Featured Vendors
Meet with Nancy to talk about how you can run an effective Literacy Intervention at your school. Her BLAST materials support the teaching of the foundational skills needed for students to become proficient readers. This collaborative approach to intervention involves mutiple classes or grades and can meet the needs of all students performing below, at, or above grade level.
Stop by her table to have a chat and pick up your free gift!
Learn More
An Alberta-based team of educators passionate about supporting teachers! Teacher Time Machine is an AI-powered platform that helps save time while empowering teachers to create customized, curriculum-aligned lessons that drive student success. With ongoing mentorship and professional learning, they are here to support you every step of the way.
Visit their table for a quick demo and chat about how they can support you and your team!
Learn More
Ignite creativity and meaningful learning with Teachers Linked—a proud vendor at this year’s Collaborative Response Retreat!
From practical online courses to ready-to-use classroom materials and hands-on STEM programs with custom LEGO® kits, Teachers Linked makes great teaching easier and more impactful—wherever you teach.
Stop by their table to meet the team and explore their exciting STEM kits in action!
Meet the Presenters and hear their stories for the 2025 Collaborative Response Retreat!
Access YouTube Playlist
Presenters
| Chris Adamson - Principal, Innisfail High School - Chinook's Edge School Division Chris was born in Calgary but grew up in Ottawa, attending school from K-12 in French Immersion and receiving a B.Sc. at the University of Ottawa. Following graduation he moved to Fredericton, New Brunswick where he received his B.Ed. at the University of New Brunswick. He began his teaching career with the Fort Vermilion School Division where he later became a Vice-Principal, Principal, and completed his M.Ed. in Assessment and Instructional Leadership at the University of Calgary. Most recently he had the privilege of moving to Chinook’s Edge School Division where he is currently the Principal of Innisfail High School. Chris published his first paper in June, 2020 titled New Teacher Assessment Literacy: Determining and Narrowing the Gaps. Over the past seven years, he has been presenting and engaging with colleagues around western Canada to improve existing frameworks. How to Grow Collaborative Response with Intentionality and Purpose with Chris Adamson - Ep 57 - Listen to this podcast featuring Chris! |
| Sean Beaton - Assistant Superintendent of Support Services - Grasslands Public Schools Sean is the Assistant Superintendent of Support Services with Grasslands Public Schools. With over 25 years of experience in K-12 education, Sean has served as a teacher, school-based administrator, Division Coordinator and Assistant Superintendent. Sean’s leadership is grounded in fostering a student focused, inclusive learning environment that embraces diversity and ensures all students can find success. Grasslands District Collaborative Response: Multi-Layered Approach - Listen to this podcast featuring Sean! |
| John Braga - Teacher, F.G. Miller Jr/Sr High School - St. Paul Education John Braga earned his B.Sc. (Hons.), Physics from the University of Alberta and B.Ed. from the University of Calgary. Afterwards, he returned to his hometown of Elk Point, Alberta, where he has taught junior high math at F.G. Miller Jr./Sr. High School for the last eleven years. For the last two years he has been on the school leadership team implementing Collaborative Response at F.G. Miller. Colleagues affectionately tease his ability to answer any question with a spreadsheet. Unifying Purpose Through Collaborative Response at FG Miller Jr/Sr High with John Braga - Ep 60 - Listen to this podcast featuring John! |
| Keri Card-Esau - Principal, H.W. Pickup Middle School - Wild Rose School Division Kim Wedman - Learning Services Coordinator - Wild Rose School Division Keri Esau is the principal of H.W. Pickup Middle School in Drayton Valley. She has been a school leader for nine years both within Wild Rose School Division and as principal of a local First Nation School. Keri earned her Master's degree from the University of Calgary with a focus on Instructional Leadership and Inclusive Practices. She believes that purposeful and planned collaboration is the key to unleashing potential for student success through teacher expertise and the power of the team. Kim Wedman is the Learning Services Coordinator with Wild Rose School Division. She is an instructional specialist and has supported schools and districts with a wide range of experience in instruction and assessment through the lens of literacy, numeracy, English as Additional Language Learners, inclusive education, and curriculum. Kim has over 25 years experience with her masters in Leadership and Design Thinking. She is passionate about community connections and building collaborative learning environments for all stakeholders. Kim lives in Rocky Mountain House and has two amazing boys and husband who support her in all of her endeavors. Along with Kim’s passion for education, she loves to be outdoors hiking and camping with family. Acknowledging the Messiness When Implementing Collaborative Response with Keri Card-Esau and Kim Wedman - Ep 64 - Listen to this podcast featuring Keri and Kim! |
| Bev Cotton - Director of Learning Supports - Northern Gateway Public Schools Bev Cotton is the Director of Learning Supports for Northern Gateway Public Schools. With over 30 years in the Division, she has been involved in supporting students in many roles, including teacher, department head, Inclusive Education Facilitator, and eleven years as a system leader. She has worked over the years to ensure students and have a continuum of support using the division's Quality Learning Environments and Collaborative Response framework. Aligning A Vision within a Division Through Collaborative Response w/ Bev Cotton - Ep 62 - Listen to this podcast featuring Bev! |
 | Tanya Dann - Assistant Principal, Dr. Gordon Higgins School - Calgary Board of Education Tanya Dann is an Assistant Principal at Dr. Gordon Higgins School and a former Learning Leader at Sir Wilfrid Laurier School, in the Calgary Board of Education. She is an experienced educator and advocate for collaborative response systems in schools. She has worked with diverse teams to create data-driven, inclusive approaches, and interventions that improve student outcomes. Tanya's passion lies in building teacher and system capacity to address students' learning and social-emotional needs by highlighting the strength of collective teacher efficacy. Tanya is committed to ensuring every student receives the support they need to thrive. Establishing Collaborative Response for Middle School Success at Sir Wilfrid Laurier School - Ep 49 - Listen to this podcast featuring Tanya! |
| Darrin DeForge - Principal, Joan Carr Catholic Elementary/Junior High - Edmonton Catholic School Division Darrin DeForge has been a principal with Edmonton Catholic Schools for 17 years and has opened three new schools, in 2017, 2020 (Genesis online school) and 2023 where he is currently the principal of Joan Carr Catholic Elementary/Junior High. He has been Director of Inclusive Education and co-lead division projects in Assessment and Reporting as well as developing interview questions and scoring tools for teachers new to the division in conjunction with Human Resource Services. He is research focused when developing school priorities and culture and is a strong proponent of Visible Learning, the Collaborative Response Approach and the importance of Self and Collective Efficacy. Deepening Instructional Clarity and Support Through Collaborative Response with Darrin DeForge - Ep 59 - Listen to this podcast featuring Darrin! |
| David Dyck - Education Director - School Improvement - Calgary Board of Education In addition to supporting schools in Area 7, David Dyck leads the system portfolio of Well-Being. David values opportunities to work closely with principals and assistant principals both in the Area and system contexts centered on developing effective teams and partnerships to improve both practice and student achievement. The Well-Being portfolio includes providing system leadership to: student well-being; the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) team, and related curriculum areas. |
| Allison Field - Principal, Peter Lougheed School - Calgary Board of Education Allison Field began her career within the Calgary Board of Education in 2003 and has since served in pre K-12 schools across the city as Teacher, Learning Leader, Assistant Principal and Principal. Allison believes in school-wide collaboration and consensus building to create and implement a shared vision for student success based on evidence and current research. Through establishing collaborative school-wide structures, leaders are able to build capacity in teachers' ability to meet the needs of all students through improving task design and assessment practices, tiering of supports and creating learning environments where students, feel welcomed, safe, cared for and respected. |
| Chris Good - Principal, Lindsay Thurber High School - Red Deer Public Schools Chris Good is the Principal at Lindsay Thurber High School, a 9-12 school in Red Deer with 2000 students. Chris has been a Principal from K-12 in three different schools and has implemented Collaborative Response at both high school and elementary. Impacting School-Wide Culture Through Collaborative Response at a High School with Chris Good - Listen to this podcast featuring Chris! |
| Helene Hewitt - Principal, Davidson Creek Elementary - Elk Island Public Schools With 22 years in education, Helene is passionate about ensuring student success in learning, particularly in reading! She believes that a regular review of educational research is key in aligning theory and practice. She values working in collaborative teams where collective knowledge spurs innovation. Helene believes that relationships are at the core of our work to nurture children in partnership with families. To do our best work, we must invest in our own health, passions and emotional well-being. While being a teacher is one of her passions, her other areas of interest include singing, crochet Amigurumi, and little dogs named Mochi. Fueling Instructional Innovation Through Collaborative Response with Davidson Creek Elementary - Ep 65 - Listen to this podcast featuring Helene! |
| Jaret Hofer - Principal, Brooks Junior High School - Grasslands Public Schools With a 27 year career in education, a BPE, BEd., & MEd. from the University of Calgary, Jaret has cultivated a deep commitment to teaching and leadership. His journey spans diverse roles across elementary, junior and senior high levels. Currently serving in his fifth year as Principal of BJHS, Jarets' leadership journey began with two years as Vice Principal at BJHS, and two years at Griffin Park School. His extensive background as a Physical Education teacher, and coach have provided him with expertise in scheduling, planning, organizing events and working collaboratively within a team to reach collective goals. Establishing and Expanding Impactful Team Structures at the Junior High Level with Jaret Hofer - Ep 63 - Listen to this podcast featuring Jaret! |
| Robyn Jensen - Vice Principal, Brooks Junior High School - Grasslands Public Schools Robyn Jensen was born and raised in Brooks, Alberta. She earned her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta and later completed her Master’s in Inclusive Education and Neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge. With a passion for fostering student success, she began her career as a Grade 6 teacher before transitioning into a Learning Support role. Currently, she serves as the vice principal at Brooks Junior High School, where she is dedicated to creating inclusive and engaging learning environments. Robyn brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to empowering both students and educators. |
| Kacey Oehlerking - Assistant Principal, École James S. McCormick School - Wolf Creek Public Schools Kacey Oehlerking is the Assistant Principal at École James S. McCormick School in Lacombe, Alberta, with 26 years of experience in education. Her career has focused on primary grades, including roles as an Elementary Music Specialist and French Immersion teacher. She currently also teaches Kindergarten in a French Immersion classroom. Kacey has served as a division-level coordinator with Wolf Creek Public Schools, supporting Elementary Literacy, English as an Additional Language, Pre-Kindergarten Programming, and French Immersion initiatives, along with new curriculum implementation. Passionate about the development of the whole child, Kacey enjoys building connections with students and helping them realize their potential. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, running, cooking, and reading with her family. |
| Andrea Petroni - Principal, Sir Wilfrid Laurier - Calgary Board of Education Andrea Petroni is an experienced middle school principal with a deep commitment to fostering student success and professional collaboration. With over 20 years in education, Andrea has led initiatives focused on empowering teachers, building strong school communities, and implementing data-driven practices. Passionate about supporting diverse learners, Andrea works to create inclusive environments where every student has the opportunity to thrive. Through strategic leadership, Andrea has worked closely with staff to develop effective systems for collaboration, ensuring that all educators are equipped to meet the needs of their students. Establishing Collaborative Response for Middle School Success at Sir Wilfrid Laurier School - Listen to this podcast featuring Andrea! |
| Chris Radu - Education Director - School Improvement - Calgary Board of Education Chris Radu is an educator with over 20 years of experience in the Calgary Board of Education serving in various roles, including as a teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, and System Principal. Currently, Chris is an Education Director with the Calgary Board of Education in School Improvement. Chris currently leads the Inclusive Education portfolio, which includes Strategists, Specialists, and System Principals, as well as the essential services of Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Speech-Language. Chris also supports over 200 Specialized Classes across the CBE, as well as a number of Unique Settings. |
| Melissa Rogers - Principal, École James S. McCormick School - Wolf Creek Public Schools Melissa has served as an educator in various roles from Kindergarten to Grade Twelve over the last 21 years, including administration, classroom teaching, physical education, coaching, and committee membership. Melissa is a passionate educator who considers it a privilege to make a difference in the lives of others through fostering strong, authentic relationships. Melissa is grateful to Wolf Creek Public Schools and her school, École J.S. McCormick for fully embracing Collaborative Response and understands how impactful this process can be in supporting the needs of all students. |
| Nicole Short - Director of Student Services - Grasslands Public Schools Nicole is the Director of Student Services for Grasslands Public Schools. With over 20 years in the Division, Nicole has been involved in supporting students in many roles, including teacher, LST, Admin and system leader. As a parent of an individual with a disability, Nicole walks the talk to ensure students and their support teams have the resources necessary to meet their needs. Grasslands District Collaborative Response: Multi-Layered Approach - Listen to this podcast featuring Nicole! |
 | Stacy Siminick - Teacher, Davidson Creek Elementary - Elk Island Public Schools Stacy is an energetic and positive Elementary school teacher with over 20 years of experience. She has taught over 10 years in kindergarten and the past 3 years in Grade one. Her passions include early literacy and building strong connections with students and parents. Stacy believes strongly in the power of teamwork and the positive effect it has on our students. When not at school she enjoys reading, walking, and watching her 2 daughters play hockey. Fueling Instructional Innovation Through Collaborative Response with Davidson Creek Elementary - Ep 65 - Listen to this podcast featuring Stacy! |
| South East Cornerstone Public School Division Team
|
| Lindsay Stafford - Assistant Principal - Peter Lougheed School - Calgary Board of Education Lindsay Stafford has been teaching and leading in Calgary Board of Education middle schools since 2007. She is passionate about inclusivity and coaches teachers to be flexible when responding to complex needs. Lindsay’s Master’s work focussed on redesigning a school’s Code of Conduct and was grounded in Integral Theory, which honoured a balance between system direction, community perspective alongside student and staff voice. As an Assistant Principal, Lindsay is immersed in team meetings focussed on task design and assessment by utilizing data to determine next steps for teaching and learning. |
| Jeff Thompson - Assistant Principal - Peter Lougheed School - Calgary Board of Education Jeff Thompson has served in a variety of settings within the Calgary Board of Education since 2005. He has worked in gifted education, opened three new schools, spanning across the K-12 divisions. Jeff spent several years working in a Learning Commons where he built capacity with teachers in designing creative and collaborative tasks and assessment practices. Jeff’s Master’s work focused on Educational Leadership and Collaborative Creativity, which served him in leading numerous teams to create a state of the art Robotics program and the revitalization of two different Learning Commons. |
 | Trevor Van Someren - Principal, Griffiths-Scott School - Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools Trevor Van Someren has been a Principal with WRPS at several schools and is currently the Principal of Griffiths-Scott School in Millet. Collaborative Response has been an area of great interest for him and he has been working alongside fellow leaders in WRPS to help shape and develop the implementation with the school teams that he works with. Growing as a Team to Impact Collective Efficacy with Griffiths-Scott School - Ep 66 - Listen to this podcast featuring Trevor! |
