GETCA 2025

In the last five years, North American Society has had an increased focus on Mental Health and Wellness. In nearly every segment of society a person’s mental health has been brought to the forefront of discussion when it comes to identifying issues that affect overall health and wellness. Unfortunately, while international research has come to understand that mental health and wellness struggles affect all ethnicities and cultures – there are many people both locally and abroad that have a lack of understanding as to how their own families are affected by these very real issues. This session will explore why some families tend to not see mental health affecting personal wellness and how we can communicate these very real issues to the parents of our international students when they arise in our schools and districts. This session will lay out best practices on how to communicate mental health issues to parents, especially those who are new to Canada.

Does it feel like you're talking about the same students over and over? Are you wanting to take your PLC's and RTI efforts to the next level? Do your team meetings lack the clarity and purpose you're looking for as a leader? In this session, Lorna will articulate, with multiple school samples and resources, the value of layering collaborative structures and processes within a school and how the introduction of a very intentional collaborative team meeting can work to respond to the needs of students collaboratively, while increasing the instructional capacity of everyone involved. In essence, schools reduce the number of meetings about students...by adding one more! By intentionally layering and connecting our PLC and RTI structures, we leverage and maximize the most powerful resource in any school for supporting the whole child - the teachers working within our building! Come learn what thousands of schools have learned about these purposeful collaborative structures and processes to ensure every student is supported by a team. Please ensure you have a device to access online materials through QR code or URL link.

Take your classroom global by using online social networking and digital media tools to foster global citizenship. This session equips educators with the skills and tools to introduce the use of interactive video conferencing. This tool allows students to connect with insightful and inspirational guest speakers, to help build a virtual community of problem solvers addressing today's global challenges alongside their global peers.

Do you dislike interpersonal conflict? It’s the most common fear associated with negotiating. Mastering interpersonal communication requires negotiating difficult conversations with students, parents, and peers. Being well prepared and anticipating and planning for the unexpected is key to managing these conversations with empathy. When you learn how to develop, trust, and spontaneously tap into your imagination and intuition, you can collaborate, negotiate, and make other important decisions efficiently and reliably. In this session, you will learn the: Five Steps to Win-Win Collaborative Negotiations; Six Common Negotiation Misconceptions and Remedies; and more. You will also receive a quiz and Reference Guide that identifies your Collaborator Strengths and Vulnerabilities. If you could have strong and meaningful relationships and peace of mind at work, wouldn’t you want this?

Over the past number of years, with the growth of tiered response systems in schools, educational organizations have become proficient at tiering students for intensifying levels of support. When done well, it ensures a systematic approach to supporting a greater number of students and maximizing resources. When not done well, it can lead to higher levels of support becoming overwhelmed and resources stretched thin as more and more students are identified as requiring intensified supports. The great news is there is a better way that comes when you STOP tiering students! This session will provide an explanation of the paradigm shift from tiering students to tiering supports and share considerations when establishing, refining and utilizing a continuum of supports in schools and districts that has long standing impact for teachers and students.

In this insightful and empowering presentation, educators will gain invaluable insights into supporting youth facing significant challenges such as suicidal tendencies, bullying, and everyday friendship issues. Participants will learn practical strategies to create a safe and open environment where young individuals feel comfortable sharing their temptations, fears, and dreams. Through expert guidance, attendees will acquire essential tools for initiating meaningful conversations, providing effective support, and fostering healthy relationships with the youth in their lives. From understanding the right questions to ask to knowing how to rebuild trust and connection, this presentation equips educators with the skills needed to connect authentically and compassionately with young people. Discover how to cultivate an atmosphere of trust and understanding, fulfilling the deep-seated yearning for support and validation that many young individuals experience. Join us to learn how to build strong, resilient connections and positively impact the lives of the youth you serve. Takeaways 1.Practical Strategies for Supporting Youth: Attendees will learn effective methods for addressing significant challenges such as suicidal tendencies, bullying, and everyday friendship issues. They will gain the skills to create a safe and open environment where young individuals feel comfortable sharing their temptations, fears, and dreams. 2.Essential Tools for Meaningful Conversations: Participants will acquire the necessary tools to initiate meaningful conversations with youth. This includes understanding the right questions to ask and techniques for rebuilding trust and connection, allowing for authentic and compassionate communication with young people. 3.Fostering Healthy Relationships and Resilient Connections: Educators will discover how to cultivate an atmosphere of trust and understanding, fulfilling the deep-seated yearning for support and validation that many young individuals experience. They will be equipped to build strong, resilient connections and positively impact the lives of the youth they serve, promoting healthy and supportive relationships.

In recent years, the teaching profession has faced growing concerns over teacher attrition and absenteeism. Many educators are leaving the field or are increasingly absent, signaling underlying issues that threaten the stability and health of the profession. This session explores the trends driving these concerns, examining the impact of stress, burnout, organizational culture, and systemic challenges that contribute to teacher disengagement. We will also delve into potential solutions, offering strategies to foster a flourishing workplace where educators feel supported, valued, and empowered. Join us to discuss how schools and educational leaders can reshape environments to not only retain teachers but inspire them to thrive.

Comprehensive literacy instruction is important at all levels of education. Effective instructional leaders can enhance the literacy instruction within their schools. This session provides insight into current practice, strong pedagogy, an understanding of the science of reading, and practical strategies that literacy leads, consultants, and administrators can use within their schools to become more effective literacy leaders.

It is not unusual for schools to be data-rich, but information-poor, collecting reams of student data but not ensuring the effective utilization of the information to guide next steps. In this session, Kurtis will explore a number of practical and easy to implement strategies and considerations for school leaders looking to ensure intentional organization and use of data to truly engage teachers, teams and help guide timely, collaborative responses for students.

It’s the number one question posed by educators – especially those in leadership roles.  Although discipline issues have always been a concern in schools, they seem to be more pronounced in these post-pandemic years - especially in the earlier grades.  Accordingly, this session provides attendees with specific recommendations for dealing with this issue at the classroom and campus level.

Description: The professional landscape is evolving - help support your students prepare for an entrepreneurial world! This session will inspire educators to foster entrepreneurial mindsets in students, equipping them with the skills needed to navigate academic and professional life. Integrating universal design for learning (UDL), this session emphasizes how design thinking can be integrated into classrooms to nurture creativity, leadership, problem-solving, and achievement. Attendees will learn practical strategies to inspire innovation, empower student-driven projects, and cultivate a culture of inclusivity and collaboration. Key Takeaways: Practical tools to teach entrepreneurial and design thinking Strategies for fostering student leadership and innovation Insights into universal design and how it enhances learning for all Knowledge of divergent pathways to academic and professional success

Taking on a formal instructional leadership role such as principal, assistant principal, department head, curriculum coordinator or consultant includes additional responsibilities that require leaders to learn and/or refine certain skills; perhaps one of the most important roles is supporting teachers to create quality learning environments that ensures success for all students. How do we (individually and collectively) support teachers to become independent, collaborative, highly effective educators?How does this support look differently if the teacher is new to the profession?

If you wrestle with the uncertain future on behalf of another, you are a leader! You are also struggling to keep your head above water. In this session, we will wrestle with the reality of leadership amid conflict and crisis, discover tangible and purposeful ways to take care of ourselves and those we lead, and game plan how best to foster a community that can thrive amid conflict, not merely survive.

Are you frustrated with productivity and impact when meeting in teams? Our time is precious so how do we ensure time spent together is maximized, whether engaging in PLC's, collaborative team meetings, staff meetings or any other meetings at your school? In this session, Kurtis will share specific structures and processes essential when engaging in collaboration, with multiple samples and resources shared. He will also present strategies for facilitators responsible for leading team meetings. Plan on leaving the session with some resources and strategies to impact your next meeting!

Teaching as Curriculum Leaders: Creating Classrooms that Reflect Our Values Schools are the places we grow our future. People become educators because they hope to nourish young people who are ready to engage the world through democratic practices, creativity, empathy, critical thinking, and a commitment to justice. Now matter what the content, educators hope to create classrooms centered on the fullness of the human beings within those classrooms. Yet, we are in a moment when significant external forces are attempting to narrow classroom curriculum and inhibit the full expression of educator professional knowledge, expertise and values. It is critical that educators not be alone in the defense of their pedagogy. What can we learn from the collective action of educators across the US and Canada about how to preserve education as a space to develop young people’s capacity to engage in democratic society and access the breadth of their human potential? In this talk, we will explore examples and reflect on lessons learned.

While researching for a book, McIntyre discovered 5 concepts that resonated through the exceptional football programs of the Raymond Comets, St. Francis Browns of Calgary, Calgary Dinosaurs (80s) , Edmonton Huskies (60s) and Edmonton Eskimos (50s). These programs had a profound impact on the individuals and the communities they served. After interviewing close to one hundred people, Ron acquired an appreciation for the nuances of these highly successful teams. Through storytelling and examples, Ron will unlock the vault and reveal the practices of men such as Gary Deman, Peter Connellan, Dennis Kadatz and Normie Kwong. It is McIntyre’s belief that the best practices of these exemplar programs are timeless and have implications for the classroom as coaching and teaching are intricately intertwined.

Teaching is the most demanding and vital profession there is. Sadly, it is also all too easy to be sucked dry and left exhausted. With demands such as data and test score analysis, professional development, discipline, and internal or external conflict (just to name a few), it is easy to lose focus on why we chose this profession in the first place! In this session, we will walk through various strategies, stories, and brainstorming opportunities that will encourage, inspire, and breathe life and purpose into our daily lives and worthy professions. We will discover what it means to Prove You Are Alive! and how we may inspire our students to do the same.

Trying to find ways to have your staff work together for a common purpose or looking for ways to analyze common assessments that staff can use in their professional learning teams? This session will explore the Evidence Analysis Protocol (Donohoo, 2017), a six-step process that leaders can use to engage their staff that not only helps them analyze common assessment data (think RCAT, MIPI achievement or diploma data) but also build collective staff efficacy and have a process to use with their professional learning teams. Participants will be able to engage in a data analysis protocol (doesn't sound very exciting, I know...but it is actually!). Experiencing the protocol will allow leaders to model and implement this approach with their staff during collaborative team meetings. This effective approach keeps everyone engaged, focused on the task and generates great ideas and insights.

It’s the number one question posed by educators – especially those in leadership roles.  Although discipline issues have always been a concern in schools, they seem to be more pronounced in these post-pandemic years - especially in the earlier grades.  Accordingly, this session provides attendees with specific recommendations for dealing with this issue at the classroom and campus level.

Self-awareness is the cornerstone of effective teaching. When educators understand their own emotions, motivations, and behaviors, they can better connect with their students, foster a positive learning environment, and navigate challenges with confidence. This one-hour session is an opportunity to invest in yourself, your teaching, and your students' futures. Whether you're a seasoned educator or just starting your career, this presentation will provide valuable insights and practical tools to help you thrive in your teaching profession. Join us to discover how self-awareness can make you an effective great teacher Agenda 1. Definitions 2. Importance of self-awareness 3. How to improve self-awareness 4. Self-awareness skills 5. Johari window and its uses 6. Applications to our daily living What will you learn? By understanding yourself, you can inspire your students and colleagues, fostering a culture of growth, empathy, and mutual respect. By the end of this presentation, you will be able to: 1. Define self awareness. 2. List several skills of self awareness. 3. Suggest ideas to improve self-awareness. 4. Apply self-awareness’ to enhance our everyday living.

Teacher and student absenteeism is a critical issue facing school districts, exacerbating burnout and attrition among educators. Therese and Melissa aim to provide insights into teacher absenteeism and burnout to help districts address these challenges.

Principals and administration often have to resolve disputes amongst the various stakeholders in the education system. Often there are two versions of events. How do you decide which version to accept? Hint: it’s not your gut instinct. This session will focus on how to conduct an analysis of credibility to make defensible findings of fact.