MPTCA 2025

Alberta Health Services health professionals will discuss vaping and nicotine pouch use amongst youth.

Participants will learn:

Trends in and prevalence rates of e-cigarette use for school-aged youth in Alberta

Best practices for preventing nicotine use

An Overview on nicotine pouches

Marketing tactics targeting youth

Grade-appropriate prevention education for schools

A summary of available resources for students and teachers to prevent and reduce nicotine use by young people

Session Objectives:
1. Best practices for preventing nicotine use in youth will be explored.
2. Teachers will learn about grade appropriate prevention education for schools.
3. A summary of available resources for students and teachers to prevent and reduce nicotine use by young people

Teacher and school leader participants will learn to

strengthen communications skills,
recognize different types of conflict,
navigate conflict, and
move beyond the conflict

This session will allow off-campus coordinators to discuss current trends and issues. I will try to bring in other speakers from Careers, Green Certificate, etc.

Session Objectives:
1. Further knowledge of off-campus education
2. Discuss and learn from colleagues about current issues
3. Sharing of best practices

The number one LQS, TQS, and SLQS is Fostering and building Effective Relationships. Yes, but how? Is it hard to foster effective relationships sometimes? Why? In this session, Leaders of learning will unpack practical and immediate applicable skills and strategies that will positively impact our relationships, and instantly create rapport with our colleagues. It is important to remember that people have different behaviour styles, but within these differences, we all have strengths. Therefore, we need to capitalize on these strengths, and adjust our message to increase our daily effectiveness. In this session, based on the platinum rule (treat people the way they want to be treated), leaders of learning with explore how to create a quicker, deeper, and longer lasting rapport with others.

Session Objectives:
1. #1 TQS, LQS, and SLQS

As a teacher, I always wondered what the admin was doing in those offices. Now, after 8 years, I think I'm starting to understand. If you are interested in administration or are in administration and want to hear some random thoughts, I encourage you to come for a visit. I will share my 13 tips for survival and have an open conversation about modern school leadership.

Session Objectives:
1. Leadership Quality Standard
2. Burn Out
3. Humor

Join Alberta Native Friendship Centres to explore how community-based non-profits can support Indigenous students' educational journey by addressing barriers and promoting cultural connection. Discover how programs like Weaving Wicihitowin For Learning support authentic relationships between schools and organizations, like Alberta Friendship Centres, to advance overall student outcomes across the four quadrants of the Medicine Wheel: mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual.

Session Objectives:
1. Delegates will have an understanding of the realities Indigenous K-12 students face in Alberta and how to better support them along their educational journey.
2. Participants will engage in inspiring stories focused on real-world applications of the Weaving Wicihitowin For Learning program.
3. Delegates will discover how community-based non-profits, like Friendship Centres can support in a child's education journey.

Teacher and school leader participants will learn to

strengthen communications skills,
recognize different types of conflict,
navigate conflict, and
move beyond the conflict

The importance of representation in today s diverse classrooms cannot be overstated. This presentation will delve into the critical role representation plays in shaping student identities and perceptions. We will explore how diverse role models influence student engagement, motivation, and academic success, particularly for underrepresented groups.
Furthermore, we will uncover the concept of implicit biases subconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions. As teachers and leaders, recognizing our hidden biases is essential for fostering an inclusive educational environment. Unpacking implicit bias is particularly important for school leaders because it directly impacts policies, practices, and the overall school culture. Leaders set the tone for their institutions and have the power to influence how diversity is valued and integrated into the curriculum and staff development.

Session Objectives:
1. Participants will engage in reflective exercises aimed at revealing their implicit biases and understanding their implications on teaching and leadership styles.
2. Through collaborative discussions, we will share strategies to create a more equitable and representative educational framework that champions diversity and fosters a culture of belonging.

This session explores diverse leadership models and the traits that define effective school leaders, with a focus on how gendered expectations shape leadership roles and responsibilities. Participants will delve into the ways in which bias and gendered assumptions influence school leadership dynamics, particularly in the context of Alberta's education system. Through critical reflection and discussion, attendees will gain insights into how these factors impact not only leaders but the broader teaching profession. The session aims to provide actionable strategies for fostering a more equitable environment for all and promote leadership that is inclusive, supportive, and fair.