The High Performing Educator Podcast

Abbey is the leadership teacher and Student Activities Director at Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate Institute (KCI) in Ontario, Canada. Her leadership program includes over 100 students who are involved in planning school fundraisers, assemblies, special events, and daily activities to make the school a more spirited and engaging place to be. Last year, Abbey and her student leaders were honoured to...

A volunteer role with a YMCA summer camp at the age of 12 sparked Daniel's passion for service and building community. At the age of 18, Daniel pioneered the first youth-led Community of Promise in Pittsburgh under Retired General Colin Powell's National America's Promise movement, landing him a seat on the national board of directors and recognition from President George W. Bush. Daniel has over...

Richard Vissers joined HTS in 1996 as the senior chemistry teacher. Since then, he has also served as the Grade 9 and 10 Coordinator, Guidance Counsellor, Director of HTS Camps, and Chair of the Miller Thomson Scholarship Committee. Whether coaching a team, guiding the Yearbook, or organizing the House and Leadership programs, Richard has worked in all areas to provide opportunities for students t...

Darrin Peppard ( @DarrinMPeppard ) is an author, publisher, speaker, and consultant focused on what matters most in leadership and education. Darrin is an expert in school culture and climate, as well as coaching and growing emerging leaders, and is the author of the best-selling book  Road to Awesome: Empower, Lead,  Change the Game. Darrin was named the 2016 Wyoming Secondary School Principal of...

Adrian has been teaching for 13 years in the Toronto Catholic District School Board as an English Teacher, Department Head and Leadership Coordinator. Five years ago, he began a leadership development program at his school which emphasizes the importance of servant leadership for hundreds of students each year. Adrian and his wife also founded Hopes Rise, a charity that works to help unprivileged...

Dr. LouAnn Ross has always been inspired by those who work relentlessly to make the world a better place for youth, and she is committed to the belief that all youth deserve the best that we as adults have to offer. Throughout her career, she has led with an unyielding dedication and set of principles that have allowed her the opportunity to not only be successful, but to learn best practices, cul...

Brent McDonald is currently a Superintendent of Education with the Upper Grand District School Board.   For the past 10 years his portfolios in this role have included; Safe, Equitable and Inclusive Schools, Information and Technology, Parent Engagement, Leadership Development and Succession Planning and working with his Family of Schools within the district.   Brent is passionate about student su...

Hugues Bertrand is a Social Studies and Leadership teacher at Pierrefonds Community high school in Pierrefonds Quebec for 26 years now. Long time Quebec leadership advisor, CSLC 2010 chair and CSLA member.  Hugues has always been a student life enthusiast helping students discover themselves and reaching their true potential.  www.samdemma.com/high-performing-educator

Brian Dunn has been a Chaplaincy Leader for the Halton Catholic District School Board for 16 years and currently serves at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Secondary School in Milton. As a proud graduate of St. Michael's College (University of Toronto) Master of Catholic Leadership degree, he continues his passion and vision of Catholic Leadership within his school community by coordinating retreats an...

John is an experienced Special Education Teacher and Student Success Teacher, at Corner Brook Regional High in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, with a demonstrated history of working with Student Leadership in Newfoundland and nationally with the Canadian Student Leadership Association. John is a graduate from Memorial University of Newfoundland with bachelors and Masters degrees in Education, Skilled...

Lead by example, treat each other better than you expect to be treated, and live life to the fullest!  These are mottos that she lives by. She has taught at Crescent Heights High School since 1999.  Leadership,  Social Studies and teaching English Language Learners are her passions.  She is a teacher with a big heart and  is heavily involved in Student Council, SADD and Key Club at school. She bel...

Lenora has been teaching for 29 years in the Fraser-Cascade School District in Hope, British Columbia. She began her career as an English and Social Studies teacher but after an inspiring professional development conference about student leadership, she changed her path. She and her husband began the student leadership program at Hope Secondary in 1997 and she hasn't looked back since. Lenora is a...

Merle has been teaching with the Toronto Catholic District School Board for 16 years and in the dance studio for 25 years.   She has taught kindergarten to grade 8. Merle is very active in the TCDSB elementary leadership program. She is always looking to bring new skills to the classroom by taking courses, such as Dr. Bradley Nelson's Emotion Code and Jim Kwik's Superbrain. www.samdemma.com/high-p...

Chelle Travis is the executive director of SkillsUSA,  a national organization of nearly 400,000 teachers and students within career and technical education. Travis was appointed in 2019 to lead a staff of 35 that manages a federation of 52 state and territorial associations. SkillsUSA's mission is to empower members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible citizens. It improves the...

Jeff has a natural way of connecting with people and moving them to action.  He was a leader on his high school campus, active in Student Council, won a bronze medal at the Canadian National High School Debating Championships, and was voted by his peers to be Valedictorian of their graduating class.   At the University of Western Ontario (now Western University) he remained active in public speaki...

Marc England is a teacher and Leadership Advisor at Fleetwood Park Secondary School in Surrey, British Columbia. He is now in his 23rd year of teaching. For 20 years, he has been involved in Student Leadership as a Student Council Advisor and leadership educator. He is a strong believer of "people first" in schools, and that if we have strong school cultures, the rest will look after itself.    Ma...

Maddie Campbell is a life-long student leader and learner who found a way to turn her love of activities, organizing and community impact into a career. Born and raised in Waterloo Region, Maddie has been connected to her community from day one, particularly through sports and various charitable organizations. Choosing to stay close to her community, Maddie attended the University of Waterloo and...

Erika Rath joined Sacred Heart in 2012 as an English teacher and later became the Director of Student Services!  She organizes dozens of events each year to improve student life and support services.  She also teaches a personal development course and works closely with her students to understand their challenges and co-create unique solutions. www.samdemma.com/high-performing-educator  

Bob Kline is the Leadership teacher at Huron Heights Secondary School in Kitchener, Ontario.  Currently, there are approximately 180 students in his school's official student leadership program , with over 100 more in connected programs like Husky Pack, our orientation & mentorship crew.  His students, known as the Huskies , have been recognized three times as having the 'most school spirit' at th...

Angelo Minardi is a chaplain at Cardinal Ambrozic Catholic Secondary School. He is a Husband, Father, Educator, Sports junkie and passionate about his faith and catholic education. Angelo is one of the most kind-hearted and purpose-driven educators you'll ever meet. His high energy is infectious, and his ideas are actionable.

Michelle is an Ontario Certified Teacher and holds a B.Sc. from McMaster in Biology, a B.Ed. from the University Of Ontario Institute Of Technology and an M.A. in Leadership from Royal Roads University. As a high school teacher, she realized that many of the essential skills to thrive as a young adult were being squeezed out by hard curriculum, leaving students feeling stressed, rushed, without di...

Melissa Wright is a passionate educator and speaker that is driven to help schools create a place where students belong and everyone feels like they matter. By sharing ideas that work in her school, she helps educators and students see they can improve their culture and climate. She is known for her passion and desire to see students succeed, and find their inner leader.

Micheal is a DJ, Fisherman, Father, TCDSB Teacher, Student Leadership Facilitator, 7 Habits Trainer, and was the OECTA Teacher of the Year back in 2016. His energy is infectious, and his passion to help students become the best version of themselves is obvious. In this episode, we talk about the 7 habits of highly effective teens, and how they relate to creating students that have a positive impac...

Joshua Sable is a veteran educator, speaker and memory maker. His personal teaching philosophy is to: "give students a reason to come to school tomorrow." The way he fulfills this philosophy is through the memory-making machine of student activities and school culture. In this episode, Josh shares actionable strategies to help you students make memories, right now!

Meet Sam Demma, a 21-year-old keynote speaker and the host of the High Performing Educator and High Performing Student Podcasts. Sam travels across North America speaking to schools about self-leadership, volunteerism and making a difference.  When Sam was in grade 12, it was Michael Loudfoot, an educator, that changed his life.  This show features people like Mike and people like you!  The most i...