This event is open to all teachers with fewer than two years of experience and is designed to support and strengthen early‑career educators as they continue to develop their practice.
As beginning teachers grow in confidence and connection, the importance of professional boundaries becomes even more critical. This follow-up session builds on the responsibility educators carry to protect students, themselves, and the integrity of the profession.
The session begins with a short introductory video: Commit to Kids . This will re‑ground participants in the importance of professional boundaries and child safety. Building on this shared foundation, Human Resources will guide beginning teachers through real‑world scenarios, reflective discussion, and practical guidance to explore how boundaries show up in everyday school life, both inside and outside the classroom.
Participants will examine how well‑intentioned actions can sometimes blur professional lines, why boundaries matter, and how proactive, thoughtful decision‑making helps prevent harm. The session emphasizes that professional boundaries are not about distance or distrust; they are about safety, trust, and care.
Beginning teachers will leave with shared language, increased awareness, and greater confidence to navigate complex situations while maintaining healthy, respectful relationships that safeguard students and support long‑term success in the profession
This session is designed to demystify the evaluation process and reframe it as a meaningful opportunity for professional growth.
Participants will gain a clear understanding of teacher contract types, evaluation pathways, and the Teaching Quality Standard, while exploring how evaluations connect to professional reflection, continuous contracts, and permanent certification. The session will walk through what to expect during the evaluation process, the role of the Teacher Professional Performance Evaluation (TPPE), and how teachers can actively prepare through reflection, feedback, and professional learning.
Grounded in Alberta Education requirements and the values of Catholic education, this session emphasizes evaluation as a supportive, relational process, one that is meant to “sit beside” teachers, not catch them off guard. Participants will leave feeling more confident, informed, and equipped with practical strategies, resources, and contacts to support them through their evaluation journey.
All ESCD schools welcome newcomer students. Join us to learn about the services the One World…One Centre department provides to your students, their families, and your school staff. Our team supports your school community from the very first intake and registration appointment—including the initial EAL assessment—to interpretation and translation services, connections with community partners, and ongoing assistance to help families with settlement needs. We will also highlight opportunities for our team to participate in school-wide cultural events, professional development days, and more.
Feel free to mingle and enjoy the connections you’ve made with colleagues as you enjoy a boxed lunch—whether you choose to soak up some fresh air outside or relax in Leadership Hall!
Proactive Circles are a simple, relationship-centered strategy that helps beginning teachers build trust, belonging, and shared responsibility in their classrooms. This session introduces practical structures and ready-to-use prompts that foster student voice, active listening, empathy, and respect for diversity. Grounded in restorative and trauma-informed practices, participants will leave with concrete tools to confidently implement circles as a proactive classroom management approach from the start of the school year.
Claudia Pederson leads the Creating Communities of Belonging department, supporting schools in fostering environments where every student and staff member feels valued, safe, and connected. Her work focuses on strengthening inclusive practices, building staff capacity, and advancing... Read More →
EDIAR Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division
Shelley Yu is the Creating Communities of Belonging Consultant with Edmonton Catholic Schools, bringing 16 years of experience within the division. She supports schools to deepen their work in equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism, helping to build learning environments where... Read More →
EDIAR Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division
As the EDIAR Consultant my goal is to make the uncomfortable comfortable, to open the circle wider, and to help us feel good about doing this much needed work.
Inspired by Catlin Tucker’s Elevating Educational Design with AI, this session supports beginning teachers in using AI as a practical thought partner in the lesson planning process. Participants will explore how AI can help clarify learning goals, strengthen alignment between instruction and assessment, differentiate for diverse learners, design engaging blended learning experiences, and create meaningful assessments. Designed to reduce planning overwhelm and build confidence, this hands-on session ensures teachers leave with a redesigned lesson, ready-to-use prompts, and a simple framework for integrating AI into their instructional workflow with purpose and professional judgment.
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 →
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 →
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 →
