Contacts
Info
This podcast engages school leaders across Ontario in authentic conversations about their passion and expertise within K-12 education. We hope listeners will gain practical insights and strategies from each other...
show more
This podcast engages school leaders across Ontario in authentic conversations about their passion and expertise within K-12 education. We hope listeners will gain practical insights and strategies from each other to enhance learning and strengthen their school communities. Most importantly, this podcast will highlight excellence in practice and the joy of school leadership!
HOSTS
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HOSTS
- Lawrence DeMaeyer – Professional Learning Advisor, Ontario Principals’ Council
- Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning, Ontario Principals’ Council
Leadership Talks
Leadership Talks
16 SEP 2024 · Josh Windsor joins us in conversation with Dr. Alison Yeung to share how they have worked together to educate parents regarding the use of cell phones and the impact of social media on teen mental health. Josh has implemented some school wide flexible policies to support student learning and assist students to self regulate with regards to their use of social media during learning time.
OUR GUESTS
- Alison Yeung, MD Family Medicine
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesmartphoneeffectmd?igsh=M3FrajZqOTg4enAy
- Josh Windsor - Waterloo Region District School Board
HOSTS
- Lawrence DeMaeyer – Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals’ Council
- Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning and Engagement, Ontario Principals’ Council
Episode 22 Transcript PDF
4 SEP 2024 · Integrating circles is a simple, yet profound, practice to positively impact individuals in a school community. The goal of this podcast is to share information on how circles can be implemented in varied ways. Goals include building a strong sense of community, promoting active listening and restorative practices, and creating safe and inclusive learning environments.
ARTICLES and RESOURCES
- https://www.principals.ca/en/professional-learning/resources/Documents/Community-Circles-podcast/Using-Circles---quick-tips-handout-OCDSB.pdf. Inclusive, Safe and Caring Programs, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
- https://www.principals.ca/en/professional-learning/resources/Documents/Community-Circles-podcast/Community-Circles---OCDSB-Mentally-Healthy-Classrooms-2023.pdf. OCDSB Mentally Healthy Classrooms 2023, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
- Fisher, Douglas and Frey, Nancy. 2022. https://ascd.org/el/articles/community-circles-build-restorative-school-cultures. ascd educational leadership, September 2022
- Riel, Margaret. 2000. http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED441665.pdf. eric.ed.gov ED441665
- Amos, Clifford. 2013. https://www.principals.ca/en/professional-learning/resources/Documents/Community-Circles-podcast/Teaching-Restorative-Practices-with-Classroom-Circles-SFUSD.pdf. Center for Restorative Process and San Francisco Unified School District.
OUR GUEST
- Kim Esdaile - Ottawa-Carlton District School Board
HOSTS
- Lawrence DeMaeyer – Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals’ Council
- Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning and Engagement, Ontario Principals’ Council
Episode 21 Transcript PDF
21 AUG 2024 · This podcast, with guests Linda Cotnam and Sharlene McHolm, will give an overview of the classroom realities, in a way that only experienced educators can bring. They discuss what self-regulation is and what it is not. Together we invite our audience to explore the factors that impact self-regulation for both the child and the adult supporting them.
As school leaders, we play key role in addressing student achievement. This can be difficult when students have poor self-regulation. We know that self-regulation is a key component to so many aspects of a child’s life, including social relationships, academics and dealing with conflict. Being able to self-regulate is essential, and due to its importance, is a key part of Kindergarten programming/curriculum. What factors need to be considered? How should one react? Considering that self-regulation skills are so vastly different, not just in Kindergarten students but all the way into high school and sometimes even adulthood, what are the key factors that affect this and what does research say? We know the tension between exciting play-based learning and what teachers and DECEs struggle with when you have a child or three in the classroom that cannot handle the choice that it represents. How do we provide great provocations that will help all students and extend the learning of the brightest? Join us as we unpack in this episode.
OUR GUESTS
- Linda Cotnam - Waterloo Region District School Board
- Sharlene McHolm - Waterloo Region District School Board
HOSTS
- Lawrence DeMaeyer – Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals’ Council
- Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning and Engagement, Ontario Principals’ Council
https://www.spreaker.com/11140357_OPC/en/professional-learning/resources/Leadership-Talks-Podcast-Transcripts/Leadership-Talks_-EP-20---Self-regulation.pdf
7 AUG 2024 · Students clearly express that they want to see themselves in what they learn. For this episode, Andrea Gill joins us to share some of the student led projects that have taken place in her schools. By fostering student voice in schools, student interest and goals are centred in their learning. Student census data alongside qualitative data, supports initiatives in learning that reflect student identity, lived experiences and community funds of knowledge.
Project-based learning increases engagement in students as they are in the drivers’ seat for their learning, with the educator serving as a mentor who scaffolds tasks and provides feedback. This model of teaching increases collaboration across the school fostering interconnection, increasing community-based school model and inter-peer coaching, mentorship and leadership. This is an exciting and engaging conversation to have and Andrea looks forward to sharing it.
OUR GUEST
- Andrea Gill - Halton District School Board
HOSTS
- Lawrence DeMaeyer – Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals’ Council
- Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning and Engagement, Ontario Principals’ Council
https://www.principals.ca/en/professional-learning/resources/Leadership-Talks-Podcast-Transcripts/Leadership-Talks_-EP-19---Project-Based-Learning-and-Student-Engagement.pdf
24 JUL 2024 · Please note that this episode mentions self-harm and/or suicide. While we don’t want to cause anxiety or stress, 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. Included for your reference is TDSB's resource page for https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Elementary-School/Supporting-You/Mental-Health-and-Well-Being-Professional-Support-Staff-PSS/Immediate-Support-Help.
Robert Durocher (Métis/French, he/him), centrally assigned to the Urban Indigenous Education Centre of Excellence, partners up with Jordan Applebaum (he/him) to discuss the importance of Gender and Sexuality Alliance’s (GSA’s) in schools to support 2SLGBTQQIA+ students and community members. Affinity groups can work together to lead, centering Indigenous, Black, and racialized student voices. It is a crucial time to focus on joy for Two-spirit, Indigiqueer, trans, 2SLGBTQQIA+ students and communities with intersecting identities. This is why Robert and Jordan are sharing their experiences in this episode and why they support GSA staff advisors through the TDSB GSA Network which reaches students and staff across the system. Initiatives include the annual EnVision Conference, Two-spirit, Indigiqueer Conference, Queer Nature walks, GSA Network Meetings, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Pen Pals for literacy, joy, education, and building community connections.
TDSB GSA Network has a website and helps organize events, such as conferences, field trips for GSA members and Pride events. For more information visit: https://sites.google.com/tdsb.on.ca/tdsbgsanetwork/home
OUR GUESTS
- Jordan Applebaum, Toronto District School Board
- Robert Durocher, Toronto District School Board
HOSTS
- Lawrence DeMaeyer – Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals’ Council
- Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning and Engagement, Ontario Principals’ Council
https://www.principals.ca/en/professional-learning/resources/Leadership-Talks-Podcast-Transcripts/EP-18-Affirming-and-Centering-Two-spirit-Indigiqueer-Black-Racialized-2SLGBTQQIA-Persons-with-Multiple-Intersecting-Identities-in-K-12-.pdf
10 JUL 2024 · School leadership provides a wonderful opportunity to influence change and growth. Schools naturally foster high achievement and celebrate those that walk our halls. Unfortunately, sometimes the strategies also reinforce perfectionist tendencies, foster self-sabotage and invoke the feeling of being an imposter.
As a (former) Principal, Lorraine LaPointe’s passion continues through studying the heart-mind-body connections and applying the latest brain research to create healthier habits of achievement, self-esteem and self-acceptance. This is needed today, more than ever! Through her company, http://www.lorrainelapointe.ca/, Lorraine mentors, coaches and has authored the book https://www.amazon.ca/Perfectionism-Unplugged-Self-Sabotage-Strategies-Head-Heart/dp/B0CD93ZSMJ. She joins our podcast to share some powerful insights, metaphors and transformational stories showing how to turn fear of failure, anxiety and self-doubt, into the fuel for success.
OUR GUEST
- Lorraine Lapointe - retired Durham District School Board
HOSTS
- Lawrence DeMaeyer – Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals’ Council
- Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning and Engagement, Ontario Principals’ Council
https://www.principals.ca/en/professional-learning/resources/Leadership-Talks-Podcast-Transcripts/Leadership-Talks_-EP-17---Is-it-Healthy-High-Achievement-or-Perfectionism_.pdf
26 JUN 2024 · Michelle Sigmann is a principal, a certified wellness coach and an author of a book that guides individuals through a framework of setting goals and actionizing their visions. Her leadership style lends itself to authentic ways of teaching and leading. In this conversation with Leadership Talks she touches on her personal story where overwhelm and stress almost had her at rock bottom. The experience galvanized her new outlook and is now fuel for her passion for supporting and coaching others.
School leaders tend to believe that they should have all the answers. Michelle speaks about real, sustainable work and action that can be implemented. You can show up feeling less overwhelmed and stressed. You can balance the busy and transfer renewed energy into strategies that can be used in your school building.
Consider starting your day with you (5-10 minutes) using these three easy guidelines:
- Build up your self worth, be in control of your thoughts.
- Identify stressors by writing it down to reflect and take control / prioritize.
- Be patient with yourself while you implement good habits.
Resources (with notes from Michelle):
- Time Audit - I briefly talked about trying to find time in your day. When you complete this audit make sure to do your busiest day. The goal is once you fill it all in to try and find 15-20 minutes in your day to replace it with a habit that is for you. Please reach out to me for a more detailed guidance on this.
- Power Statements - In the podcast, I talked about the importance of reframing your mindset by using positive self-talk / power statements. The science behind this is more than just the words. Do this each day for yourself and see the changes in your mindset and the way you show up in your workplace and home!
OUR GUEST
- Michelle Sigmann, Durham District School Board
- IG - @michellefitnessmomma
- LinkedIN - @Michelle Sigmann
- Website - https://wellnessmichelle.com/
- Email - https://gmail.com
HOSTS
- Lawrence DeMaeyer – Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals’ Council
- Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning and Engagement, Ontario Principals’ Council
https://www.principals.ca/en/professional-learning/resources/Leadership-Talks-Podcast-Transcripts/Leadership-Talks_-EP-16---Working-on-a-Mentally-Healthy-You_-Some-actionable-steps.pdf
12 JUN 2024 · This conversation is with Dinusha Gunasingham and Samantha Stephen, who join us as representatives of the Transformational Administrators' Network; a group of administrators and educators invested in championing change management. With a focus on whole school implementation (for the benefit of ALL students), this group co-created the Transformative Administrators' Toolkit (TAT), an administrative toolkit that includes resources, materials, tools and frameworks that can be utilized by administrators to shift white supremacy culture by deprivatizing practice, employing evidence-based processes, setting direction through high expectations, centering and affirming students’ intersecting identities and fostering a climate of collaboration, responsibility and accountability that includes students, families and staff as active agents.
Dinusha and Samantha highlight for listeners how they have used the 6-week Co-learning and Instructional Cycle, included in the TAT toolkit, to foster positive student outcomes. It is a proactive, responsive and intentional tool created to action a transformative process to address disproportionalities in special education. The framework provides scaffolded support for educators to work in community with students, families and colleagues using critical discourse to complete an evidence-based process with a focus on problematizing practice and not students, as well as encouraging ongoing and purposeful critical reflection of current pedagogy.
Dinusha and Samantha were not able to consolidate all 6-weeks of the cycle for us in the podcast episode due to time constraints, however, they wanted to express for listeners that Weeks 4 - 6 continue with the collection of student and staff driven dialogue and data. Then analysis of the specific goals and intentional teaching strategies for when, in Week 6, a review team comes together to assess if the cycle should:
- (a) Continue.
- (b) If a referral to ISSP for a more intensive evaluation of supports (both school and / or community based) is required.
- (c) Discontinue with monitoring.
The purpose of the 6-week Co-learning and Instructional Cycle is to action, in the most effective and intentional way, an individualized program to meet students' specific academic and socio-emotional needs using informed instruction.
To further benefit students and support colleagues the Transformational Administrators' Network is open to sharing more information* on the TAT toolkit. Contact Dinusha at https://peelsb.com or Samantha at https://peelsb.com.
*Note, the tool will only be shared with support in understanding the conceptualization. This allows the creators to ensure that the elements, use and framework are not used in a manner that operates outside of their original vision. They welcome inquires from anyone who is interested and open to a conversation and/or learning session.
OUR GUESTS
- Dinusha Gunasingham, Peel District School Board
- Samantha Stephen, Peel District School Board
HOSTS
- Lawrence DeMaeyer – Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals’ Council
- Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning and Engagement, Ontario Principals’ Council
https://www.principals.ca/en/professional-learning/resources/Leadership-Talks-Podcast-Transcripts/Leadership-Talks_-EP-15---Special-Education-6-week-Co-learning-and-Instructional-Cycle.pdf
29 MAY 2024 · As the school leaders of Peel Elementary Virtual School, Raquel Cariati-Cardoso and Sumeeta Merwar, have comprehensive understanding of virtual learning's role in the educational landscape. Their insights are backed by practical experience that focus on ensuring that students' diverse needs are met effectively in an innovative virtual space. Having been at the forefront of implementing virtual learning methods that cater to individual student, Raquel and Sumeeta have many success stories and examples that demonstrate how virtual learning has positively impacted the students that attend virtual school. There is flexibility to provide comprehensive support, specialized resources and an inclusive learning environment for all students. This is not the same virtual learning that happened during the pandemic.
OUR GUESTS
- Raquel Cariati-Cardoso, Peel District School Board
- Sumeeta Merwar, Peel District School Board
HOSTS
- Lawrence DeMaeyer – Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals’ Council
- Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning and Engagement, Ontario Principals’ Council
https://www.principals.ca/en/professional-learning/resources/Leadership-Talks-Podcast-Transcripts/Leadership-Talks_-EP-14---Debunking-the-Myths-Around-Virtual-Learning.pdf
15 MAY 2024 · For this episode of Leadership Talks, we welcome Anjali Bajaj, a secondary vice-principal with the Toronto District School Board.
Anjali shares how leading for equity impacts the mental health of school administrators, a topic which she presented in the spring of 2023 OPC Vice-principal Symposium. While acknowledging post-pandemic realities, there is a greater need to support student & staff mental health due to tensions faced by school leaders. The impact of trauma / stress on our health and practice, include compassion fatigue and racial battle fatigue. What then are the tangible practices that are available for aligning both self & community care. How do we to hold colleagues/staff accountable to equity practices, while also maintaining personal wellness? This is where strategies such as mentoring/coaching of equity conversations, the SMHO cultural humility tool and the importance of partnerships can be used to widen the circle of care around a school community.
OUR GUEST
- Anjali Bajaj, Toronto District School Board
HOSTS
- Lawrence DeMaeyer – Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals’ Council
- Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning and Engagement, Ontario Principals’ Council
https://icreate.principals.ca/11140357_OPC/en/professional-learning/resources/Leadership-Talks-Podcast-Transcripts/Leadership-Talks_-EP-13---Equity-and-Mental-Health_-Strategies-for-Navigating-Challenges.pdf
This podcast engages school leaders across Ontario in authentic conversations about their passion and expertise within K-12 education. We hope listeners will gain practical insights and strategies from each other...
show more
This podcast engages school leaders across Ontario in authentic conversations about their passion and expertise within K-12 education. We hope listeners will gain practical insights and strategies from each other to enhance learning and strengthen their school communities. Most importantly, this podcast will highlight excellence in practice and the joy of school leadership!
HOSTS
show less
HOSTS
- Lawrence DeMaeyer – Professional Learning Advisor, Ontario Principals’ Council
- Susie Lee-Fernandes – Director of Professional Learning, Ontario Principals’ Council
Information
| Author | voicEd Radio |
| Organization | voicEd Radio |
| Categories | Education , Mental Health |
| Website | - |
| stephen@voiced.ca |
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