Featured Vendor
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 multiple classes or grades and can meet the needs of all students- performing below, at, or above grade level.
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Presenters
| Chris Adamson - Principal, Innisfail High School - Chinook's Edge School Division Chris 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. Over the past five years, he has been presenting at Collaborative Response Symposiums and engaging with colleagues around the province to improve existing frameworks. Collaborative Response in the High School Context - Listen to this podcast featuring Chris! |
| Scott Brandt - Superintendent, Grasslands Public Schools Scott has served as a school and system leader in Grasslands Public Schools since 2001. He is currently in his 8th year as the superintendent after serving in the division office as the assistant superintendent and deputy superintendent. He is very proud of the exceptional work occurring throughout Grasslands' schools in order to meet the very diverse learning needs of students. He is married to an amazing grade 4 teacher and has three children and two granddaughters. The Value of System-Wide Implementation with Scott Brandt and Brita Goldie - Listen to this podcast featuring Scott! |
| Braedon Cameron - Vice Principal, Bassano School - Grasslands Public Schools Braedon Cameron is the Vice Principal at Bassano School and serves students and staff in pre-kindergarten to grade 12. He also supports Indigenous students through a variety of grade levels who attend Bassano School as part of an education services agreement (ESA) with Siksika Nation. Braedon is in his second year of administration after working at the high school and outreach school in Brooks. |
| Morlene Corcoran - Learning Coach, Joan Carr Catholic Elementary/Junior High - Edmonton Catholic School Division Morlene Corcoran has been an Elementary Teacher with Edmonton Catholic schools for over thirty years and for the last six years a Learning Coach. She is currently the Learning Coach at Joan Carr Catholic Elementary/Junior High School. Morlene and her team are currently using the Collaborative Response approach to support children within a targeted learning classroom environment. The classroom team consists of a multi-disciplinary team, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavior therapists to target student needs. Establishing a Culture of Collaborative Response as a Guiding Mindset - Listen to this podcast featuring Morlene. |
| 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-led 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. Establishing a Culture of Collaborative Response as a Guiding Mindset - Listen to this podcast featuring Darrin. |
| Colin Desnoyers - Director of Curriculum - Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education Colin is the Director of Curriculum for Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education and has plenty of experience in engaging and establishing Collaborative Response from a variety of roles. Colin has established Collaborative Response at a junior high school, middle school and for online learning from the roles of vice principal, principal and lead coordinator. Colin also has experience doing the Collaborative Response work across two school divisions; Lakeland Roman Catholic Separate School Division and most currently with Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education. Ensuring Fidelity: The Key Lies in the Collaboration Processes and Structures - Listen to this podcast featuring Colin! |
| Tracy Duckett - Principal, École James S. McCormick School - Wolf Creek Public Schools With four decades in the field, Tracy has worked as an educational assistant, teacher, and administrator. Over the years, she has been deeply committed to promoting the profession, from working on committees for Alberta Education and the ATA to presenting on a wide range of topics throughout central Alberta. In all her roles, her constant focus/challenge has been on meeting students where they are and helping them grow emotionally, socially, academically, physically and personally. Tracy finds Collaborative Response has provided the perfect approach to collaboratively meeting student needs. |
| David Dyck - Education Director, Area 7/Well-Being - Calgary Board of Education David Dyck is an Education Director in School Improvement with the Calgary Board of Education. In addition to supporting schools in Area 7, he 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. |
| Brita Goldie - Principal, Bassano School - Grasslands Public Schools Brita is in her second year as the Principal at Bassano School and serves students and staff in pre-kindergarten to grade 12. She also supports Indigenous students through a variety of grade levels who attend Bassano School as part of an education services agreement (ESA) with Siksika Nation. She has been a strong advocate for Collaborative Response and sees its impact in a small rural school. In her 10 year career, Brita has served as the vice principal in Bassano and as a VP and teacher in the High Prairie School Division. The Value of System-Wide Implementation with Scott Brandt and Brita Goldie - Listen to this podcast featuring Brita! |
| Chris Good - Principal, Lindsay Thurber High School - Red Deer Public Schools Chris Good is the Principal at Lindsay Thurber High School in Red Deer. Lindsay Thurber is home to 2000 students in grades 9 to 12 and 150 staff. Chris has led the implementation of Collaborative Response at both the elementary school (Barrie Wilson School) and high school (Lindsay Thurber). Chris has been a school principal for 14 years in three different schools and has been an administrator of schools at all levels K-12. |
| Katie Graham - Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services, Grasslands Public Schools Katie is the Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services and a former vice principal and principal in Grasslands. She currently leads the division's work in curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional learning. This year she is busy coordinating staff professional development as part of their implementation of early dismissal professional learning on Friday afternoons. |
| Kari Huk - Principal, Woodbridge Farms Elementary School - Elk Island Public Schools Kari has been an educator with Elk Island Public School for over 20 years. She first read about Collaborative Response in 2017. Since then, she has been passionate using these structures and processes in each school she has been at. Kari is currently the Principal of Woodbridge Farms Elementary School in Sherwood Park. Think Big, Act Small - Leading a Culture of Response with Principal Kari Huk - Listen to this podcast featuring Kari! |
| Carolyn Jensen - Principal, Memorial Composite High School - Parkland School Division Carolyn Jensen is a soon to be retired 35 year educator and Principal of Memorial Composite High School. With a background in supporting diverse learners and mental health, then moving into administration, Carolyn has implemented the Collaborative Response process in two different schools for two different reasons. Understanding context to create systems is the lens she has used to implement Collaborative Response. How Collaborative Response Transformed a High School - Listen to this podcast featuring Carolyn! |
| Alison Lessard - Specialized Student Supoorts Coordinator - Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools Alison has been an educator for over 30 years and has been with Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools since 2001 as a teacher, learning support facilitator and specialized student support consultant. Alison is also a registered psychologist and she has extensive knowledge in assisting school teams with creating diverse learning program plans and scaffolding supports and services for individualized success. |
| Anne Martens - Principal, Pat Hardy Elementary - Northern Gateway Public Schools Anne Martens is in her sixth year as the principal of Pat Hardy Elementary School. She is a passionate educator with Northern Gateway Schools, where she has served as a grade 8 teacher, school counselor, assistant principal, and district coordinator for Learning Services. Anne brings a unique perspective to her role as a principal with experiences as a Family Life Educator, librarian, and student support/counselor prior to becoming a teacher. |
| Brittany McGonigal - Teacher, Memorial Composite High School - Parkland School Division Brittany McGonigal is in her 4th year of teaching and is an enthusiastic participant in the Memorial Composite High School Collaborative Response process. It was of great assistance to her as a new teacher to the school to orient herself and have an instant network. She will share her experiences that have helped her successfully enter the profession and added both teaching and intervention strategies to ensure that her students complete courses to the best of their ability. |
| Shanley Mercer - Assistant Principal, Joan Carr Catholic Elementary/Junior High - Edmonton Catholic School Division Shanley is in her 20th year of teaching and is currently in the role of Assistant Principal at Joan Carr Catholic JH/Elementary School with Edmonton Catholic. Throughout her career she has served as an Instructional Coach, Learning Coach, EAL Designate, and taught Grades 1 through 12. She has completed her Masters Degree in Religious Education specializing in Administration. Currently her pursuits include developing and supporting a creative Inclusive Model at Joan Carr, and utilizing Collaborative Response to enhance Visible Learning and Instructional Coaching in the classroom founded upon the principles of Universal Design for Learning. Establishing a Culture of Collaborative Response as a Guiding Mindset - Listen to this podcast featuring Shanley. |
| Tracy Mercer - Literacy Lead / Teacher, Pat Hardy Elementary - Northern Gateway Public Schools Tracy Mercer has been a dynamic and student-centred teacher with Northern Gateway for 23 years, primarily in Grade 1. She is passionate about brain science, literacy, and trauma-informed practices. She is a literacy lead at Pat Hardy and is instrumental in supporting both new and seasoned teachers. |
| Chris Radu - Education Director, Inclusive Education - 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 - Assistant 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. |
| Raymonde Roulston - Director - Early Childhood and Learning Support Services - Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools Raymonde has served Greater St. Albert Catholic schools over the last 31 years as a teacher, vice principal, principal, division principal, and Director of Early Childhood Education and Learning Support Services. GSACRD’s Collaborative Response journey began in 2021 with a book study for division leaders and administrators coordinated and led by Raymonde. Fast forward to 2024, every school in the division has implemented CR to support student achievement and growth. Furthermore, GSACRD system leaders have embraced the CR framework to address key issues across the division. When leaders and teachers in the division understand and value CR, great things happen in the classroom! |
| Nancy Roy Halun - Principal, Ecole Notre-Dame - Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord Nancy began her career more than twenty-five years ago in education as a special needs teacher in the Outaouais region of Québec. She has been working at Greater North Central Francophone School Board in Edmonton for more than fifteen years. During her career in education, she has worked as a school principal, educational consultant, learning coach, teacher and special needs teacher. She is now principal of a francophone elementary school in Edmonton. Nancy's energy, positive nature and sense of humor complement her sensitivity and compassion for those around her. She believes in the success of each student and the strength of teamwork! Planning for Purposeful Collaboration: Lessons Learned from Principal Nancy Roy Halun - Listen to this podcast featuring Nancy! |
| Carmen Semeniuk - Principal, Light of Christ Catholic School - Lakeland Catholic School Division Carmen is the Principal of Light of Christ Catholic School that serves students from Preschool to Grade 12 in English and French Immersion. She has been in the education field for 15 years and is in her 5th year as an Administrator. |
| Amanda Small - Teacher, Memorial Composite High School - Parkland School Division Amanda Small has been teaching for 16 years at Memorial Composite High School and is in the role of Lead Teacher for the PE/Fine Arts department. As do all Lead Teachers at MCHS, Amanda has been facilitating collaborative team meetings for three years. Her coaching background has been valuable in bringing one of MCHS’s interdisciplinary teams together to work positively and productively. |
| Jeff Thompson - Deputy Superintendent - Peace River School Division Dr. Jeff Thompson has worked for nearly 40 years in the K-12 public education system in two Canadian provinces. For the past 30 years, he has served as a system-level leader for 6 different school jurisdictions ranging in size from 3000 to nearly 70,000 students. His system-level leadership roles have included Curriculum Specialist, Assistant Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, and Superintendent of Schools. In addition to undergraduate degrees in Science (Biology) and Education (Secondary), Jeff holds a MEd in Curriculum and Instruction and a PhD in Educational Leadership with a specific focus on Change Leadership. After completing his doctoral studies in 2017 which focused on the use of Assessment Literacy to reculture schools for maximized student success, he moved to the Peace River School Division where he is now the Deputy Superintendent and where he has spent the last 6 years passionately promoting Collaborative Response as a highly effective change initiative that fosters success for all students. Collaborative Response: A Journey, Not an Event - Listen to this podcast featuring Jeff! |
| Michael York - Principal, Buck Mountain Central School - Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools Working in rural schools for his entire career, Michael is a firm believer in finding educational solutions that fit the school, and celebrating the unique identity of schools. As a high school principal, with an English teacher background, a focus on literacy and a passion for reading has followed his career, and he is proud to have worked in schools where this a priority. Learning by Doing: Collaborative Response at Buck Mountain Central School - Listen to this podcast featuring Michael! |
Guest Panelists
| Keri Card-Esau - Principal - HW Pickup School - Wild Rose School Division Keri has served as a school administrator for the past eight years in both Wildrose School Division and with Paul First Nation . Previously she held roles as an Inclusive Education Coordinator and a classroom teacher. Keri has earned her Masters Degree in Instructional Leadership and Inclusive Education. |
| Andrea Hodges-Payne - Principal - Evergreen School - Wild Rose School Division Andrea has worked for the past 30 years in three elementary schools in Drayton Valley, including as Principal at two schools (soon to be three). Her Masters is in Educational Studies and she loves leading her team of teachers as designers of learning in a very open, flexible environment. |
| Sherri MacDowell - Principal - Fairview Jr/Sr High School Sherri has been teaching for over 20 years and an administrator in Northern Alberta for the past 15 years. She has served as an administrator in a K-12 setting as well as in a current Jr/Sr. High setting in Fairview. |
| Nicole Short - Director of Student Services - Grasslands Public Schools Nicole Short has been the Director of Student Services for Grasslands for the past two years and before that, a teacher and an administrator for approx 20 years. |
| Kim Wedman - Learning Services Coordinator - Wild Rose School Division Kim 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 of teaching experience and has her masters in Leadership and Design Thinking. |
| Val Yaremchuk - Principal - École Secondaire Lacombe Composite High School Val has served as an educator with Wolf Creek for 30 years as a classroom teacher, work study coordinator, and administrator. As the Principal of Lacombe Composite High School for the last 16 years, it has been her mission to support students to reach their full potential. |
