| Judy Baraniuk - Principal, Evergreen Elementary School - Wild Rose School Division Judy is Principal of Evergreen Elementary, a Pre-K to Grade 4 school in Drayton Valley. With twelve years of experience as a Vice Principal across two elementary schools, Judy has dedicated her career to fostering collaborative environments. She is a firm believer that innovation, thoughtful lesson design, and purposeful assessment are the cornerstones of student success. Having built her educational philosophy through years of learning from colleagues, she is now passionate about mentoring the next generation of leaders. Judy believes that with the right structures and support, every student and educator can thrive. |
| Christina Barrington - Principal, Saint John High School - Anglophone School District South Christina is a forward thinking school leader who values and prioritises educator voices in the school improvement process. She has taught and led in four schools including her early career in Auckland, New Zealand. Collaborative Response has been the most effective means to achieve instructional and staff collaboration goals that she has had the privilege to co-create with her staff. Access a podcast featuring Christina! |
| Scott Brandt - Superintendent, Grasslands Public Schools Scott Brandt is currently in his eighth year as the Superintendent of Grasslands Public Schools. He began his teaching career 32 years ago being mentored by Lorna Hewson at Claresholm Elementary School. Since 2001, Scott has served as a leader in Grasslands and has experienced first hand the division’s evolution into a multiculturally rich and diverse school community. He firmly believes in the power of servant leadership and advocates that collaborative processes and structures are fundamental to schools’ and systems’ cultures of learning and teaching. Access a podcast featuring Scott! |
| Rob Champ - Learning Leader, Ernest Manning High School - Calgary Board of Education Rob Champ is the CTS Learning Leader at Ernest Manning High School. He has been teaching Culinary Arts at EMHS for 12 years. Rob’s professional interests include community building and incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing and being in CTS classrooms. Rob coaches Boys Rugby in the spring, and is also an active Provincial Technical Committee member for Culinary Arts with Skills Alberta. |
| Jennifer Ferguson - Principal, Percy Baxter Middle School - Northern Gateway Public Schools Jennifer Ferguson is an experienced, student-centred educational leader with expertise in instructional leadership, Collaborative Response, and system improvement. She has spent over a decade in division-level and school-based leadership roles, including Learning Services Coordinator and Learning Coach. Her years as WeCollab Lead with Jigsaw Learning have carved a special place in her heart for the simplexity of Collaborative Response and she is enjoying putting theory into practice in her new role as Principal of Percy Baxter Middle School, leading approximately 400 students and 35 staff. Access a podcast featuring Jennifer! |
| Ashlee Jodry - Assistant Principal and Inclusive Education Facilitator, Percy Baxter Middle School - Northern Gateway Public Schools Ashlee Jodry is the Assistant Principal and Inclusive Education Facilitator at Percy Baxter Middle School, where she is dedicated to fostering a positive, student-centered learning environment. She is proud to serve the Whitecourt community, working now in a school she experienced as a student. With a strong background in middle-years education, Ashlee supports both staff and students in achieving their best. She is known for her relational leadership style, commitment to inclusive practices, and belief in the power of strong partnerships between home and school. Ashlee brings expertise in instructional leadership, behaviour support, and school-wide organization, helping guide the Stars toward continuous growth and success. Access a podcast featuring Ashlee! |
| Leslee Jodry - Deputy Superintendent, Northern Gateway Public Schools Leslee currently holds the office of Deputy Superintendent with Northern Gateway Public Schools (NGPS). Leslee has fulfilled many roles as an educator and leader, including a variety of grade levels with a focus and passion for middle school education. In additional to multiple district-level roles in Northern Gateway, Leslee has also served as Assistant Superintendent with Grande Yellowhead Public School Division. In her current role, alongside the senior leadership, Learning Services Team and school-based administrators, Leslee is dedicated to ensuring students are successful and students are supported. |
| Beverly Kinley - Education Specialist, Calgary Board of Education's Indigenous Education Team "Beverly di waayu. Ts’msyen nüüyu. Ganhada di pteegu. Kitsukalum di wil waatgu. Beverly Kinley is Ts’msyen First Nations of the Ganhada clan from Kitsumkalum. She is also of Gitxan and mixed European ancestry. Beverly works as an Education Specialist with the Calgary Board of Education’s Indigenous Education Team, with a focus on mobilizing holistic approaches for improving the well-being and achievement of Indigenous students. As a Ts’msyen person, Sm’algyax language learner and educator, Beverly is passionate about advancing Truth and Reconciliation and creating and holding space for Indigenous values, language, land connection and culture through her work. |
| Andrea Hodges-Payne - Principal, Aurora Elementary School - Wild Rose School Division Andrea Hodges-Payne has worked for the past 32 years in three elementary schools in Drayton Valley, including as Principal at three schools. Her Masters is in Educational Studies and she loves leading her team of teachers as designers of learning in a very open, flexible environment. |
| Kristien Holtby - Assistant Superintendent of Student Support, Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools Kristien Holtby has lived and learned in the Pigeon Lake community for his entire life, including working in schools in Central Alberta for the past 28 years. With experience as an inclusive lead teacher, a Lead Learner, School Administrator at various schools in Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools, a Director of Inclusion and now an Assistant Superintendent of Student Support at Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools, Kristian is also an alumni of U of A and U of L. Access a podcast featuring Kristien! |
| Sarah Meade - Learning Specialist, Calgary Board of Education's Indigenous Education Team Sarah Meade (she/her) is an educator of mixed ancestry (Northern Irish & Mikmaw) currently residing in Mohkintsis (Calgary, Alberta). She grew up in Southern Ontario on the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinabek, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, Ojibway/Chippewa, and Métis peoples. She has taught for over 17 years including on a remote fly-in Anishnaabe community, an independent school for youth- at risk in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia and for the last decade in the Calgary Board of Education. She received her Doctor of Education degree from the University of Calgary in 2023 focusing on how practicing teachers are engaging in decolonizing education. Sarah’s passions include Land Based Learning and culturally responsive education. |
| Nicole Short - Assistant Superintendent, Grasslands Public Schools Nicole is the Assistant Superintendent of Grasslands Public Schools. Prior to this position, Nicole spent three years in the Director of Student Services role. With over 20 years in the Division, Nicole has been involved in supporting students in many roles, including teacher, LST, Administrator and system leader. Nicole holds a strong conviction that the highest achievements in teaching and learning are realized through meaningful collaboration. |
| Trevor Van Someren - WeCollab Lead, Jigsaw Learning Trevor is an experienced administrator with over 13 years as a principal at a number of schools from K-8. He has been involved with system leadership as a early adopter of Collaborative Response and is now a WeCollab Lead with Jigsaw Learning, supporting leaders in their use of WeCollab software. Fun facts about Trevor: he is an avid Oilers fan, a dad of two kids and is a Realtor with Century 21 Masters in Edmonton! Access a podcast featuring Trevor! |
| Mike Wilson - Principal, Ernest Manning High School - Calgary Board of Education Mike Wilson is the Principal of Ernest Manning High School in the Calgary Board of Education (CBE). Mike has held a variety of leadership and instructional roles within the CBE over the past 26 years and is deeply committed to student success. In addition to his school-based administrative responsibilities, Mike is actively involved in high school athletics, coaching football at Ernest Manning High School and through Football Alberta. |
