Ryan Sikkes

Ryan Sikkes

Dr. Ryan Sikkes is an educational consultant and presenter with over 20 years’ worth of experience in teaching and administration in Canada’s Yukon Territory. He is passionate about supporting schools and systems in their efforts to improve assessment and grading practices. He recently finished his tenure with the Yukon government as the assistant deputy minister of schools and student services, and he is responsible for operating 30 public schools and educational programs for over 6,000 students throughout Yukon. Prior to that, he served as a teacher, vice-principal, principal, and director of human resources.

Named Canada’s Distinguished Vice-Principal of the Year in 2008, and one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals in 2016, Dr. Sikkes supports schools and districts throughout Canada and the United States in their efforts to take actionable steps at every level—classroom, school, and system—to transform assessment and grading practices. His background is in music and science education where he was a leader in the use of project-based learning and the development of learning networks to help teachers support each other in their educational practice within schools and over long distances.

Dr. Sikkes holds a bachelor’s degree in instrumental music and chemistry, and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a focus on math and science education, both from the University of Victoria. He also earned a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from the University of British Columbia, where he researched educational governance and decentralization.