2025 Celebrating the Challenges: Full Schedule

Dr. Lori Desautels has been an Assistant Professor at Butler University since 2016 where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Education.Lori’s passion is engaging her students through social and relational neurosciences as it applies to education... Read More →

Friday May 23, 2025 8:30am - 9:00am MDT
Spectrum 5

9:00am MDT

Our Journey through Developing Nervous System as we rewire our perceptions of Discipline

Friday May 23, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MDT

Spectrum 5

In this presentation, we will explore how our nervous systems are impacted by adversity, trauma, and experiences of resiliency through deepened connections and sensory regulation. Behaviors are only signals or indicators that the brain and body are struggling in survival states of functioning. In our time together, we will explore how we get out in front of the behavior through our procedures, routines, and transitions. We will also explore the differences between co-regulation and coercive regulation which is the foundation of discipline practices that move us through challenging moments while attending to our emotional, social, and physiological health.

Speakers

Lori Desautels

Revelations In Education

Friday May 23, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Spectrum 5

10:00am MDT

Break

Friday May 23, 2025 10:00am - 10:30am MDT

Spectrum 4

Please join us in Spectrum 5 for refreshments. Please visit our Exhibitors, the Resource Swap, and our Council 55th Anniversary Display.

Friday May 23, 2025 10:00am - 10:30am MDT
Spectrum 4

10:30am MDT

Assistive Technology and Communication

Friday May 23, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MDT

Spectrum 5

In this engaging and practical session, Dr. Chandra Lebenhagen will explore the latest advancements in assistive technology that empower and connect students with diverse communication needs. Grounded in evidence-based, neuro-affirming approaches, this session will highlight innovative tools and strategies that enhance meaningful interactions in inclusive classrooms.

Speakers

Chandra Lebenhagen

Including Autism

Dr. Chandra Lebenhagen is the founder and Executive Director of Including Autism. She received her doctorate in Curriculum and Learning from the University of Calgary. For over 20 years, she has worked as a teacher and inclusion consultant in K-12 settings and instructs graduate-level... Read More →

Friday May 23, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MDT
Spectrum 5

10:30am MDT

Check & Connect Targeted Intervention

Friday May 23, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MDT

Spectrum 3

Check & Connect is a research-based Tier 2 intervention designed to re-engage marginalized and disengaged K-12 students by fostering strong relationships, building problem-solving skills, and promoting persistence in learning. This comprehensive approach supports school completion by enhancing both academic and social competence.

At the heart of Check & Connect is a dedicated mentor who:
-Conducts regular student check-ins using existing school data on behavior, attendance, and academic progress.
-Implements timely, data-driven interventions to strengthen students' connection to school and learning.
-Engages families as essential partners in student success.

This session will explore how Check & Connect transforms student outcomes through relationship-based interventions and practical strategies that drive lasting engagement.

Speakers

Jennifer Raitz

Jen Raitz is a Learning Support Specialist with Rocky View School Division. Jen has worked in classrooms from pre-K to grade 12. Jen completed a Master of Education in Educational Research, with a specialization in fostering transformative change in education, blending Universal Design... Read More →

Friday May 23, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MDT
Spectrum 3

10:30am MDT

Exhibitors

Friday May 23, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MDT

Spectrum 4

Friday May 23, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MDT
Spectrum 4

10:30am MDT

Is it ADHD or Could It Be Something Else?

Friday May 23, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MDT

Spectrum 1

Researchers are suggesting that not all children diagnosed with inattentive ADHD (formerly ADD) actually have ADHD. Many actually have Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS). The problem is that students with CDS have a different set of needs from students with ADHD-I.

Learn the differences between ADHD-I and CDS and how to support our misdiagnosed CDS students

Speakers

Kendall Delamont

The ADHD Toolkit

Kendall holds a B.A. in Behavioural Sciences, a B.Ed., and is an ADHD Certified Educator. She spent 8 years teaching grade 4 and has since developed The ADHD Toolkit; a series of courses for people with ADHD and the people who love and support those with ADHD.Through her own ADHD... Read More →

Friday May 23, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MDT
Spectrum 1

10:30am MDT

Understanding Psycho educational Assessments

Friday May 23, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MDT

Spectrum 2

Understanding psychoeducational assessments and reports, and relating assessment results to learning strategies. This session will introduce the WISC-5 cognitive assessment and explore how the results translate into recommendations for learning strategies.

Speakers

Sandy Lai

Dr. Sandy Lai is a registered school psychologist with 10+ years of assessment experience both in schools and in private practice. She enjoys understanding individual learner profiles through standardized assessments. She also strives to provide practical strategies to families and... Read More →

Friday May 23, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MDT
Spectrum 2

10:30am MDT

Why are you wasting your time on Google?

Friday May 23, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MDT

Spectrum 5

Tired of endlessly searching for resources online? Sandra Anderson, Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) librarian, will also reveal some of the great web resources that you can find at the ATA Library without searching.

Speakers

Sandra Anderson

Librarian, Researcher Extraordinaire, ATA

Sandra Anderson is the ATA Librarian and an adventurous tech explorer who has championed new collections at the ATA Library

Friday May 23, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MDT
Spectrum 5

12:30pm MDT

AI Tools to Amplify Your Professionalism and Save Time

Friday May 23, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MDT

Studio

Ready to revolutionize your teaching? Join our workshop on AI tools that go beyond traditional lesson planning. Explore how generative AI can create personalized content, assessments, support differentiation and more. We’ll guide you through a process that balances efficiency with creativity, ensuring you remain the architect of exceptional learning experiences. Plus, let’s delve into professional considerations—because AI is not just about algorithms; it’s about impact.

Speakers

Tiff Pino

ATA Staff Officer

Tiff Pino (she/her) is an Executive Staff Officer of Professional Development for the Alberta Teachers' Association. With 20 years of experience as an educator in Edmonton Catholic Schools, she has taught a variety of subjects from grades 7-12 in traditional and outreach settings... Read More →

Friday May 23, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MDT
Studio

12:30pm MDT

Designing for All: Practical Strategies for Differentiation in the Inclusive Classroom

Friday May 23, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MDT

Spectrum 3

How can we design learning experiences that engage and support all students, including those with diverse learning needs? In this interactive session, Dr. Chandra Lebenhagen will share innovative and practical strategies for differentiation, ensuring every student can access, engage with, and succeed in their learning. Grounded in evidence-based and neuro-affirming approaches, this session will focus on designing flexible, meaningful tasks that promote skill development and personalized success.

Speakers

Chandra Lebenhagen

Including Autism

Friday May 23, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MDT
Spectrum 3

12:30pm MDT

Educator Nervous System Through the Lens of Applied Neuroscience

Friday May 23, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MDT

Spectrum 5

Adult nervous system states drive child and adolescent social, emotional, and cognitive well-being. In this session, we will explore how trauma and adversity impact the developing brains and bodies of our students and the powerful implications that adult regulation states positively create for a student's social, emotional, and academic growth. I will share powerful regulatory practices for adults and students.

Speakers

Lori Desautels

Revelations In Education

Friday May 23, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MDT
Spectrum 5

12:30pm MDT

Empowering Traditional Knowledge to Support Nintomik Living with Disabilities

Friday May 23, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MDT

Spectrum 1

Indigenous ways of knowing are rooted in interconnectedness, reciprocity, and community care.
As a Métis educator inclusivity was part of my upbringing and my sister who is talented, caring and hilarious also happens to have Down Syndrome. As I have connected to my roots, my identity as a strong women is connected to her. A beginning rooted by my ancestors knowledge and spirit of family inclusivity. This session invites participants to explore how Métis and FirstNations traditional knowledge can empower us to create supportive environments for colleagues and students living with disabilities. By centering Indigenous teachings and practices, I aim to reframe accessibility and inclusion through a lens of cultural strength and resilience.

Speakers

Danielle Booker

Danielle has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Calgary. She completed her Bachelor of Education degree in 2013 and received the Edwin Parr Teaching Award while teaching in Vulcan, Alberta. She completed her Master of Education in Educational... Read More →

Friday May 23, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MDT
Spectrum 1

12:30pm MDT

Exhibitors & Resource Swap

Friday May 23, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MDT

Spectrum 4

Friday May 23, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MDT
Spectrum 4

12:30pm MDT

Hacking ADHD Motivation

Friday May 23, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MDT

Spectrum 2

We’ve all had those ADHD brains in our classroom who can’t motivate themselves to work without a significant fire under their butt. But we don’t have the time to stand over a child or the energy to intimidate them into finishing their work.

Stop taking away recess, begging or pleading, or sending work home (where it never gets finished anyway). Lean into what actually motivates the ADHD brain to complete tasks. We’ll discuss ways to work with the ADHD brain instead of fighting against it. You’ll empower kids to leverage the skills they do have without adding hours to your own workload.

Speakers

Kendall Delamont

The ADHD Toolkit

Friday May 23, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MDT
Spectrum 2

2:00pm MDT

Break

Friday May 23, 2025 2:00pm - 2:15pm MDT

Spectrum 4

Friday May 23, 2025 2:00pm - 2:15pm MDT
Spectrum 4

2:15pm MDT

Autism: When their answer is always no... what's next?

Friday May 23, 2025 2:15pm - 3:45pm MDT

Spectrum 2

Are you working with a student who has an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, but your traditional strategies are not working? Do you find your student is not only reluctant to “comply” with academic demands but also activities you know they enjoy? These challenging behaviours may not be defiance, but instead a result of anxiety or a need for autonomy. In this session, we will be discussing a relatively new profile called Pathological Demand Avoidance, how it might present in an Autistic individual, and some different strategies that you can add to your toolkit and start using the very next day!

Speakers

Eleesha Gatti Tamia Richardson Tanya Krekosk

Eleesha GattiEleesha brings over 15 years of experience in education, with a deep passion for supporting diverse learners. She completed her Master’s in Special Education in 2019, strengthening her expertise in inclusive teaching practices. Throughout her career, she has worked... Read More →

Friday May 23, 2025 2:15pm - 3:45pm MDT
Spectrum 2

2:15pm MDT

Co-regulation is the Core of Relational, Preventative and Aligned Discipline

Friday May 23, 2025 2:15pm - 3:45pm MDT

Spectrum 5

Co-Regulation is the Core of Relational, Preventative, and Brain Aligned Discipline
In this session we will explore co-regulation practices as these relate to healthy brain and body development in our students. When a calm nervous system can connect with a dysregulated nervous system, we can share an emotionally available safe space and presence that can upregulate positive emotions while down-regulating negative emotions.

Speakers

Lori Desautels

Revelations In Education

Friday May 23, 2025 2:15pm - 3:45pm MDT
Spectrum 5

2:15pm MDT

Effective Teaching Strategies for Students with Dyslexia

Friday May 23, 2025 2:15pm - 3:45pm MDT

Spectrum 1

Students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities can face challenges in the inclusive classroom that require strategies and supports to be successful in their learning and development. This professional development session aims to equip educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively teach students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities. The session will cover the DSM criteria that psychologists use to diagnose learning disabilities, universal teaching strategies applicable to all students, targeted strategies tailored to students, and individualized strategies to meet the unique needs of each student.

Speakers

Kelsey Bagnell

Kelsey Bagnall is Learning Supports Specialist for Rocky View Schools . She also volunteers with the Council for Inclusive Education, where she currently holds the Communication Officer position. Kelsey has taught in schools from Kindergarten to Grade 12 over the last 17 years and... Read More →

Friday May 23, 2025 2:15pm - 3:45pm MDT
Spectrum 1

2:15pm MDT

Supporting LP 1 & 2 EAL Students in Upper Elementary and Middle School

Friday May 23, 2025 2:15pm - 3:45pm MDT

Spectrum 3

This presentation is designed to provide strategies and insights for educators supporting English as an Additional Language (EAL) students in Levels Proficiency 1 and 2 (LP1 & LP2) within the upper elementary and middle school settings. Focusing on the unique needs and challenges of these learners, the session will explore practical approaches to foster linguistic development and academic engagement. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of tailored instructional methods, differentiated resources, and inclusive classroom practices aimed at nurturing a supportive and inclusive learning environment for EAL students at these critical educational stages.

Key Points:
- Understanding LP1 & LP2 EAL students' linguistic needs
- Tailored instructional strategies for linguistic development
- Differentiated resources and materials for diverse learning styles
- Promoting academic engagement and success for EAL learners

Speakers

Peggy WuBrenda BorgesonRuby Dhaliwal

Peggy: I'm from Taiwan. My family immigrated to Canada when I was 12 years old. When we moved to Vancouver, I couldn't speak any English. As an EAL student in grade 8, I experienced first hand all the difficulties of being in a foreign country, as well as all the challenges... Read More →

Friday May 23, 2025 2:15pm - 3:45pm MDT
Spectrum 3

2:15pm MDT

Supporting Students’ Mental Health Needs in the Classroom Setting

Friday May 23, 2025 2:15pm - 3:45pm MDT

Studio

This session will focus on strategies for addressing student mental health needs within the classroom setting. Participants will explore the importance of creating a supportive, inclusive, and understanding environment that promotes well-being. Key strategies include recognizing signs of mental health issues, fostering open communication, and implementing practices such as mindfulness exercises and positive reinforcement. The focus is on building strong relationships with students, offering flexibility in assignments, and providing access to school counseling services.
Candice and Shane currently work for CASA Mental Health.

Speakers

Shane Hewitt and Candice Larson

CASA Mental Health

Candice Larson and Shane Hewitt are dedicated educators and mental health advocates with a combined 40 years of experience supporting students with diverse learning needs. Shane and Candice have worked tirelessly to create supportive learning environments that prioritize students... Read More →

Friday May 23, 2025 2:15pm - 3:45pm MDT
Studio

4:15pm MDT

Annual General Meeting

Friday May 23, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm MDT

Spectrum 1

We look forward to our members joining us at the Annual General Meeting.

Friday May 23, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm MDT
Spectrum 1