Leadership Talks

Description:

Today in Ontario, public schools are systematically uninviting presentations or performances about homophobia and transphobia, cancelling events for 2SLGBTQ+ students, and restricting the activities of related student groups; school staff are also enabling students to leave conversations and lessons about gender and sexual diversity, and changing practice to remove these topics from the classroom. These actions taken by school staff and administrators may place them at risk of legal exposure as they are clearly discriminatory; and yet, they are taken in good faith as an effort to comply with two recently issued Policy and Program Memoranda: PPM 162 (limited HPE exemption) and PPM 170 ("guest speaker exemption" and detailed advance notice requirement for guest speaker presentations or performances).

In this podcast episode, the guests share their research findings and experiences of working with educators across Ontario schools who find themselves in this predicament, as well as evidence from legal analysis of both PPMs and their reported impacts. The discussion aims to inform OPC members of the risks inherent in emerging practices that seek to follow either PPM, and equip members with the tools to protect themselves and their staff, open conversations within their school boards, and ensure that 2SLGBTQ+ students and families are not being subject to discrimination.

OUR GUEST

• Dr. Lee Airton (they/them)
• Ros Salvador (they/them)
• Tammy Shubat (she/her)

BIOGRAPHIES 

Dr. Lee Airton (they/them) is an Associate Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies in Education at Queen's University. Lee works closely with teachers, teacher unions, teacher educators, education authorities, non-profit organizations and researchers to address teacher candidates’ gendered vulnerabilities, the induction and retention of transgender teachers, and challenges in developing gender identity/gender expression-related education policy. Most recently, Lee and colleagues released, “No for Now: Guidance for School Staff on Supporting Transgender Students and Parent-Child Relationships” (www.nofornow.ca) which is informing educator practice across Canada. Learn more about Lee at www.leeairton.com.  

Ros Salvador, pronouns they/them, is a Black, queer, non-binary lawyer with fifteen years experience working to advance human rights and social justice. Ros’ human rights work related to the education system includes representing individuals in human rights litigation, as well as having worked as a human rights leader in the education system for five years where developing policy and training related to gender identity and sexual orientation rights in schools has been significant focus of Ros’ work.  

Tammy Shubat (she/her) has worked in health promotion and education for more than 25 years, and specifically for the last 18+ years with Ophea, advancing health and well-being in Ontario schools. Currently in the Chief Strategy Officer role, Tammy aligns provincial and national partners, project opportunities, and strategic objectives for Ophea, and for the sector at large. With a practice in grounded in social justice and anti-oppressive approaches in education, Tammy is a proud member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, an advocate, and a mum. 

HOSTS

• Lindsay Diakiw - Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals' Council
• Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning, Ontario Principals’ Council

Season 3 Episode 3 Transcript

Description:

I would like to share a practical leadership conversation about how schools can move from compliance-driven discipline toward structured, rights-informed learning communities grounded in dignity, student voice, safety, and shared responsibility.

As a Canadian elementary school principal, researcher, and creator of the Web of Rights, my work focuses on a tension many Ontario school leaders know well: schools need structure, safety, and accountability, but those structures must still serve students as rights-bearing people.

My doctoral research examined democratic school models in Ontario public elementary schools, and my current work supports educators and leaders in building school cultures where students are not simply managed, but meaningfully included.

In this conversation, I could explore what student voice looks like when it is structured rather than symbolic, how leaders can protect dignity during correction or conflict, why fairness is not always sameness, and how rights-informed practice can support safer and more inclusive school communities.

The conversation would offer listeners a reflective leadership lens and practical language they could bring back to their schools, especially around conflict, shared responsibility, and building school cultures that serve students rather than simply manage them.

OUR GUEST

• Dr. Cameron McCauig

HOSTS

• Lindsay Diakiw - Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals' Council
• Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning, Ontario Principals’ Council

Season 3 Episode 3 Transcript

Description:

This podcast conversation will explore how school leaders can move beyond symbolic welcome practices toward more meaningful engagement with newcomer families in kindergarten and the early years. Drawing on my research and professional learning work in early childhood education, I will discuss how leadership shapes belonging, trust, and culturally responsive family-school relationships, and share practical considerations for principals and board leaders working in diverse school communities.

OUR GUEST

• Kamini Kamdar

HOSTS

• Lindsay Diakiw - Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals' Council
• Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning, Ontario Principals’ Council

Season 3 Episode 3 Transcript

Description:

At Golden Learning Centre (KPDSB), the school team has developed and refined norms that focus on empowering educational assistants to build their strategies, strengthen their professional voice, and support student achievement and well-being. Through this collaborative partnership, educational assistants have demonstrated increased efficacy in their roles alongside classroom educators and the Special Education Resource Teacher. Together, they have created a cohesive team that collaborates effectively, shares ideas, challenges assumptions, and ultimately makes a significant contribution to student achievement and well-being.

OUR GUEST

• Michelle Parrish, Keewatin-Patricia District School Board

HOSTS

• Lindsay Diakiw - Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals' Council
• Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning, Ontario Principals’ Council

Season 3 Episode 2 Transcript

Description:

In this session, I will demonstrate how school leaders can leverage AI—specifically customized "Gems" and AI agents—to automate administrative heavy lifting and reclaim time for instructional leadership. The modern principal is often buried under "urgent" paperwork that delays "important" human work. I will share practical strategies to streamline: Documentation & Writing: Rapidly drafting newsletters, community memos, and grant proposals while maintaining a warm, professional voice. Teacher Performance Appraisals (TPA): Using AI as a collaborative partner to synthesize observation notes into meaningful, growth-oriented feedback. Strategic Planning: Utilizing AI to analyze school data and climate surveys to inform school improvement plans. The goal isn't to replace the human element but to protect it. By decreasing task completion time for repetitive cognitive tasks, leaders can achieve a healthier work/life balance and spend more time in classrooms and hallways. I will share my personal journey of implementing these tools at the elementary level, showing how AI can be an equity-seeking tool that ensures timely, high-quality communication. We will discuss the ethics of AI and how modeling these tools encourages a culture of responsible innovation for staff and students alike.

If you have any questions about this episode, feel free to reach out to Annie Slater at [email protected]  

Resources: 

Principles for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence 

OUR GUEST

• Annie Slater, Toronto District School Board

HOSTS

• Lindsay Diakiw - Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals' Council
• Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning, Ontario Principals’ Council

Season 3 Episode 1 Transcript

Description:

As equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) efforts face mounting resistance, how are you uniquely positioned to lead with boldness, care, and clarity? This session invites listeners into a collaborative space to explore how they can apply the three foundational components of courageous leadership in their work, regardless of sector or personal identity.

Courage to Act: Courageous leaders step up when it matters most – they don’t wait for the perfect conditions. They step forward even when it’s unpopular, uncertain, or uncomfortable, especially when protecting or uplifting equity deserving voices. We will reflect on gaps in confidence when leading and provide tools to respond with a values-based approach.

Vision with Purpose: Bold leaders think beyond quick fixes or crisis management. They are proactive, intentional, and dismantle systems that reinforce harm or exclusion. Their values and mission aren’t just stated - they’re lived - even under pressure. Through this session, we will explore effective communication strategies and how to engage different audiences.

Accountability and Humility: Leaders own their impact, including when they get it wrong. Courageous leadership includes the willingness to learn, grow, and repair when necessary. Drawing on Egale Canada’s resources and trainings, this session will review practices for building accountable spaces where learning is possible.


OUR GUEST

• Mackenzie Colton, Director of Learning, Egale Canada

HOSTS

• Lawrence DeMaeyer – Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals’ Council
• Lindsay Diakiw - Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals' Council
• Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning and Engagement, Ontario Principals’ Council

Season 2 Episode 15 Transcript

Description:

In this episode of Leadership Talks, Julia Hayes, a principal in the Grand Erie District School Board, reflects on the power of distributed leadership and its role in building a strong, people‑centred school culture. Drawing on her first year as a principal in a new board, Julia shares key lessons about shifting away from “leading alone” toward creating conditions where leadership is shared, valued, and nurtured across the school community.

Julia explores how meaningful change happens when staff and students alike are empowered to contribute in authentic ways. She discusses elevating student voice, involving support staff in decision‑making, and intentionally creating everyday moments of trust, connection, and collaboration. Through practical examples, she illustrates how shared leadership deepens relationships, builds morale, and strengthens a school’s collective sense of ownership.

This conversation will resonate with principals navigating the increasing complexity of today’s work, offering both reassurance and practical strategies for fostering a culture where everyone leads, together.

OUR GUEST

• Julia Hayes, GEDSB

HOSTS

• Lawrence DeMaeyer – Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals’ Council
• Lindsay Diakiw - Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals' Council
• Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning and Engagement, Ontario Principals’ Council

Season 2 Episode 14 Transcript

The Leadership Talks Podcast features Amy Crummer, based as a Principal with Avon Maitland District School Board.

Description:

When we talk about serving equity-serving or unique populations in a public system - it's not just about doing the work but rather its about doing it intentionally and thoughtfully. A big part of this is listening, being humble, ensuring  safety and a sense of belonging to the people we serve. The individuals who live these experience every day know what works and what doesn't. We need to include their voices in the decisions, and steps of change along the way. That's where the engagement, trust and true impact begin.

We must also look honestly at the systems that keep inequities in place, and think about the barriers that exist, how do we challenge, change and overcome them? That means rethinking the status quo, shifting resources, and asking ourselves, who benefits from the way things are now?

We also need to hold ourselves accountable, measure our impact, and to be honest about what's working and what isn't. Vulnerability is a gift - when you can create sense of belonging and trust with others who are from a different community than you - positive and united change can happen!


OUR GUEST

• Amy Crummer, AMDSB

HOSTS

• Lawrence DeMaeyer – Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals’ Council
• Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning and Engagement, Ontario Principals’ Council
• Lindsay Diakiw - Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals' Council

Season 2 Episode 13 Transcript

The Leadership Talks Podcast features Gillian Kajganich, based as a Principal at West Ferris Secondary School in Northy Bay with NNDSB, and also welcomes Krista Tucker Petrick who is a Principal at Chippewa Secondary School in North Bay with NNDSB.

"Friends don't let friends be a principal alone." Over the course of a 15-year interwoven journey in education, we have cultivated a critical friendship-- one that emphasizes “critical” when necessary and “friendship” when it matters most. Leadership in education can often feel isolating and deeply lonely, making it essential to build a strong, supportive network. 
 
We propose taking this idea further to developing critical, trusting relationships with colleagues that foster both professional and personal growth. These relationships serve as a vital support system. As we strive to grow as leaders, vulnerability and trust become essential. A deep friendship offers the kind of honest feedback that others may hesitate to share and that we may not always want to hear. 
 
When faced with complex situations, a critical friend can help navigate the path forward by weighing pros and cons objectively, without a personal stake. In this podcast, we’ll explore the importance of being and having a critical friend. We’ll share examples from our own experiences, reflect on how we support each other, and of course, include a few funny stories along the way. 

OUR GUEST

• Gillian Kajganich, NNDSB
• Krista Tucker Petrick, NNDSB

HOSTS

• Lawrence DeMaeyer – Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals’ Council
• Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning and Engagement, Ontario Principals’ Council

Season 2 Episode 12 Transcript

The Leadership Talks Podcast welcomes Nicole Aloise, based in the Toronto District School Board. This session explores targeted interventions of a Scarborough high school that supports the learning and excellence of Black students, centered around anti-oppression and anti-racism.

Learning how a whole school journey with a focus on a critical discourse on the impact of race in education, increased the development of a progressive teaching & learning culture, based on critical reflection and anti-racist discourse.

Through leadership capacity building school, school staff fuse theory into practice through a PLC model that entails staff engaging in critically conscious pedagogy that focuses on the impact of race, identity and education. Using CRRP as the foundation, staff challenge /critique dominant cultural norms and narratives that uphold the status quo collective vigilance which purposely sustains the traditional educational trajectories of black and racialized students in public education.  

This longitudinal PLC model has increased staff awareness and understanding of the impact of power imbalances, centering of whiteness , power and privilege, systemic and institutional racism, and the effects on the education system, their individual practice and student outcomes.

For more information about Leadership and PLC Learning resources, please contact Nicole Aloise  via email at [email protected]. 

OUR GUEST

• Nicole Aloise, TDSB

HOSTS

• Lawrence DeMaeyer – Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals’ Council
• Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning and Engagement, Ontario Principals’ Council

Season 2 Episode 11 Transcript