grade levels from pre-kindergarten to grade 12. Ray served on the executive of the CESD School Administrators’ Association for many years and has played leadership roles on local and provincial committees in the areas of communication, mathematics, assessment for learning, program evaluation, and teacher supervision & evaluation. He has facilitated ATA and CASS professional development sessions for teachers and administrators on topics such as educational technology and school-based leadership. As a teacher, he served as a Pure Math 30 marker and item-writer for Alberta Education, as well as a math consultant for Central Alberta Regional Consortium.  Ray is active in his community and enjoys playing and coaching a variety of sports. He was raised on a family farm in Central Alberta and currently resides in Olds with his wife Sandi.  They have two children in post-secondary studies and two children in high school.  Ray has also presented at the Start Right Short Course for the last 17 years.

Transformational Leadership: Understanding and Leading Change

  Presentation Slides

8 Forces for Leaders of Change

A key to making effective change in a school is understanding the fundamentals of the change process which includes understanding the impact of both structural and cultural changes within a school. By being intentional with the process of change through understanding change management, leaders can apply methods to better solve problems or make changes. Walk away equipped with the tools to facilitate change in your own school as we delve into the many facts and myths of the change process.

Session Outcomes: At the end of the session, participants will:

• gain a better understanding of their knowledge regarding change,
• recognize how people respond to change, and
• learn strategies to help people and projects through the change process.

Related LQS Competencies:

3. Embodying Visionary Leadership
4. Developing Leadership Capacity

Presented by:
Maureen Ference is currently the principal of Glendon School, a Pre-K to Grade 12 school, and Pine Meadows Hutterite Colony. She served as principal of a middle school for 14 years, ten years as a teacher, counsellor, program consultant and assistant principal in a junior/senior high school, and two years as an elementary teacher.  Maureen graduated from the University of Alberta and received her Master’s degree from San Diego State University with a focus on leadership and administration. She recently completed her doctoral studies at the University of Portland.

Maureen sits on the Alberta Education Leadership Standards Committee and is an Association Administrator Instructors Corps member. She has served as a member of the Association’s Professional Practice Review Committee,  as a board member of the Learning Networks Consortium, as an executive member of the Council for School Leadership, and was appointed as an instructor for the Leadership Certification In-Service program.

Maureen is passionate about leadership development and supporting aspiring and new school leaders. She has been a guest presenter at the University of Alberta’s Summer School on Leadership Excellence and continues to enjoy opportunities to share her learning through designing and presenting workshops and facilitating division leadership programs.

Maureen resides with her ‘bison’ farmer husband near Bonnyville, Alberta. They have three grown children.

Enhancing Educational Leadership Through the Authentic Interweaving of Traditional Inuit Maligait & Qaujimajatuqangit Principles

Since time immemorial Inuit have lived in harmony on and with the land. In what some consider of the harshest climates and geographies in the world, Inuit have and continue to survive and thrive.  The success of our Inuit communities involve living, honoring, and upholding a specific set of principles and practices. Through the sharing of Inuit oral tradition & games, this session will support leaders in coming to an increased awareness of Inuit identity, customs, culture, community, and connection to the land with an emphasis on traditional Inuit approaches to leading and leadership. Educational Leaders will examine, explore, and develop practical methods to authentically interweave traditional Inuit principles into their personal and professional practice – enhancing and complementing the way they serve, support, guide and direct their faculty, staff, and students. Session participants are encouraged to dress comfortably for participation in the experiential learning component of the program.

This session will address the LQS competencies of:

• Fostering Effective Relationships
• Embodying Visionary Leadership
• Supporting the Application of Foundational Knowledge about First Nations, Métis and Inuit
• Developing Leadership Capacity

Presented by:
Jeanien Bell (she/her) is an Inuk kablunangujuq educator, artist, and angajukKâk of mixed Inuit and Qallunat ancestry. Raised in a semi remote sub-arctic village of 450 on the land, water, and ice on Nitassinan – the traditional territories of the Innu First Nation and her Nunatsiavumiut Inuit Ancestors. Guided by Inuit Maligait & Qaujimajatuqangit principles, Jeanien is fortunate to have lived her life immersed in the traditional land-based community centered ways of her Inuit Ancestors. Relationships formed on and with the land, the experience, knowledge, and skills acquired through traditional teachings motivates and inspires her life’s work.

For the past 16 years, Jeanien has been an honored and humbled guest in the Treaty 6 & Treaty 7 Territories – the traditional homelands of her Southern relatives, the diverse First Nations and Métis peoples. She considers it a great privilege to live among her human and more than human relatives and she is thereby committed to fulfilling her relational obligations to respect and care for the peoples, skies, lands, and waters that sustain and support all life.

Jeanien humbly serves her community as AngajukKâk of the Inuit Edmontonmiut Community, co-director / co-founder of the Inuit Community Development and Education Foundation, Chair of Indigenous Studies at NorQuest College and a member of the Métis Women’s Council on Economic Security advising the Minster of Indigenous Relations on policies, programs, and services to improve the lives of Indigenous women, their families, and communities. Jeanien uses her gift of two eyed seeing and her experience of walking in two worlds to serve Indigenous and Non-Indigenous communities alike; providing support, guidance, and direction to others so they may identify their unique gifts to uplift their families and communities: ensuring an increasingly just and equitable future for all.

Métis Sharing and Teaching: Embracing Our Rich Métis Culture

This immersive experience will celebrate the vibrant traditions, values, and spirituality that define the Métis community.

Throughout the session, Doreen Bergum, Métis Nation of Alberta Provincial Elder, will share her wisdom, stories, and personal experiences, offering valuable insights into her heritage and fostering a sense of intergenerational connection. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in open dialogue, asking questions, and deepening their understanding of the Métis way of life.

Presented by:
Doreen Bergum is a Métis Elder/Knowledge Keeper. Born in an era when it was illegal to express and practice her Métis Culture, number six in a family of ten, Métis family names include Boudreau/Dumont and Dufrense/Vaness.

As a Métis Elder/Knowledge Keeper, she was born and raised and still live in Métis Nation of Alberta Region 3 and Treaty 7 territory.

As a Métis Elder/Knowledge Keeper, Doreen opens conferences, meetings and cultural events with prayer. Sharing the wisdom and culture of our ancestors. Doreen teaches jigging, beading, moccasin-making and Capote-making.

Her drive comes from her commitment to teach her Métis culture to the youth as an important part of Canadian history and maintaining the Métis culture for generations to come. Doreen received the following awards:

• Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, December 2022
• Woman of Excellence Award 2019
  Certificate of Recognition for Community Involvement in Central Alberta
• Esquao Awards 2019
  Lifetime Achievement Award for Community Involvement as an Indigenous Woman

Simplexity and Student Learning

  Presentation Slides

Participants will leave with a better understanding of how they can serve as instructional leaders to improve learning.

This session will address the LQS competencies of: Providing Instructional Leadership , Leading a Learning Community,  Modeling a Commitment to Professional Learning.

Scott will begin with a reflection on leadership styles as they pertain to student learning. Scott will then lead participants through an examination of three high yield practices that improve student learning using a personalized narrative approach. The session will conclude with participants engaging in discussion and reflection about high yield instructional practices.

Presented by:
Dr. Scott Morrison is the recently retired Superintendent of Christ the Redeemer (CTR) Catholic Schools, which is centered in Okotoks and serves approximately 10,000 students across southcentral Alberta. Scott has been an educator for over 30 years, and his leadership experience also includes serving as an elementary school principal, a high school principal, a division principal, and an associate superintendent. Scott also serves as an instructor in educational psychology at St. Mary’s University, and an LQS and SLQS instructor for St. Mary’s University and the University of Calgary respectively. Scott also consults with St. Mary’s University on the development of its inaugural Master of Education program, and will be assuming the role of Executive Director of the Council of Catholic School Superintendents in the fall of 2023. Scott has a B.Ed. from the University of Lethbridge, an MA from Gonzaga University, and an Ed.D. from Taft University. Scott has presented dozens of professional development workshops on the topics of academic achievement, creating safe and caring schools, organizational storytelling, classroom management, and educational leadership. This is the 11th consecutive year that Scott will be presenting at Leading for Learning.

Leading Without a Name Tag: The 7 Dimensions of Leadership

Principals, vice-principals, and other leaders who participate in this session will engage in meaningful discussion and leave with key insights into 7 powerful dimensions of leadership.

Related LQS Competencies:  Participants will have opportunities to add to their toolboxes in the following LQS competencies:

• Leadership Competency 1 – Fostering Effective Relationships: This competency will be addressed throughout the session in a variety of ways. This session targets this competency more than any of the others.

• Leadership Competency 6 – Providing Instructional Leadership: One of the most difficult components of supervision and evaluation of teachers is building the will and the skill to confront injustice. A component of this session will tackle this very important competency.

Through the power of authentic storytelling this session will engage participants around 7 key points of discussion. Developing school leaders who want people to follow their legitimate authority (who they are and what they stand for) rather than designated authority (title) will come away energized and confident. This is a discussion-based session for teacher leaders, school leaders, and division office leaders that will focus on the person behind the name tag or title, how to create personal wellness in exceedingly difficult times, key components of effective teams, how to confront what matters most, and more.  During our 2.5 hours together we engage in small and large group discussion around several storylines that the presenter will share from several powerful and personal experiences. You will find affirmation for much of what you do already, you will steal some new ideas, and you will be challenged by some influential insights into leadership from someone who has had virtually every name tag there is. Grounds crew, educational assistant, teacher, head teacher, vice principal, principal, assistant superintendent, deputy superintendent and chief superintendent or CEO.

Presented by:
Kurt Sacher has served as Superintendent of Schools in Chinook’s Edge School Division for the past thirteen years. Prior to that, he served for 8 years as an Assistant Superintendent in charge of Human Resources for Wolf Creek Public Schools. He has 37 years of teaching and administrative experience, including 11 years as a school based administrator. Kurt was Head Teacher for an Outreach School in Penticton, British Columbia, Assistant Principal and Principal at Trochu Valley School, and concluded his school-based administrative experience by serving as Principal of Lacombe Composite High School for 5 years. Kurt has presented “The Story of Lester” at venues across Alberta for the past number of years which facilitates insight around the complexity of teacher performance issues. Kurt has also presented on several occasions to schools and various other groups on topics such as: “Building an Effective Team”; “The Big Little Things Great Teachers Do”; and “Dealing with Difficult Parents”. He has presented for 20 consecutive years at the CASS Start Right Program for Beginning School Leaders and for 16 consecutive years at the CASS Leading for Learning Program for Experienced School Leaders. Kurt was appointed the President for CASS for the 2018-19 school year effective July 1, 2018 and was the Past CASS President for two years and also a member of the C21 CEO Academy of Canada. Kurt was awarded the CASS EXL Award for Excellence in 2021. This prestigious award is granted to outstanding school system leaders who exhibit exemplary leadership ability and have enhanced the profession of school system administration over the course of their careers.

University Credit: Arrangements have been made to offer graduate coursework for participants who are interested in extending the Leading for Learning 2023 short course learning experience. If you are interested in pursuing this option, you will be required to register with the university and pay a tuition fee.

University of Alberta
Please e-mail Dr. José da Costa, Ed.D., Professor of Educational Administration and Leadership, Department of Educational Policy Studies, Faculty of Education at jdacosta@ualberta.ca. Dr. da Costa will provide information about both the registration procedures and the additional reading and assignment required.