Equity Connections is a series of opportunities for school leaders to engage in conversations that deepen their understanding of anti-racism and anti-oppression. These facilitated sessions are designed to maximize sharing of ideas, especially those connected to creating anti-oppressive school environments and where all students can thrive and grow.

Introduction to Coaching for Equity 

Description: 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: Thursday, January 11, 2024

Time: 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. EST

Cost: Free for OPC members and associate members. Non-members - $50.00 + HST

Facilitator: Nazneen Dindar, Mentoring Qualification Program (MQP) Lead, Ontario Principals' Council

Please ensure you register through the correct link.

OPC Member Registration

Non-Member Registration

Nazneen Dindar has been an educator for over 31 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 she completed her Master in Professional Education from Western 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 the OPC Mentoring Qualification Program Lead and facilitates workshops on mentor coaching provincially. In this work Nazneen looks closely at how we can support mentoring programs that support our goal to improve equity outcomes and create identity affirming places for both students and staff.

Indigenous Connections

Indigenous Connections is a series of opportunities for school leaders to engage in conversations that deepen their understanding of Indigenous history, heritage, and culture. These facilitated sessions are designed to maximize peer-to-peer connection and sharing of ideas, especially those connected to creating school environments that acknowledge and honour Indigenous ways of knowing and being, and where all students can thrive and grow.

Indigenous Connections Session # 2: Progressing Truth, Confronting Complacency, and Unleashing the Possibility of Healing Through Education

Description: Education as a tool for both healing and reconciliation has been an evolving movement over the years, and in particular since the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission 94 Calls to Action. Eight years later in a post TRC society, what truths remain untold? What lessons have we learned in trying to mobilize meaningful change? How can we as educators, uphold our responsibilities in the work of rebuilding the broken relationship that has brought us to this space? As the reconciliatory bridge continues to be constructed, education systems will continue to play a keystone role in the process of building awareness, understanding, and creating action.

Date: Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Time: 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. EST

Cost: Free for OPC Members and associates. Non-members - $50.00 + HST

Location: Online via Zoom

Facilitator: Nick Bertrand, Education Officer, Ministry of Education: Indigenous Education Office

Please ensure you register through the correct link.

OPC Member Registration

Non-Member Registration

Nick is a proud Kanyen’keha:ka and member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.  He is a father, partner, uncle, coach, and educator.  Sharing truth alongside messages of hope and resiliency through the vehicle of education is what interests and drives Nick. 

Nick has worked in education for over 18 years in many roles including: a high school OCT certified teacher, a school board Indigenous Education Lead, and more recently as an Education Officer in the Ministry of Education.  In 2015, Nick was seconded to the Ministry of Education where he had the opportunity to work collaboratively on the development of Ontario’s curriculum strategy for the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In 2017 Nick began work in the Indigenous Education Office within the Ministry of Education, supporting the success and well-being of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth in the provincial K-12 system. Since the spring of 2023, Nick has work as a Senior Manager in the Treasury Board Secretariat within the Indigenous Equity Branch.   

In his personal time Nick enjoys coaching his daughters’ representative hockey team, teaching additional qualification courses for educators in field of Indigenous Education, and he also works independently to support the private sector workforce in their recruitment, hiring, and retainment of Indigenous Peoples.   

Grounded by the incredible support and generosity of Elders, Knowledge Keepers, community, family, and friends has allowed Nick to share space in a variety of educational settings. To move along a reconciliatory path, Nick has always believed that the foundation of this journey is rooted in strong relationships built on respect, understanding, and reciprocity.

2023-24 Session Dates

Tuesdays

• October 10, 2023
  

• November 28, 2023
  

• February 13, 2024
  

• May 7, 2024
  

Time: 4:00 - 5:15 p.m. EDT/EST

Cost: Free for Members and Associates

Facilitator: Lawrence DeMaeyer, OPC Professional Learning Advisor

RSVP

*Please note that by completing the RSVP form you will be invited to all sessions. Members are welcome to join at any time, even if you have missed earlier sessions.

Leadership development continues to be an important focus for all school districts, including support and learning for emerging leaders and newly appointed administrators. This PLN is for Members who are involved in leadership development activities in their districts to come together and share some of their ideas, strategies and experiences. Whether you are in a central role or are a committee member that supports leadership development and are interested in forming a network to connect and share, this PLN will be for you.

2023-24 Session Dates

Tuesdays

• October 17, 2023
  

• December 5, 2023 *rescheduled to January 16, 2024
  

• February 27, 2024
  

• May 14, 2024
  

Time: 4:00 - 5:15 p.m. EDT/EST

Cost: Free for Members and Associates

Facilitator: Lawrence DeMaeyer, OPC Professional Learning Advisor

RSVP

*Please note that by completing the RSVP form you will be invited to all sessions. Members are welcome to join at any time, even if you have missed earlier sessions.

This PLN focuses on the opportunities and challenges of leading the Safe and Caring Schools/Student Discipline portfolio in school districts. Driven by participant voices, this is an opportunity for Members with responsibility for Safe and Caring Schools to engage with colleagues to share ideas, strategies, experiences and learning needs. Please join us in this supportive, engaging learning opportunity.

2023-24 Session Dates

Thursdays

• October 12, 2023
  

• November 30, 2023
  

• February 15, 2024
  

• May 9, 2024
  

Time: 4:00 - 5:15 p.m. EDT/EST

Cost: Free for Members and Associates

Facilitator: Lawrence DeMaeyer, OPC Professional Learning Advisor

RSVP

*Please note that by completing the RSVP form you will be invited to all sessions. Members are welcome to join at any time, even if you have missed earlier sessions.

Open conversations for vice-principals driven by participant voices on relevant and important topics of the day. 

2023-24 Session Dates

Tuesdays

• November 7, 2023
  
• December 12, 2023
  
• February 6, 2024
  
• March 26, 2024
  
• April 16, 2024 
• May 21, 2024
  
• June 18, 2024

Time: 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. EDT/EST

Cost: Free for Members and Associates

Facilitator: Susie Lee-Fernandes, OPC Director of Professional Learning

RSVP

*Please note that by completing the RSVP form you will be invited to all sessions. Members are welcome to join at any time, even if you have missed earlier sessions.

This PLN focuses on the opportunities and challenges of leading virtual schools. Driven by participant voices, this is an opportunity for Members with responsibility or interest in leading virtual schools to engage with colleagues to share ideas, strategies, experiences and learning needs. Please join us in this supportive, engaging learning opportunity.

2023-24 Session Dates

Thursdays

• October 19, 2023
  

• December 6, 2023 *exception (meeting Wednesday instead)
  

• February 29, 2024
  

• May 16, 2024
  

Time: 4:00 - 5:15 p.m. EDT/EST

Cost: Free for Members and Associates

Facilitators: 

• Lawrence DeMaeyer, OPC Professional Learning Advisor
• Shaundell Parris, Durham DSB

RSVP

*Please note that by completing the RSVP form you will be invited to all sessions. Members are welcome to join at any time, even if you have missed earlier sessions.