Instruction

Jennifer Throndsen, PhD, is an education advisor and former director of teaching and learning for the Utah State Board of Education. With over 20 years of experience, she has served as a teacher, district office specialist, instructional coach, and state literacy coordinator.

Heidi Fuller teaches grades 7 and 8 for the Toronto District School Board. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in inquiry-based learning, critical thinking, and differentiated assessment practices across primary to intermediate levels.

Wendy Terro is a principal in the Toronto District School Board with experience as a mathematics coach, student work study teacher, and classroom educator. She is passionate about inquiry learning, assessment, equity, and amplifying student voice and choice.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly shaping the future of education, yet without critical engagement, it risks reinforcing systemic biases and widening technological inequities. Dr. Stacie Chana, author of Experimenting With AI: Activities, Discussions, and Prompts for the Classroom and Beyond, empowers educational leaders to approach AI with a lens of equity and cultural responsiveness, ensuring that all learners are protected and informed about the challenges and opportunities AI presents. Participants will explore practical strategies for identifying AI bias, implementing responsible AI-driven decision making, and developing policies that support ethical AI integration. This session will equip leaders with the knowledge needed to critically assess AI tools, advocate for fair and just technology use in schools, and guide students in becoming discerning users of AI.

Joan Reimer is a retired educator and former education officer at the Ontario Ministry of Education. With experience from K–12 classrooms to teacher education, most of her career was spent in Ontario, but she also taught in Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, and Malawi, Africa.

Shift students’ mindsets from one of compliance, apathy, and victimization to one of hope by helping them become the hero of their own story. Give learners purpose, ownership, and the courage to try so that they develop a strong sense of self-efficacy and motivation.

The most common challenge for schools is how to transition from a culture of compliance to a culture of commitment. How to move from “doing” to “becoming” or from “my kids” to “our kids.”

In this workshop, instructional coaches and school leaders will explore the SIMPLE Approach. This comprehensive system combines The SIMPLE Shift and The SIMPLE Blueprint to build sustainable coaching cultures and promote teacher and student growth. Participants will learn how to implement The SIMPLE Shift to transform school culture and align coaching initiatives with school improvement goals while applying The SIMPLE Blueprint to create structured, data-driven coaching programs. Through collaborative activities, attendees will connect coaching practices with leadership strategies, ensuring alignment and support. By the end of the workshop, you will return to your school with practical tools and a strategic action plan for developing impactful coaching programs that drive lasting change.