uLead Podcast

The work of school leaders has always been complex, but at this moment, change seems to be everywhere. New policies (cell phones, mandatory assessments), forest fires, COVID-19, flooding, new curricula, declining rates of funding, artificial intelligence, and an influx of students to Alberta has intensified the work of both teachers and school leaders. How can school leaders even find time to thin...

This episode features a presentation from our LeadMeet 2025 in Edmonton. Krista Mulder, the principal at McNally High School, speaks about leading with vision. This session is full of actionable tips that any school leader can use to get through hard times and good time in schools. To learn more about the ATA Council for School Leadership, visit our website .

This episode features a presentation from our LeadMeet 2025 in Edmonton. Kim Backs, the principal at Jasper Place High School, speaks about her work in building a positive culture in schools. This session is full of actionable tips that any school leader can use to improve the culture in their school. To learn more about the ATA Council for School Leadership, visit our website .

Dr. Lindsay Avramovic is Principal of St. Francis of Assisi Academy and the new President of the Council for School Leadership. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Association of Principals. Dr. Avramovic started her career teaching elementary grades in Canmore with Christ the Redeemer Schools, advancing through roles as Vice Principal, Director of Catholic Education, and Vi...

In this episode we speak with Michelle Nieviadomy, who will be closing uLead 2025. Michelle Nieviadomy is the iskwew (woman in Cree) behind Iskwew Health, blending over 15 years of wellness industry experience with her passion for fitness and community building. As a goal-driven facilitator, public speaker, fitness instructor, and wellness advocate, Michelle’s work is guided by key principles: • L...

This episode features Eliza Reid previewing her Keynote and Breakout session at uLead 2025. Eliza Reid is a bestselling author who also served as First Lady of Iceland from 2016 to July, 2024. Born and raised in Ottawa, Canada, Eliza relocated to Iceland in 2003. As the Co-Founder of the esteemed Iceland Writers Retreat, she has advocated for Icelandic writers and literary heritage, notably throug...

In this episode, we present a breakout session from uLead 2024 with Jethro Ulrich. Jethro shares his story of being a sixties scoop survivor and his experiences as an indigenous student, teacher, researcher, and leader in an educational context. "The Stories We Share: An Indigenous Experience in Education" is the culmination of Jethro's graduate research that explores systemic racism in our Canadi...

In this episode we give you a preview of one of the Keynote speakers at uLead 2025, Dr. Judi Newman. Dr. Judi Newman, founder and director of The Academy of Organisational Neuroscience Australia, holds a PhD in Organizational Neuroscience and is a leading Australian expert in social cognitive neuroscience. With a unique blend of experience in education, psychology, and neuroscience, Dr. Newman dra...

We are losing leaders in education. There. Let’s just name it. And not just Superintendents or Principals, but anyone in the school system who is trying to make changes that have a positive and observable impact where it matters the most–in classrooms with students. Department heads, team leaders, instructional coaches and even our “unofficial leaders” - those good folks who choose to put their ha...

In this episode, we bring you a breakout session from uLead 2024 called You Don’t Need a Title to be a Leader. You’ll hear Shan Jorgenson-Adam and Dr. Rita Marler speak about how Educational Leadership is different from non-educational leadership roles because student success is at the core. They ask participants to "reimagine" their leadership skills/abilities and support them in identifying and...

In this talk Dr. Sean Lessard looks back at his early work in the engagement and development of Indigenous youth programming and school wide practice and policy innovations.  Dr. Sean Lessard is from Montreal Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 6 territory. He is an award winning writer, researcher and speaker. He is a former teacher, guidance counsellor and designer of innovative educational programming t...

In this episode we hear from Molly Garcia, uLead 2024 Keynote and Franklin Covey Education Coach/Consultant, about what she will be sharing in Banff. If you like what you are hearing, learn more about uLead and the Council for School Leadership at: www.atacsl.ca For more information on Franklin Cover Education, visit: https://www.leaderinme.org/canada-7-habits/

In this episode, we share a keynote session from uLead 2023 from Dr. Steve Munby. Steve Munby is a self-employed consultant and speaker on leadership and on system reform. Based in the UK, he works with governments and with groups of schools around the world. Steve was Chief Executive of the National College for School Leadership in England for 8 years and then Chief Executive of Education Develop...

In this episode we speak with Rosie Connor who will be delivering a breakout session at uLead 2024. She introduces herself, shares what she will be speaking about at uLead 2024, and talks about what she hopes participants will gain from this session. For more information on uLead, visit the uLead website. For more information on the Council for School Leadership, please visit our website. For more...

In this episode we speak with Brandon Farbstein who will be delivering the final Keynote at uLead 2024. He introduces himself, shares what he will be speaking about at uLead 2024, and talks about what he hopes participants will gain from his session. For more information on uLead, visit the uLead website. For more information on the Council for School Leadership, please visit our website. For more...

In this episode with speak with Cale Birk, upcoming Keynote at uLead 2024. We talk a little about his experiences and what he hopes to share with the attendees at uLead 2024. You can learn more about Cale by visiting his website at https://www.birklearns.com/ For more information on uLead 2024 and to register, go to the uLead website .

This episode is a breakout sessions that was presented at uLead 2023 by Adedeji Bowoade and Michael Carter. In their session they examine the ways the education system impacts multiple marginalized students. As a BIPOC teacher and a disabled teacher, their aim was to build understanding, reflect on practice, and create better futures for multiple marginalized students with education leaders at uLe...

In this episode Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers' Association, speaks about school leadership in Alberta. He sat down to talk to us during the 2023 uLead conference. For morning information about the Council for School Leadership, please visit our website .

This episode brings you a breakout session from the CAP-uLead conference in 2022 with Kevin Van Lagen. In 2014, enrollment in Altario School was at an all-time low. The future of both the school and community was in question. Today, Altario School is vibrant hub of rural education. By Reimagining rural education, this community school has created a student led farm that not only teaches all things...

In this video we bring you a session from a LeadMeet gathering that was held at the Royal Glenora Club in Edmonton in January of 2023. LeadMeets are events organized by the CSL where local leaders share their tips for positively impacting student learning. In this session, we will hear Christina Jones discuss her work around distributed leadership. For information on CSL and our upcoming event, vi...

In this episode we bring you a session from a LeadMeet gathering that was held at the Royal Glenora Club in Edmonton in January of 2023. LeadMeets are evening gatherings organized by the CSL where local leaders share their tips for positively impacting student learning. In this session, we will hear Meghan Wiens & Lisa Gonsalvez discuss their work with introducing Inquiry practices at their sc...

Welcome to the next edition of our introductions to featured speakers at uLead 2023. For more information on uLead, please visit the website . Eileen Pollack was one of the first two women to graduate from Yale University with a BS in physics; she later earned an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She is the author of five Novels as well as two collections of short fiction. One of her novels, Br...

Welcome to the next edition of our introductions to featured speakers at uLead 2023. For more information on uLead, please visit the website . In this episode we speak with Desiree Cocroft who is an energizing coach and consultant that seeks to empower leaders to fulfill their fullest potential. An experienced facilitator of over 20 years, Desiree elevates the hearts and minds of her audience, whi...

Phil Boyte is a Culture Coach, as well as a Professional Development and Culture Summit Facilitator. Phil helps educational leaders to create schools that are so fun, encouraging, and safe they have to beg students and teachers to leave at the end of the day. He has travelled the continent for over thirty years working with school educators in thousands of schools. He is the founder of Learning fo...

When it comes to mental health, Stéphane Grenier walks the talk. He was appointed to the Order of Canada and awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of Guelph and Humber College for his contributions to the field of workplace mental health. Stéphane’s riveting keynotes are not only thought-provoking, but also lead to tangible action and sustainable change for those leaders who...