November 20 - Building a Culture of Belonging

Details: Join us in a conversation that examines practices and considerations for building cultures of belonging for students, families and staff. The importance of school leaders in fostering environments of belonging cannot be understated. We will discuss and share steps and strategies to support your actions in leading anti-oppressive work in your school and system.

Date: November 20, 2024

Time: 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. EST

Cost: Free (Members and Associates), $50 +HST (Non-Members)

Presenter:

Irfan Toor

Social Justice and Anti-Oppression Advisor, Ontario Principals' Council

Irfan Toor (he/him) is the Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the Ontario Principals' Council. He joined the staff in 2021 when the position was created, coming to the organization from a similar position as Principal of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the Simcoe County District School Board.

Irfan has been working in education for more than 30 years in communities such as Victoria, Kingston, Toronto and in Simcoe County. As a secondary and intermediate educator and school administrator in public, private and alternative settings, he is committed to fostering educational practices that centre students in the learning experience. 

As a system principal, Irfan provided leadership, support and mentorship to school administrators as they progressed on their individual journeys to noticing, unlearning and disrupting systemic practices that reinforced disproportionate outcomes for underserved identities.

As a Member of the OPC, Irfan spent many years on the local executive for Simcoe County as part of the Terms and Conditions team, Secondary Provincial Councillor and as a Member-at-Large for the Provincial Executive in 2020-2021. 

Thank you to everyone that attended!

Details: Join us in a conversation that looks at the many aspects of this common neurodivergence. We will explore myths, truths, intersectionality and the way diagnostic criteria have changed to reflect diversity.  We will also discuss practical strategies that help students with ADHD find success and a feeling of belonging in school.  It is estimated that 4-6% of adults and 5-7% of children in Canada have ADHD. That is about 1.8 million people (statistics from CADDAC – Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada).

Date: January 15, 2025

Time: 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. EST

Cost: Free (Members and Associates), $50 +HST (Non-Members)

Presenter:

Liz Albrecht-Bisset

Principal, Toronto District School Board

Liz Albrecht-Bisset (she/her) is a principal with the Toronto District School Board and is also a leader with the OPC Disability Affinity group. She was a classroom teacher for nearly 20 years and was also a TDSB Model Schools learning coach. As a coach, Liz worked on a pilot project that explored neurodevelopmental approaches to differentiated instruction. 

Liz’s experience with ADHD is multi-faceted. She is an educator with experience working with students who have ADHD, she is the parent of 2 children with ADHD and she has ADHD herself. 

When she became a principal, Liz realized that up to 80% of her office referrals were students diagnosed with ADHD. As a response, she started an ADHD support group for students with the goal of equipping them with self-advocacy skills and a better understanding of ADHD. In the program, older students with ADHD mentor younger ones.

Liz believes that “nothing about us without us” is critical for people who are neurodivergent and who have disabilities. It is important that staff and other adults in these communities feel valued and are encouraged to share their stories so that children see themselves represented in their schools. This is still a work in progress. A recent session held at an Ontario Faculty of Education featured a black educator, an Indigenous educator and a non-disabled neurotypical special education educator speaking about barriers and challenges. Liz looks forward to the day when those who are neurodivergent and disabled are invited to represent themselves.  

Thank you to everyone that attended! Members have access to the presentation slides under Equity.

Details: An important role of a school leader is to develop the individuals and teams they are leading. As part of this, school leaders are often called on to mentor those they lead, to create equitable and inclusive schools where all students have the best opportunities to thrive. In this session participants will develop an understanding of the principles of MentorCoaching through an anti-oppressive lens. Using the transformational coaching model, participants will explore the importance of relationship building, listening attentively, honouring identity and challenging assumptions and beliefs.

Date: May 14, 2025 (rescheduled)

Time: 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. EST

Cost: Free (Members and Associates), $50 +HST (Non-Members)

Presenter:

Nazneen Dindar

Retired Principal and OPC Program Lead

Nazneen Dindar has been an educator for over 32 years, beginning her career with the TDSB before moving to the DDSB. As a South Asian, Muslim woman who moved to Canada from South Africa when she was a young child, Nazneen has been on both a personal and professional journey of understanding systemic oppression and breaking down barriers for students, staff, and families. Nazneen’s practice as a teacher, administrator and educational consultant has always been grounded in social justice and equity, and her belief that if we foster inclusive and equitable environments, all students and staff can thrive.

To further deepen her understanding, Nazneen graduated with a Master of Professional Education from Western University with a focus on Social Justice, Diversity and Equity, in 2022. Over her career Nazneen has facilitated learning for teachers and administrators in equity, supporting school mental health and wellbeing, and leadership development. Nazneen also currently serves as both the OPC Mentoring Qualification Program Lead and Equitable and Inclusive Schools Program Lead. As part of this work Nazneen looks closely at how we can develop our leadership capacity in supporting the goal of improving equity outcomes and create identity affirming places for both students and staff.

Thank you to everyone that attended!

Date: October 16, 2024

Time: 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. EDT

Presenter:

Pamala Agawa

Anishinaabe-kwe from Batchewana First Nation

She is a mother, a daughter, a partner, an auntie, a niece, a cousin, a granddaughter and a sister. She is a coach and a lifelong learner who seizes every opportunity possible to grow as a person and an educator.

She is currently the Human Rights and Equity Advisor with the Keewatin-Patricia DSB. Her interests are focused in decolonizing systemic practices to create amazing spaces for learning for all (especially Indigenous youth). She acknowledges this is a journey and this is rooted within the colonial/ western structure we have all adopted as a system in public education. She believes with intentional practice, learning and intentional coaching we can support leaders and decision makers to shift their pedagogical practice to better serve all students and families. She loves working alongside and in service of our youth and is committed to being a strong advocate and accomplice for them.

Thank you to everyone that attended!

Details: The education system continues to be a place of harm and injustice with respect to Indigenous students and staff. From curricular violence, the devaluing of Indigenous cultures and knowledge systems to the outright erasure of Indigenous Peoples, educational spaces need to be radically transformed.

This session will lead administrators through a series of case studies where they will engage in critical dialogue and scenario examination to identify harmful practices. Through collective discussions educators will examine possible challenges and opportunities to determine equitable and just outcomes.

Date: December 11, 2024

Time: 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. EST

Cost: Free (Members and Associates), $50 +HST (Non-members)

Presenter:

Jodie Williams

Academic Coordinator for Indigenous Education, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB)

Jodie Williams currently works with DPCDSB and is the Past Chair for the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Association of Ontario. She has led a provincial Community of Practice for Indigenous Knowledge and Mathematics, which involves a collaboration with NASA, Māori educators from New Zealand, the Navajo Nation in the United States, as well as the Anishinaabek, Cree and Kanyen’kaha:ka (Mohawk). More recently, she has led provincial work in exploring Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Artificial Intelligence in Education. 

Jodie is also a course developer and instructor of Additional Qualification courses and has developed countless resources in the area of Indigenous Education. She has worked with the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association as a consultant and advisor, and has been a Program Officer with the Ontario College of Teachers in the area of accreditation with specific focus on Indigenous content. Together she and her husband have five daughters and one granddaughter.

Thank you to everyone that attended! Members have access to the presentation slides under Indigenous Education.

Details: Join Jenna Jasek and Jade Berrill for this hands-on, interactive workshop that will share perspectives and engage discussion on how to act, share and embed Indigenous Learning appropriately whilst supporting your educators from a leadership position.

Jenna and Jade will share the dual perspectives of lived experience as an Indigenous person and educator meeting the journey of a British immigrant educator and how they have come to their personal and shared places of learning and reflection in formal education systems.

Date: February 19, 2025

Time: 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. EST

Cost: Free (Members and Associates), $50 +HST (Non-members)

Presenters:

Jenna Jasek

Director of Indigenous Learning, The Outdoor Learning School and Store

An Indigenous Advisor for many years, Jenna helped to launch The Outdoor Learning School & Store, and co-created the 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning initiative. She is a certified teacher of 20 years, and was previously the Vice-principal of Indigenous Learning and Equity for Rocky Mountain School District.

Jenna is on a learning expedition which involves her culture, traditional teachings, languages and Knowledge of nature. She believes Indigenous perspectives connect effortlessly with outdoor, hands-on and place-based learning. Her goal is to provide learners of all ages opportunities to explore, learn and immerse themselves in the outdoors and outdoor education alongside Indigenous perspectives and Knowledge.

Jenna lives at the headwaters of the Columbia River which runs through and is the unceded territories of her ancestors, the Secwépemc and Ktunaxa people.

Jade Berrill

Director of Learning, The Outdoor Learning School and Store

From hosting workshops, trainings or gatherings to creating amazing podcasts, Jade wears many hats! She has a vivaciousness for life that ignites everyone around her. She uses this seemingly unending energy to enrich the lives of youth through environmental education, rock climbing, mountain biking and outdoor youth skills camps…weaving in cross-curricular magic as she goes.

Jade is a passionate educator and communicator of science. Building on a love for bringing people together as a mechanism for growth and forward thinking, this role encompasses organizing events to develop the best opportunities for professional development, networking and educational outreach – engaging students, teachers and decision makers alike.

Jade now spends most of her time training educators how to take their learning outside,  growing the outdoor education community and providing support networks for teachers and educators.

Thank you to everyone that attended! Members have access to the referenced resources under Indigenous Education.