Introduction The story of supporting elementary teachers through Emergency Remote Teaching and virtual school teaching assignments (ERT) in the spring of 2021 is a cautionary tale for educational leaders. What emerges from teachers’ own words is a description ERT’s impact on them and the type of support they need to
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change,” Charles Darwin. Throughout history we have faced crisis’, be they natural disasters, disease, war, or other situations caused by mankind. They may have an impact on a global, regional, or local
Introduction Canadian elementary school principals are responsible for the quality of a school’s instructional program as well as the management of the school, staff, students and families (People for Education, 2018). A survey released in July 2020 discovered that one of the top concerns of 94.5% of principals was the
Does student absenteeism impact their final grade? If so, to what degree? Is there a difference depending on course, grade or level? How do we measure and quantify this? These were some of the questions that I wrestled with as a school leader…..and students came to my aid! In my
An Open Invitation to Educational Leaders, Teachers, and Learners With umbrellas protecting us from the rain, we silently followed the trail, wandering deep into the forest, through Anishnabek territory and lands protected by the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850. We stopped at the edge of a bubbling brook, observing an
It can be hard to keep students engaged when they’re boxed inside four walls all day. Giving them (and yourself!) a change of scenery can be reinvigorating and make everyone excited to learn again. The fresh air and peaceful greenery aren’t the only benefits to teaching outside. Environmental education also
After participating in a three-day, two-night Winter Camp excursion in the Kananaskis region of Alberta, Timmy* (a 6th-grade student from Connect Charter School in Calgary) was asked about their favourite memory from the experience. “Probably like, the most funniest part was when we were going to demolish our quinzhees. One
Societal inequalities have always been a reality impacting the education of students. We have students that come to school hungry, students that come to school unwell, and those that sometimes simply don’t come at all. This a reality that no administrator worth their salt could ignore. Schools implement breakfast or
There is an often-unspoken expectation to be the over-worked and over-burdened educator. It comes out in social media posts and memes highlighting the long hours, the lack of sleep, the uneaten lunches or other relatable vignettes. For some it’s a point of pride to be celebrated, almost an expectation or
In this very atypical year, teacher professional development may seem to be a low priority. However, it is possible to sponsor professional learning that can be completely virtual and may in fact meet the needs of teachers who have been focused on and spent inordinate amounts of time on structuring
