Transforming K–12 Professional Learning: Lessons From the Field

Presenters

• 

  Jordan Tinney
  Leadership Consultant and former Superintendent of Surrey Schools (British Columbia) 

  Dr. Jordan Tinney is recently retired as Superintendent of one of Canada’s largest school districts in Surrey, BC. Serving previously on three other Boards, he knows places large and small, rural and urban. With a Ph. D. in curriculum, a Masters in Leadership, and a Certified Evidence-Based Executive Coach, Jordan now serves leadership and education as a strategic consultant. With a deep interest in leadership and ways to support effective governance, Jordan is currently working across Canada in numerous jurisdictions to support quality learning for all children. He recently led a two-year project to renew leadership competencies for system leaders in BC and is an external advisor on Manitoba’s rewriting of leadership standards for school leaders. He also recently worked to author a series of case studies on global leadership competencies and these papers were presented to the UN in November. Jordan now lives in Kelowna with his wife and son who is in grade 12. He enjoys getting out on his dirt bike with his son and also trying to improve his golf swing.

• 

  Fiona Stewart
  Team Lead – Linguistic Services/ Cheffe d’équipe – Services linguistiques, New Brunswick Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (New Brunswick) 

  Fiona Stewart is employed at the New Brunswick Department of Education and Early Childhood Development as Cheffe d’équipe – Services linguistiques. She is leading a project, A New Model for Teacher Language Proficiency in FSL (funded through Heritage Canada and the Government of New Brunswick). She has been a Second Language Learning Specialist with GNB since 2008 and is the creator of the FLORA (French Learning Opportunities for Rural Areas) program. The Services linguistiques is a collaborative project involving EECD and the four anglophone school districts in New Brunswick. The team (consisting of a project lead and 6 coaches) will provide opportunities and services for pre-service and French second/additional language educators and school staff to enhance their French language and cultural understanding. Services are be offered through a variety of different experiences: self-paced autonomous learning (on the D2L platform), courses, personalized coaching, social and cultural events, and linguistic resources. All services will be created to foster cultural and linguistic appreciation.

• 

  Peter Sovran
  Director of Education, Upper Grand District School Board (Ontario)

  Peter Sovran’s career portfolio over the past 30+ years has included a variety of high profile, extensive and demanding senior leadership positions with the Upper Grand District School Board, Hamilton- Wentworth, York Region and Toronto District School Boards, and the Ontario Ministry of Education. He has a proven track-record of strategic, transformative leadership that has resulted in impactful changes to public education in Ontario with a particular focus on improving student achievement, well- being and equity of outcomes. Prior to becoming Director of Education, Peter was one of the longest serving Associate Directors of Education in the province, following his work as an Executive Superintendent and a Superintendent of Student Achievement. At the provincial level, Peter has served in the capacity of Senior Manager and Senior Policy Advisor with the Ministry of Education, leading the provincial eLearning program and Early Reading/Early Math initiatives. Peter has been an elementary school principal and vice-principal and has taught in all grade divisions, elementary and secondary, including adult education. He is a member of the Council of Ontario Directors of Education executive and various K-12+ education working tables. Peter is committed to regularly visiting classrooms and interacting with students and staff across the district. A lifelong learner, Peter is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy at OISE/UofT. He holds a Master of Science in Behavioural Neuroscience from McGill University, a Bachelor of Education (Science and Math) and Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Biomedical Ethics from the University of Toronto. An avid runner, Peter has competed in numerous events, including the completion of seven marathons.

• 

  Howie Bender
  VP, Strategic Initiatives, D2L (Moderator) 

  Howie is a natural collaborator and seasoned strategic leader in education and is a firm believer in the power of education to transform lives, communities and societies. In his role as VP Strategic Initiatives at D2L, he collaborates directly with Ministries of Education across Canada. Prior to his time at D2L, Howie spent close to a decade in government advising four different Ministers of Education. During this time, he worked closely with political leaders and public servants to positively support the provincial student achievement agenda, participated in provincial education labour negotiations and directly supported the consultations and drafting of legislation impacting student well-being. He is also a former Chief of Staff to a Higher Education Minister and to the Deputy Premier in Ontario and was a member of the Digital Government Board.