Spring 2022 Traversing the Road Ahead A New Era: The official magazine for the College of Alberta School Superintendents the Fall 2022 Volume 18, Issue 2 Canada Post Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 6 7 9 10 12 16 18 20 22 25 Messages: Message from the Alberta Minister of Education Message from the CASS President Message from the CASS Chief Executive Officer FOCUS ON… A NEW ERA: TRAVERSING THE ROAD AHEAD Features: The Pursuit of our Potential Future Directions for Professional Learning Approaches Promoting Female Leaders in Alberta School Authorities: CASS Women in Leadership Committee Early Literacy Teaching Knowing, Being, and Doing Building a Road Map for Continuous System Improvement Healthy People, Healthy Workplace: Adapting to Change Through Flexible Leadership ARCHITECT Workun Garrick Partnership .......................................23 ATTORNEYS Brownlee LLP ............................................................13 McLennan Ross LLP .....................................................9 BENEFIT PLANS Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association ...........................4 Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan .......................IFC COLLEGE Bredin ........................................................................23 FAMILY RECOVERY GROUP/ADDICTION PROGRAMS PEP Society ................................................................26 FUNDRAISER Calahoo Meats ...........................................................11 GYMNASTICS Ortona Gymnastics ....................................................26 HAND HYGIENE AND COMMERCIAL RESTROOM PRODUCTS Dobbin Sales (Sloan) ....................................................3 HOTEL Fantasyland Hotel......................................................IBC LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Markanyx Solutions Inc. ................................................8 MUSEUM Alberta Aviation Museum ...........................................26 PROCUREMENT Public Services & Procurement Canada ......................24 ROOFING ASSOCIATION Alberta Roofing Contractors Association .....................19 SCHOOL FURNITURE AND WORKSTATION SUPPLIER CDI Spaces ................................................................13 STEM CLASSROOM AND PL RESOURCES Let’s Talk Science ...................................................OBC STUDENT GROUP TRAVEL IN MANITOBA Tourism Winnipeg ................................................14-15 TEXTBOOK AND WORKBOOK SUPPLIER Western Campus Resources ......................................17 UNIVERSITIES University of Alberta - Professional Learning ...............21 Werklund School of Education - University of Calgary .................................................24 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS The CASS Connection The official magazine for the College of Alberta School Superintendents Fall 2022 Published for: The College of Alberta School Superintendents Suite 1300, First Edmonton Place 10665 Jasper Avenue Edmonton, AB T5J 3S9 Phone: (780) 451-7126 Fax: (780) 482-5659 admin@cass.ab.ca www.cass.ab.ca Published by: Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Return Undeliverable Addresses to: 309 Youville Street Winnipeg, MB R2H 2S9 Toll free Phone: (866) 999-1299 Toll free Fax: (866) 244-2544 www.matrixgroupinc.net Publications Agreement Number 40609661 President & CEO Jack Andress Operations Manager Shoshana Weinberg sweinberg@matrixgroupinc.net Senior Publisher Jessica Potter jpotter@matrixgroupinc.net Editor-in-Chief Shannon Savory ssavory@matrixgroupinc.net Senior Editor Alexandra Kozub akozub@matrixgroupinc.net Editor / Social Media Manager Jenna Collignon Finance / Administration Lloyd Weinberg, Nathan Redekop accounting@matrixgroupinc.net Director of Circulation & Distribution Lloyd Weinberg distribution@matrixgroupinc.net Sales Manager – Winnipeg Neil Gottfred Sales Manager – Hamilton Jeff Cash Sales Team Leader Tanina Di Piazza Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Account Executives Colleen Bell, Rob Gibson, Jim Hamilton, Frank Kenyeres, Sandra Kirby, Cheryl Klassen, Charlie Langsford, Andrew Lee, Brian MacIntyre, Jaime Schroeder Advertising Design James Robinson Layout & Design Cody Chomiak ©2022 Matrix Group Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Printed in Canada. Disclaimer: The College of Alberta School Superintendents does not necessarily endorse the products of services presented in paid advertisements. contents The College of Alberta School Superintendents 5launched a new online teacher registry in September that is similar to those for members of other professions in Alberta, such as doctors, lawyers, nurses, and engi- neers. A registry sends a clear message that both the government and Alberta’s teachers care deeply about professional- ism in our schools and about safe learning environments for students. The Alberta government has also been collaborating with CASS and other educa- tion partners to develop a single code of professional conduct for all teachers and teacher leaders. Having a single unified code of conduct will modernize and harmonize standards across the province. The new code of professional conduct will come into effect on January 1, 2023. We also remain committed to renew- ing the Kindergarten to Grade 12 cur- riculum and ensuring students are posi- tioned for success in the classroom and beyond. Our government has dedicated $191 million over three years to support curriculum implementation across the province and help teachers prepare. We will continue to work closely with CASS and make sure teachers are supported with professional learning opportunities and classroom resources during all piloting and implementation processes. The government’s collaborative relation- ship with CASS has been integral to con- tinually improving the education system for teachers, teacher leaders, students, and their families. Thank you again for your leader- ship, dedication, and insightful feedback. By continuing to work together, we can chart an even brighter future for K-12 education in Alberta. Adriana LaGrange Minister of Education million for school authorities to provide targeted programming for students in Grades 1 to 3 during the 2021/2022 school year. In June 2022, we announced an extension of this funding with $10 million in 2022/2023 for students in that same cohort who may still need help and will now be in Grades 2 to 4. Alberta’s government has also made sig- nificant improvements to the education system through legislation. The College of Alberta School Superintendents Act has solidi- fied CASS’ role in upholding the standards of practice for superintendents and deputy superintendents in public, separate or fran- cophone school authorities. The act further strengthens the important role your college plays in our education system and recognizes the significant impact superintendents have on students and teachers. Last spring, we also passed legislation to enhance the accountability and transparency of the teaching profession, further protect students and give parents peace of mind. The Reforming Teacher Profession Discipline Act ensures all teachers and teacher leaders (including superintendents) in Alberta are subject to the same disciplinary system, and the Students First Act provides more trans- parency through public reporting on Alberta teacher and teacher leader certification. These acts lay the groundwork for estab- lishing the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission, which will be at arm’s length from the government and will oversee con- duct and competency complaints for all teachers and teacher leaders equally. Estab- lishing a new Alberta Teaching Profession Commission will help increase public confi- dence in the teaching profession by remov- ing any perception of conflicts of interest. To further strengthen the educa- tion system and teaching profession, we Adriana LaGrange | Alberta Minister of Education Message from the Minister of Education T he 2022/2023 school year is under- way, and things are shaping up to be much different than the previ- ous two years. Alberta’s government and our education partners are now in a much better position to set our sights on the future and on traversing the road ahead. I want to express a deep appreciation for the outstanding leadership, collaborative spirit, and herculean efforts the College of Alberta School Superintendents (CASS) members demonstrated to continually adapt to the changing situation these past two years. Your efforts helped ensure students and the education system were supported every step along the way. We know the last two years have impact- ed students learning and CASS members can rely on Alberta’s government to continue supporting ongoing work to help students recover from pandemic-related impacts. Alberta’s government is increasing Educa- tion spending by $700 million over the next three years. Through Budget 2022, Alberta Education’s operating budget is $8.4 billion. This includes an unprecedented increase of $700 million over the next three years. We are investing an additional $110 million to address student mental health and wellness and COVID-19 learning loss. This funding includes $10 million per year for the next two school years to support pilot projects focused on enhancing the continuum of mental health supports and services, includ- ing tools, training, and resources for the school community. This investment also includes $10 mil- lion per year for the next two school years to increase students’ access to specialized assessments. Additionally, we will contin- ue to provide funding to address students’ learning disruptions due to the pandemic. In May 2021, we announced up to $45 6 Fall 2022 • The CASS ConnectionDr. Scott Morrison | College of Alberta School Superintendents Message from the President H appy start to the 2022/2023 school year! When it comes to leadership, I frequently reflect on Broadwell’s (1969) timeless Hierarchy of Competence theory. The lowest level of Broadwell’s hierarchy is unconscious incompetence. At this level, we can’t do something well, and we aren’t even aware of it. Above that is conscious incom- petence. At this level, we can’t do something well, but at least we are aware of it. Above that is conscious competence. At this level, we can do something if we methodically fol- low an internal script that acts as a scaffold for us. At the top of the pyramid is the holy grail that Broadwell calls unconscious com- petence. At this level, we can do something automatically and effortlessly. I referred to unconscious competence as the “holy grail,” yet Broadwell unpredictably asserts that the best leaders may be those who can step back to a level of conscious competence. The reason is that they not only know how to do something, but they also know how to teach someone else to do it. For example, like many of you, I’m unconsciously competent at responding to conflict. I’ve given principals hours of one-on-one coach- ing in advance of approaching contentious situations. My advice has been situational and I’ve not been aware of a heuristic I was using, until I recently stumbled on a three- step method that actually made me aware of the steps I was unconsciously adhering to: 1) Actively listen, ask open-ended ques- tions, and avoid rushing to solutions too soon; 2) Explain what you know and what was done to try and prevent the conflict at hand; and 3) Identify at least one new action to resolve the conflict. Now that I have the steps, instead of long-drawn-out conversa- tions with principals, I say, “Let’s plan your approach, following the three steps”. As we ponder this issue of The CASS Connection’s theme, “A New Era: Traversing the Road Ahead,” we owe a debt of gratitude to the leaders who completed submissions for this publication. In so doing, they described a responsive and/or innovative pathway toward improvement. By sharing their submissions, these leaders have gifted us with the additional resource of helping to make us conscious of the steps they have taken, thereby giving us concrete suggestions to replicate their ideas. Dr. Scott Morrison College of Alberta School Superintendents President Dr. Scott Morrison Superintendent Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools Past President Dr. Wilco Tymensen Superintendent Horizon School Division 1 st Vice-President Dr. Rita Marler Superintendent Battle River School Division 2 nd Vice-President Dr. Clint Moroziuk Superintendent Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools Zone 1 Director Greg Miller Deputy Superintendent - HR Grande Prairie and District Catholic Schools Zone 2/3 Director Dr. Clint Moroziuk Superintendent Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools Zone 4 Director Shan Jorgenson-Adam Deputy Superintendent Battle River School Division Zone 5 Director Andrea Holowka Superintendent of School Improvement Calgary Board of Education Zone 6 Director Dr. Dwayne Zarichny Superintendent Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education Director – Metro School Authority Robert Martin Chief Superintendent Edmonton Catholic Schools Director – First Nations School Authority (Treaty 7) Cam Shade Superintendent Kainai Board of Education Director – First Nations School Authority (Treaty 8) Dr. Daphne Mai’Stoina Superintendent Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council Education Director – Francophone School Authority Dr. Robert Lessard Superintendent Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord Chief Executive Officer David Keohane CASS Board of Directors As we ponder this issue of The CASS Connection’s theme, “A New Era: Traversing the Road Ahead,” we owe a debt of gratitude to the leaders who completed submissions for this publication. The College of Alberta School Superintendents 7T he inventor and innovator Thomas Edison probably scared those around him when he mused, “opportunity is missed because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” While current change leaders in education don’t dismiss rolling up their sleeves for the sake of children, they do look at pursuing new possibilities through a heavy reliance on planning, collaboration, and delegation – not just blood, sweat, and tears. Behind the work of any of these leaders is the purposeful application of social capital and associated strategic components. These include establishing a clear vision, backed by a compelling rationale: taking iterative steps through time, creating supportive networks of like minded and motivated people, and leveraging extensive communication with those vested in the change agenda. The stories of change that create new opportunities for staff and students in our learning system within this issue of The CASS Connection clearly demonstrate variet- ies of intentional planning and execution in system planning that champions success. As such, I celebrate all our contributors and know that their stories will either rein- force or reinvigorate opportunities currently taken by other system education leaders to optimize learning for students in our post- pandemic reality. Speaking of the new era ahead, I would be remiss not to emphasize the great oppor- tunities that are in the making for our membership of system education leaders as we embrace our newly legislated mandate. Through implementing the objects of the College of Alberta School Superintendents Act, the College of Alberta School Superinten- dents’ (CASS) focuses going forward will be threefold: supporting individual mem- bers through enhancing their service to their school authorities, providing a learned perspective on school system administra- tion and operations to education partners, and implementing a continuing education program for members that assures their accreditation and growth in supporting pro- fessional standards of practice. Our College will be proud to serve the public interest in these ways. Here’s to a great year ahead supported by stories of practice that fulfill the hopes and dreams of each student in your care! May opportunities that come to life through a new era of change be your constant compan- ion on the journey ahead. David Keohane College of Alberta School Superintendents David Keohane | College of Alberta School Superintendents Message from the Chief Executive Officer Celebrating a New Era for System Education Leaders The stories of change that create new opportunities for staff and students in our learning system within this issue of The CASS Connection clearly demonstrate varieties of intentional planning and execution in system planning that champions success. The College of Alberta School Superintendents 9Next >