Please note that this topic may be challenging for different reasons, and while it is not our intent to cause anxiety or stress to anyone participating or listening, we acknowledge that this may be the experience for some people. If needed, we encourage you to reach out for support to a trusted friend or colleague, another personal resource or your organization’s Employee Assistance Program.

In this session, Barry Bedford joins us to discuss the realities of being 2SLGBTQQIA+ in today's schools. There is a need to challenge homophobia and heterosexism in school communities (unintentional or intentional) to help create safer, more inclusive learning environments and workspaces. As school leaders, let’s think about how to model best practices for including 2SLGBTQQIA+ issues.

OUR GUEST

• Barry Bedford - Retired Principal

HOSTS

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

Episode 4 Transcript PDF

For this episode, we have Jennifer Shortreed joining us to share some of her experiences working on innovative structures that improve student outcomes over the years, most frequently in Design thinking, Student Success and Online Learning.

As a System Principal with 15 years secondary administrative experience, she has activated staff on innovation in new modular credits in student success, innovation labs with packaged credits, remote learning that centers the student, and recently blended learning. In this conversation, Jennifer outlines leadership moves, relationship tools, and the key aspects needed to ensure success on an innovation in your school, across schools, or across the system. When students are in the heart of a human centered design process, the unimaginable becomes a practical reality.

GUEST

• Jennifer Shortreed - Waterloo Region District School Board

HOSTS

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

Episode 3 Transcript PDF

In an elementary school that is deemed "high need" within Ontario, the context of the learning is as important as what is being taught and by whom. In our conversation with Umar Qureshi, he discusses his research proposal compiling leadership competencies and standardized considerations to support school leaders. Could leadership considerations be added to the Ontario Leadership Framework (OLF) given the diverse academic and socio-economic circumstances at high need elementary schools in Ontario? A consistent leadership framework to address the student achievement gap would be beneficial with the layered nature of school principalship.

The question of how to effectively support student achievement for at-risk students in high need schools must be addressed to ensure educational equity. A systemic and structured leadership framework that consistently supports students Ontario-wide is important to implement in order to ensure an equity based school leadership approach that will reduce student achievement gaps.

OUR GUEST

• Umar Qureshi – Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board

HOSTS

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

Episode 2 Transcript PDF

Joining us in conversation is Kingsley Hurlington to discuss the question - Ever wonder why some youth are seemingly crushed by stress in their lives while others seem to thrive? Resilience is the capacity of individuals to navigate their way to well-being in the face of adversity. In an interactive workshop, we explore how the principles of resilience can be applied by teachers with individual students, classroom communities and entire schools in practical and meaningful ways that bolster social, emotional, mental – and ultimately – academic and personal success.

OUR GUEST

• Dr. Kingsley Hurlington - Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board

HOSTS

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

Episode 1 Transcript PDF

Welcome!

Join our hosts Susie and Lawrence to hear more about what Leadership Talks is all about. We are looking forward to our conversations with leaders in education sharing their passions, areas of expertise and authentic stories about what drives their leadership journey.

Please consider joining us as a guest to share your story. Leadership Talks Proposal Form

INTRODUCING OUR HOSTS

Lawrence DeMaeyer
Professional Learning Advisor, Ontario Principals’ Council

Lawrence has been an educator for over 30 years. He started his career as an elementary teacher before moving to secondary school where he spent over a decade as a Business Teacher and Department Head. He then served for 10 years as a secondary Vice-Principal and Principal. As a Principal, Lawrence held system-level leadership positions as a School Support Officer and Principal of Modern Learning. He has also served as a Superintendent of Education and Superintendent of Leadership Development and School Support. Lawrence’s passion for developing people, system learning, and innovation led him to join OPC in February of 2021 in the role of Professional Learning Education Advisor.


Susie Lee-Fernandes
Director of Professional Learning, Ontario Principals’ Council

Susie has served in education for over 23 years in the roles of teacher, principal and superintendent with responsibilities for equity, special education and leadership development. She is a dedicated educator and life-long learner, committed to culturally responsive leadership and authentic collaboration with community partners. In her current role as Director of Professional Learning for the Ontario Principal’s Council, Susie is honoured to support principals and vice-principals in exemplary school leadership at the local, national and international levels.

Episode 0 Transcript PDF