Beginning Teachers Aug 2025: Full Schedule

9:45am MDT

Accommodations and Adaptations and Modifications... Oh My! - Demystifying the Big Three in Student Support

Friday August 22, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

The terms accommodations, adaptations, and modifications are used interchangeably at times—but each plays a distinct role in supporting diverse learners. In this engaging and informative session, we’ll break down the definitions, purposes, and practical applications of each term. Through examples and clear criteria, you’ll gain the confidence to differentiate instruction effectively and equitably. Join us as we journey through the “Oh My!” of inclusive education!

Speakers

Kathleen Guillermo

Inclusive Programming Consultant

Lindsay Lott

Inclusive Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Lindsay Lott is an Inclusive Consultant with Edmonton Catholic Schools, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role. With 15 years of classroom experience both abroad and here in Edmonton, Lindsay has developed a deep understanding of diverse educational environments... Read More →

Friday August 22, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Room 1

K-6

9:45am MDT

Literacy Planning 101: Setting the Stage for a Strong Start

Friday August 22, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Room 3a

Whether you're new to the profession, the grade level, or the Alberta curriculum, this session will support your planning for a successful year of literacy instruction. Together, we’ll explore how to structure your ELA block with strong routines and intentional time for each of the curriculum’s Organizing Ideas. We’ll also look at how to begin long-range planning, map out your week, and access tools and resources to support your teaching. You'll leave with ideas, next steps, and a clearer picture of how to get started with confidence.

Speakers

Stephanie Denman

English Language Arts Consultant (K-6), Edmonton Catholic School Division

Stephanie is a newbie joining the ELA Elementary team. She has been an Educator for 15 years with ECSD and completed her Masters in Religious Education. Stephanie has a passion for building powerful literacy classrooms where all learners experience success. She loves reading, traveling... Read More →

Stephanie Pedersen

English Language Arts Consultant (K-6), Edmonton Catholic School Division

English Language Arts Consultant, K-6

Carilynn Salisbury

English Language Arts Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

English Language Arts Consultant, K-6

Friday August 22, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Room 3a Located in St. Anthony's Meeting Centre, on the main level.

K-6

9:45am MDT

Plan It. Teach It. Track It: A Practical Guide to Backward Design & PowerTeacher Pro

Friday August 22, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Room 3b

Start the school year with clarity and confidence! This hands-on session is designed to walk you through the process of backward design, focusing on how to translate curriculum outcomes into meaningful learning experiences and assessments. You'll also learn how to integrate AI tools to support planning, assessment design, and Universal Design for Learning.
We will also touch upon the September setup for PowerTeacher Pro, to ensure everything is ready to support clear and consistent reporting throughout the year. We will also walk you through the monthly teacher checklist for PowerTeacher Pro
Participants will leave with:

The understanding of how to plan and build assessments with AI
An understanding of the new monthly PowerTeacher Pro checklists, and
Clarity on how planning, instruction, and assessment connect from Day 1

Speakers

Alyson Gabucci

Curriculum and Assessment Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

As an Assessment Consultant with Edmonton Catholic School Division, I support schools in developing responsive, curriculum-aligned assessment and reporting practices through the lens of instructional coaching. I collaborate with educators and administrators to build capacity in assessment... Read More →

Leanne Hemphill

Curriculum and Assessment, Edmonton Catholic School Division

As an Assessment Consultant with Edmonton Catholic School Division, I support schools in developing responsive, curriculum-aligned assessment and reporting practices that leverage technology to enhance learning. I collaborate with educators and administrators to build capacity in... Read More →

Friday August 22, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Room 3b

K-6

9:45am MDT

Planting the Seeds of Success: A New Elementary Math Teacher’s Journey

Friday August 22, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Heritage Room

Teaching elementary mathematics for the first time and don’t know where to start??? Come join us for an interactive session where we look at how to prepare the classroom and students for a successful year of learning mathematics . Building a positive math community of learners through classroom and teaching routines will be the focus of this session.

Speakers

Anita Hanneman

Elementary Math Consultant at Edmonton Catholic School Division, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Anita is incredibly grateful for the multitude of opportunities that God has graciously placed before her throughout her career in education. These opportunities have allowed her to receive training in various capacities, including early learning, secondary education, sciences, mathematics... Read More →

Haidee de Roca-Garcia

STEM Consultant, ECSD

Haidee de Roca-Garcia is the Elementary Math Consultant for ECSD. She has taught K-6 for almost 30 years and is passionate about making mathematics engaging for all learners. She believes curiosity is a superpower and numbers are the best! When not learning something new every... Read More →

Friday August 22, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Heritage Room

K-6

11:00am MDT

Foundations of Inclusive Education: Diagnosis, Coding, and IPP Development for Diverse Learners

Friday August 22, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Room 3b

This session is designed to help new teachers develop a deeper understanding of diagnosis, coding and Individual Program Plans (IPPs), in the context of supporting students with diverse learning needs.
Teachers will learn how to create, implement, and monitor IPPs, ensuring they meet the specific needs of each student.

Speakers

Stephanie Power

Inclusive Consultant

Jennifer Yaroslowsky

Inclusive Consultant

Friday August 22, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Room 3b

K-6

11:00am MDT

Getting Started with Classroom Resource Selection: A Practical Guide for Teachers

Friday August 22, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Heritage Room

This foundational session introduces beginner teachers to selecting classroom resources using the Provincial Resource Review Guide as a key tool. Participants will explore the guide’s core selection criteria to evaluate and reflect on materials for inclusive and effective classroom instruction.

The session connects directly to the Teaching Quality Standard (TQS), Alberta’s curriculum available on New LearnAlberta.ca, and the Guiding Framework for the Design and Development of Kindergarten to Grade 12 Curriculum, with a focus on the new K–6 Social Studies. Participants will engage in a hands-on gallery walk to evaluate real-world resources, build confidence in making inclusive choices, and reflect on how this work supports their professional responsibility to foster equity and belonging.

Speakers

Samantha Davidson

Elementary Social Studies Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Elementary Social Studies Consultant

Annemarie Simpson

Elementary Social Studies Consultant

Friday August 22, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Heritage Room

K-6

12:45pm MDT

Hop on the Planning Bus: Where Science Gets Messy, Magical, and Meaningful!

Friday August 22, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT

Room 3b

Take a page from Ms. Frizzle’s playbook and dive into science that’s hands-on, minds-on, and curriculum-aligned! This session explores the Alberta Science curriculum through engaging hands on experiences, effective planning strategies, and ready-to-use resources that help your students do science with wonder and purpose. Get ready to make mistakes, get messy, and learn something amazing!

Speakers

Katerina Campbell

Elementary Science Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Katerina is an elementary Science consultant at Edmonton Catholic Schools. She loves all things Science, exploring natural phenomena and will never stop asking “why?” Katerina is a self proclaimed maker and cardboard collector. She is a proud promoter of inquiry based learning... Read More →

Natalie Zuberbuhler

Elementary Science Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Natalie Zuberbuhler: Elementary Science Curriculum and Assessment Consultant with Edmonton Catholic Schools lives for Science and supporting her teacher colleagues. Natalie always has great recommendations on books, tips for catching fish, and how to incorporate computer science to... Read More →

Friday August 22, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT
Room 3b

K-6

12:45pm MDT

Planning for EAL Learners with Benchmarks 2.0 in the Elementary Classroom

Friday August 22, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT

Room 3a

In this session, you will learn how English as an Additional Language (EAL) Benchmarks 2.0 will guide you in planning targeted and effective instruction for your EAL Learners. Explore UDL strategies for fostering an environment where all learners can feel welcome and succeed.

Speakers

Melissa Astle

EAL Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Melissa is an EAL consultant with Edmonton Catholic Schools. Her background includes teaching in both bilingual and second language programs in elementary and junior high setting. As a language lover and multilingual herself, she is committed to helping EAL learners find success in... Read More →

Devin Austin

Elementary EAL Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Devin Austin, a forward-thinking Elementary EAL consultant with Edmonton Catholic Schools, sharing his skills in diverse capacities since 2011. He loves globe-trotting, keeping abreast of the newest tech innovations, supporting diverse learners, and moments with his family. Devin... Read More →

Anna Deligianis

EAL and Languages, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Anna Deligianis is an Elementary English as an Additional Language Consultant with Edmonton Catholic School Division. She previously worked as an elementary classroom teacher in Alberta and Mexico for many years. Anna graduated from her Masters in Educational Leadership with a focus... Read More →

Friday August 22, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT
Room 3a Located in St. Anthony's Meeting Centre, on the main level.

K-6

2:00pm MDT

Catholic Calculations: Permeation in the Mathematics Classroom

Friday August 22, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Room 1

Join us for a meaningful session designed to explore how to bring our Catholic faith to life in the mathematics classroom. Grounded in the 5 Marks of Catholic Education, this session will guide you in creating a classroom culture that upholds the dignity of every child and reflects Gospel values. Together, we’ll look at practical ways to permeate Catholic identity not only through classroom environment and relationships, but also within the math curriculum itself. You’ll be introduced to a planning framework that supports intentional faith integration and walk away with ready-to-use resources to help you get started. Come be inspired, equipped, and supported as you begin your journey as a Catholic educator!

Speakers

Anita Hanneman

Elementary Math Consultant at Edmonton Catholic School Division, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Kathleen Nguyen

Elementary Religious Education Consultant, Edmonton Catholic Schools

Kathleen Nguyen finds joy in sharing our Catholic faith and accompanying people on their faith journey. Kathleen loves to spend time with her family and is a great aunt; literally. This is a term she loves to use quite liberally and makes her friends call her Kathleen, the Great... Read More →

Friday August 22, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Room 1

K-6

2:00pm MDT

Creating Neuroaffirming Classrooms

Friday August 22, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Room 3b

Join us for an engaging session where we explore practical strategies to set up neuroaffirming classrooms using the Classroom Reflection Tool. Learn how to create inclusive environments that support all students from day one.

Speakers

Katerina Campbell

Elementary Science Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Kathleen Guillermo

Inclusive Programming Consultant

Lindsay Lott

Inclusive Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Friday August 22, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Room 3b

K-6

2:00pm MDT

The First 20 Days: Developing Inclusive Classroom Routines

Friday August 22, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Staff lounge

Start your teaching journey with confidence by learning how to establish clear, consistent routines and expectations that support every learner from day one. Grounded in The First 20 Days framework, Social Emotional Learning, and Universal Design for Learning principles, this session will guide you through creating a classroom culture that is predictable, inclusive and empowering. We'll explore practical strategies for setting up your space, teaching routines explicitly, and designing lessons that anticipate and support learner variability. You will leave with great examples of flexible plans to launch your first weeks with clarity and purpose.

Speakers

Elana Bryks

Inclusive Consultant, Edmonton Catholic Schools

Elana Bryks is a dedicated educator with two decades of invaluable experience in the field. Her journey began as an elementary and junior high teacher, where she honed her skills in fostering a nurturing learning environment. Over the years, Elana has expanded her expertise, assuming... Read More →

Friday August 22, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Staff lounge Located in the basement.

K-6

2:00pm MDT

Wise Practices in Indigenous Education Resource Selection

Friday August 22, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Room 3a

This hands-on session is designed to empower K-6 teachers to select accurate, strengths-based, and diverse Indigenous education resources to address KUSPs across subject areas. Using criteria from Jo Chrona's 2022 book Wayi Wah!, participants will critically assess print and digital resources and will leave with the confidence to apply these criteria to their own professional practice.

Speakers