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Beginning Teachers September
Welcome to the Beginning Teacher Conference SeriesWelcome to a year of learning, growth, and connection.
As beginning teachers in Edmonton Catholic Schools, you are called to a vocation that shapes hearts, minds, and futures. Rooted in joy and guided by faith, this conference series is designed to support you as you develop your professional practice, strengthen your confidence, and deepen your impact on student learning.
Throughout the year, we will journey together through three learning experiences:

September 10th, 2026: Called to Teach – Beginning with Purpose
Building strong foundations through planning, relationships, and classroom routines.

January 30th, 2027: Called to Respond – Seeing and Serving Every Learner
Developing responsive practices through assessment, inclusion, and student-centered learning.

April 24th, 2027: Called to Grow – Strengthening Your Voice, Vocation, and Impact
Reflecting on your growth, celebrating your accomplishments, and setting goals for the future.
Together, we are rooted in faith, called to serve, and committed to excellence in Catholic education. We are grateful that you are part of this community and look forward to learning alongside you throughout the year.

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness..."
Galatians 5:22

Venue: Leadership Hall clear filter
Saturday, September 12
 

7:30am MDT

Registration and Check-in
Saturday September 12, 2026 7:30am - 8:15am MDT

Saturday September 12, 2026 7:30am - 8:15am MDT
Leadership Hall

8:15am MDT

Liturgy
Saturday September 12, 2026 8:15am - 8:45am MDT

Saturday September 12, 2026 8:15am - 8:45am MDT
Leadership Hall

9:00am MDT

HR and RES Keynote
Saturday September 12, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am MDT

Saturday September 12, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am MDT
Leadership Hall

10:00am MDT

Beyond the Template: Writing IPPs that Make a Difference
Saturday September 12, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am MDT
Writing an IPP can feel overwhelming for new teachers, but it is one of the most powerful tools for supporting student success. This session will break down the essential components of IPPs, how to navigate Special Programs and provide practical strategies for writing meaningful goals and choosing appropriate accommodations. Participants will learn how strong IPPs connect to inclusive practices while supporting teachers professional responsibilities within the Teaching Quality Standard.
Saturday September 12, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am MDT
Leadership Hall

11:15am MDT

Getting Started with Tech in ECSD: A Beginner's Guide to Teachers
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm MDT
Are you new to teaching in ECSD? Not sure where to start with all the technology? This session is designed just for you! This is your essential crash course in educational technology across the division. This session is designed specifically for beginning teachers to get up and running with the core digital platforms and tools we use in ECSD classrooms. From using AI to support your planning, to making student learning visible with digital tools, this session will provide an introduction to what's available in ECSD.
Speakers
avatar for Nicole Cunningham

Nicole Cunningham

Emtech, Edmonton Catholic School Division
Nicole Cunningham is an Educational Technology Consultant with Edmonton Catholic Schools for the past 3 years, supporting teachers from Kindergarten to Grade 12. She designs and delivers professional learning and at the elbow planning and in-class support that helps educators purposefully... Read More →
avatar for Joel Kristiansen

Joel Kristiansen

Emerging Technology Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division
Joel Kristiansen has been part of the EmTech team for the past 3 years. Joel finds inspiration in working with teachers to incorporate technology in feasible ways to make learning more accessible, exciting, and long lasting.  Before that, Joel spent over a decade in K-9 schools where... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm MDT
Leadership Hall

12:15pm MDT

LUNCH BREAK
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:15pm - 1:00pm MDT
Come enjoy lunch together!
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:15pm - 1:00pm MDT
Leadership Hall

1:00pm MDT

Unpacking Assessment Toolkits and the NEW Levels of Proficiency and Achievement
Saturday September 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
This session introduces the Division’s assessment toolkits and explores how they support effective planning, instruction, and reporting. Teachers will examine how learning intentions, success criteria, question progressions, and proficiency scales can be used to gather meaningful evidence of learning and strengthen instructional decision-making.  Participants will also consider how these tools align with the new Levels of Proficiency and Achievement and support consistent professional judgment across classrooms. With a focus on knowing the learner and being purposeful in planning, this session highlights how clear assessment practices can create the conditions for both rigour and engagement, while supporting student ownership of learning.  Teachers will leave with a clearer understanding of how assessment tools can help set the year up strong and support optimal learning from the start.
Speakers
avatar for Leanne Hemphill

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 →
avatar for Alyson Gabucci

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 →
Saturday September 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
Leadership Hall

2:15pm MDT

From Worksheets to Participation: What Math and Language Arts Have in Common
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm MDT
New teachers often feel pressure to prioritize correct answers, completed worksheets, and quiet classrooms. But deep learning—especially in mathematics and language arts—requires something different: risk-taking, voice, and ownership. This session reframes both math and language learning as acts of communication, where listening, speaking, and meaning-making take precedence over grammar rules or procedural accuracy. Participants will explore how shifting the focus from performance to participation creates classrooms where students feel safe to try, revise, and grow.
Speakers
avatar for Stephanie Winters

Stephanie Winters

French Immersion Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

avatar for Carole-Anne Brule

Carole-Anne Brule

Junior High Math Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division
Carole-Anne Brûlé is a math consultant with 10 years of experience teaching and supporting learners from Grade 5 to Grade 12. Passionate about fostering curiosity and helping students see the beauty and power of mathematics, she brings a strong understanding of math pedagogy to... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm MDT
Leadership Hall

2:15pm MDT

Beginning with Insight: Understanding Your Class Through Numeracy
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm MDT
Getting to know a new class means more than learning names — it means understanding how each student makes sense of numbers, where they feel confident, and where they may need support. Numeracy screeners offer a clear, manageable way to gather this insight so the first weeks of school are grounded in purpose and direction.  This session explores how numeracy data gathered from the Alberta Numeracy Screeners can help educators shape the flow of their classrooms, make intentional instructional decisions, and create an environment where students feel understood from the very beginning. Participants will learn how to use screeners as a tool for noticing and responding to learners, guiding the choices that set the tone for a successful year.
Speakers
avatar for Amy Swinkels

Amy Swinkels

Math Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division
Amy is a Math convert! Being a child that hated Math and was highly unsuccessful in Math, it became her absolute passion to help make Math fun, meaningful and successful for all students.  When not championing Math, Amy is either reading absolute garbage on a beach or running marathons... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm MDT
Leadership Hall
 
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