Copy of Special Education Conference 2014

Strand:
UDL, Differentiation and Personalization

Room:
Gold / Silver / Bronze

Date / Time:
Pre-Conference
All Day – Thursday, October 16 - 8:30AM – 4:00PM

Dr. Paula Kluth is a consultant, teacher, author, advocate, and independent scholar who works with teachers and families to provide inclusive opportunities for students with disabilities and to create more responsive and engaging schooling experiences for all learners. Paula is a former special educator who has served as a classroom teacher and inclusion facilitator. Her professional interests include differentiating instruction and inclusive schooling.

Presenter:

Dr. Paula Kluth

Topic:

Inclusive Classroom:

Creating more engaging and responsive schooling experiences

STRAND

1 & 2

STRAND

1 & 2

Keynote

Strand:
Mental Health

Room:
Ballroom

Date / Time:
Thursday, October 16

Phillip Jones does not tell you what to do. No Lectures. Instead, he tells stories, shows pictures and asks questions. Gets you laughing... and gets you thinking.

Phillip encourages you to review your lifestyle choices, figure out how to more effectively deal with stress, and make just one positive change to help you live a longer, healthier, more productive life.

Presenter:

Phillip Jones

Topic:

How To Fit a Heart Attack into Your Busy Schedule

STRAND

Keynote

Strand:
Inclusionary Practice

Room:
GOLD

Date / Time:
Friday, October 18
10:30-12:00

Jo Gusman is both an outstanding teacher of emerging bilingual students and an outstanding professional development provider. She began her teaching career in 1974 as a bilingual education instructional assistant, and later became a Bilingual Education teacher. In 1981, her career led her to the nationally known Newcomer School, where Jo worked in a multilingual setting with refugee and immigrant non-English speaking children.Jo is the creator of the Foundation-Frameworks-Tools Model© and author of Practical Strategies for Accelerating the Literacy Skills and Content Learning of Your ELLs, and Accelerating Your ELLs Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary Development, and Reading Fluency.

Presenter:

Jo Gusman

Topic:

English Language Learners

STRAND

Keynote

Different isn't different anymore.

Strand:
Diversity

Room:
Ballroom

Date / Time:
Friday 1:30-3:00 & Saturday,

11:00-12:30

Derek Peterson is an International Child/Youth Advocate whose work has touched individuals, schools, and communities in NWT, Yukon, BC, and Alberta. He is one of a handful of youth development professionals who still works directly with teens AND with elected officials, professional educators, child care workers, youth development professionals, faith community leaders, etc. to change the whole world around the whole teen.

Presenter:

Derek Peterson

Topic:

Friday: Spirit of carnival by seeing in new ways

Saturday Keynote: Changing the World: The spirit of Carnival

Keynote

STRAND

Strand:
Diversity

Room:
Dawson

Date / Time:
Friday, October 17 10:30-12:00

Rob is the director of ColourSpectrums, inspiring diverse educational strategies through innovative experiences, interaction and fun. He is the accomplished author of three ColourSpectrums Personality Styles books and has trained and certified over 1,000 ColourSpectrums facilitators worldwide. Rob is the father of 5 children and therapeutic foster parent of over 30 special needs and at risk children. He is a graduate of the University of Victoria, B.C. with a Bachelor's Degree (with distinction) in Child and Youth Care.

Presenter:

Rob Chubb

Topic:

Colour Spectrums - A Universal Language Celebrating Diverse Learners

STRAND

Strand:
UDL

Room: Mount Kidd B

Date / Time: (Lunch)
Friday, October 17

10:30-12:00

Dr. Linda Chmiliar has been conducting research with the iPad and developing classroom resources to help teachers implement apps and the iPad more effectively for several years.

Presenter:

Linda Chmiliar

Topic:

Improve your “APP”titude – Finding the Right App for Students with Special Needs

Lunch hour session on Friday - titled “App Power”

STRAND

1 & 2

STRAND

1 & 2

Strand:
Mental Health

Room:
Sinclair

Date / Time
Friday, October 17
10:30 – 12:00

Dr. R. Coranne Johnson, R. Psych. has a B.Ed. with a diploma in Early Childhood Education from the University of Lethbridge. Her M.Ed. (Sp. Ed.) and PhD (Sp. Ed.) are from the University of Alberta. Coranne has been working in the education field for 26 years as a teacher, administrator and school psychologist.

Presenter:

Dr. R. Coranne Johnson

Topic:

ADHD in the Classroom “What can a teacher do”

STRAND

Strand:
Mental Health

Room:
Bronze

Date / Time:
Friday, October 17

10:30-12:00

I was once a boy student who grew up to be a man teacher so I know this topic from the inside. I worked in elementary schools for 35 years, as teacher, assistant principal, curriculum consultant (Elementary English Language Arts) and principal. My Ph.D research focused on the experiences of men who teach young children. I recently retired as principal from the All Boys Program, (Calgary Board of Education). I teach future at the University of Calgary’s Werklund School of Education and Mount Royal University.

Presenter:

Garry Jones

Topic:

"What's Up with Those Boys" - Boys and Learning

STRAND

Strand:
Inclusionary Practices

Room:
Palliser

Date / Time:
Friday, October 17

10:30-12:00

An educator, writer and entrepreneur, and administrator - first as Dean of the School of Administrative Studies at Athabasca University and then as Executive Director of the Centre for Innovative Management. His work has taken him around the world, including work in Dubai, Britain, US, Africa, Australia and India. He is author of over 45 books, 700 papers and 200 journalistic pieces and magazine articles. He is a much sought after speaker at major events.

Presenter:

Stephen Murgatroyd PhD

Topic:

Rethinking Equity

STRAND

Strand:
Inclusionary Practices

Room:

Mount Kidd B

Date / Time:
Friday, October 17

10:30-12:00, 1:30-5:00

Franny's interactive workshops are about passion: the passion for learning, thinking, experiencing, exploring, creating! She is a mother, author, K-12 teacher, curriculum coordinator, education consultant, university instructor, and legislative liaison.

Currently, she is on the faculty at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She shares her practical experiences as a mother, teacher, and University Professor through workshops, teacher academies, and invited presentations.

Presenter:

Franny McAleer

Topic:

1. 6 Hats Differentiation

2. Creativity, Problem Solving and Teamwork

STRAND

Strand:
Mental Health

Room:
Champion

Date / Time:
Friday, October 17

10:30-12:00

Alexander suffered from untreated mental illness throughout grade school. After hitting rock bottom he has rebounded, found an effective treatment, and not only survived his illness, but embraced it.
By harnessing his mental health, Alexander was able to complete his MEng, MBA, and is now a Patient Advisor for Alberta Health Services Addiction & Mental Illness Strategic Clinic Network.
Alexander speaks regularly to students and educators with the goal of helping others to embrace their mental health.

Presenter:

Alexander Cook

Topic:

Mental Health: A Personal Story

STRAND

Strand:
Diversity

Room:
Silver

Date / Time:
Friday, October 17

10:30-12:00

Krista Schultz (B.Ed., M.Sc.) is a Registered Psychologist, Certified Clinical Traumatologist, and teacher within the Central Alberta region. Her private practise areas of focus includes learning for all students, as well as support for teachers and learning teams in their roles as professionals as well as personal lives. As a Clinical Traumatologist, Krista provides support for those working with primary trauma and has expanded her focus to address school staff who work with students who have experienced trauma.

Presenter:

Krista Schultz

Topic:

Trauma and Compassion Fatigue

STRAND

Strand:
Diversity

Room:
Mount Kidd C &

Palliser Room

Date / Time:
Friday, October 17

10:30-12:00 &

3:30-5:00

Dr. Noella Piquette is an Associate Professor and Registered Psychologist in the Faculty of Education at the University of Lethbridge. Her research areas encompass inclusive/special education, developmental psychology and gender studies. She is currently involved in research on early literacy supports and gender specific counseling treatment options. Noella teaches predominately in educational psychology and counsellor training – her research interest areas are concentrated on supporting marginalized populations.

Presenter:

Noella Piquette

Topic:

Cultural Diversity

Promoting social emotional learning in the elementary classroom

STRAND

Strand:
Inclusionary Practices

Room:
Walker

Date / Time:
Friday, October 17

10:30-12:00

Dana Kuzmanovski is a Functional Behaviour Analyst at the Calgary Board of Education. Since 2005 Dana has worked with students who exhibit challenging behavior in home, clinic and school settings. Dana received a B.A. in Psychology and is currently completing her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction – Autism Studies with advanced programming in Applied Behavior Analysis.

Rachel Zylka is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA). For over ten years, Rachel has worked with children with autism in home, school and community settings. Rachel received her B.A. in Early Childhood Education and her M.A. in Special Education, with a focus in Autism and Applied Behaviour Analysis.

Presenters:

Dana Kuzmanovski and

Rachel Zylka

Topic:

Top Ten Tips for Successful Inclusion of Students with Autism

STRAND

Strand:
UDL, Differentiation, Educational Technology

Room:
Stewart

Date / Time:
Friday, October 17

1:30-3:00

Cynthia has 16 years of experience working with students from pre-kindergarten thru grade twelve. Her experience includes a broad spectrum of work within the education system from instructional assistant in PUF programming to Coordinator of Student Supports at both elementary and junior/senior HS. No matter what she teaches her goal is to make the learning stick, build the skills students need to grow the most while helping them see their own strengths, value and worth.

Presenter:

Cynthia Martin

Topic:

IPADS for Beginners -
Focus on Junior and Senior High Students

STRAND

1 & 2

STRAND

1 & 2

Strand:
Diversity

Room:
Dawson

Date / Time:
Friday, October 17

1:30-3:00

Mary-Catherine Bailey-McKenna, M.Ed., MA., B.Ed. is a registered psychologist, certified trainer and early in her career certified as a teacher. She has worked in both the public and private sectors in counselling and in education. She brings to this work a background in trauma research and clinical treatment. She excels in identify promising research and translating that research into day-to-day practice.

Presenter:

Mary Catherine McKenna

Topic:

Students with Refugee Backgrounds: Where to start, What to do and What to avoid

STRAND

Strand:
Diversity

Room:
Mount Kidd A

Date / Time:
Friday, October 17

1:30-3:00

Mardi Bernard is a mental health nurse working within the school system. Her background includes forensic psychiatry, adult mental health and child and family psychiatry and mental health. She currently works with six schools supporting the mental health and wellness for students, their families, the community and the schools staff. Mardi is the author of the chapter Students Affected by Neglect in the new textbook Supporting and Educating Traumatized Students: A Guide for School-Based Professionals.

Presenter:

Mardi Bernard

Topic:

Educating Traumatized Children: Practical Strategies for Understanding and Supporting

STRAND

Strand:
UDL, Differentiation
Champion

Friday, October 17

1:30-3:00 - Champion
Saturday, October 18

9:00-10:30 - Palliser

A doctoral candidate at the University of Alberta, an educational consultant and a sessional lecturer at several Universities in Alberta. Kathy has worked in a variety of positions all with the common goal of helping educators to leverage technologies and practices that will allow each child to be actively engage in meaningful learning.

Presenter:

Kathy Howery

Topic:

Friday: Universal Design for Learning & Assistive Technology Better Together
Saturday: What Does Literacy mean for Students with Severe Disabilities

STRAND

1 & 2

STRAND

1 & 2

Strand:
Mental Health

Room:
Walker

Date / Time:
Friday, October 17

1:30-3:00, 3:30-5:00

For over 20 years I have taught ADHD and LD students from grades 7 through 12. In addition to my professional experience, I have personal experience as both my son and I have ADHD. This combination of professional and personal experience has given me an excellent perspective on ADHD, executive functioning issues and motivation. Earlier this year I was in Anaheim CA where I presented at the LDA National Conference. I am taking my MEd. in ADHD Resiliency through the University of Calgary.

Presenter:

Les Redick

Topic:

1:00 - ADHD and Executive Functioning Tools

3:30 - Science of Learning - Teaching the Unmotivated and ADHD student

STRAND

Strand:
Diversity

Room:
Silver

Date / Time:
Friday, October 17

1:30-5:00

Dr Indira Gajraj is a Registered Psychologist in private practice in Edmonton, Alberta. She specializes in the management and treatment of children with trauma and attachment disorders who present severe emotional and behavioural challenges that may compromise their own or others’ safety in their environment. Dr. Gajraj consults with schools, First Nations’ Agencies, and Alberta Human Services (Children’s Services), to provide training on how to recognize characteristics of complex trauma as well as intervention strategies for engaging children and adolescents in order that they may achieve success.

Presenters:

Dr. Indira Gajraj & Lise Belliveau

Topic:

Successful Programming for Trauma Exposed Students

STRAND

Strand:
Inclusionary Practice

Room:
Sinclair &

Mount Kidd B

Date / Time:
Friday, October 17

1:30-3:00

Saturday, October 18

9:00-10:30

Clare is the current Program Director and owner of The Learning Link Education Development company. She has assumed various roles of responsibility within the field of education throughout her career and particularly enjoyed her time as Department Head of Special Education at an inner-city school in Toronto, Ontario. Clare is passionate about engaging all kinds of minds in the learning process through both academic and social inclusion.

Presenter:

Clare Mahon

Topic:

Engaging All Kinds of Minds – A Treasure Chest of Practical Solutions & Students, Active Minds: Let the Fun Begin!

STRAND

Strand:
Diversity

Room:
Mount Kidd C

Date / Time:
Friday, October 17

1:30-3:00

David Fuller has been working for the Lethbridge Public School District since 2009. He currently teaches an intake program for high school refugee students. David focuses his classroom on restorative practices to help return refugees into learners. He is also completing a master's degree in education on Literacy in Globalized Canadian Classrooms at the University of Lethbridge.

Leah Diachok has been working for the Lethbridge School Division 51 since 2011. She is presently working as an Advanced Educational Support in the ELL Classroom at Winston Churchill High School. Leah graduated with a Child and Youth Care Diploma from the Lethbridge College and is presently working on her studies for her teaching degree.

Presenters:

David Fuller and Leah Diachok

Topic:

Restorative Teaching Practices for Refugee Students: Transform Your Curriculum

STRAND

Strand:
Inclusionary Practices

Room:
Palliser

Date / Time:
Friday, October 17

3:30-5:00

Tamara Martin Spady is a lady with a passion for art! She is a fine arts teacher with Elk Island Public Schools, a conference speaker and an author/illustrator. She has spent her career discovering the most successful ways to teach children of all ages and abilities to draw and to love art. She has self-published four step by step drawing books and has just recently published her own children's storybook, The Gingerbread Teacher.

Presenter:

Tamara Martin Spady

Topic:

Drawing the Words

STRAND

Strand:
UDL

Room:
Mount Kidd C

Date / Time:
Friday, October 17

3:30-5:00

Salima is well known for her passion, insight, and enthusiasm for working collaboratively with educators to develop the best possible educational technology integrated learning environment that promotes innovation, creativity and digital know-how to help reinvent teaching and learning. She advocates the importance for students to learn how to use technology wisely and safely, with awareness and compassion so that they can become informed and productive citizens in a global digital society.

Presenter:

Salima Hudani

Topic:

Web Tools and Technology

STRAND

1 & 2

STRAND

1 & 2

Strand:
UDL

Room:
Dawson

Date / Time:
Friday, October 17

3:30-5:00

James is an IT Systems Engineer, Sign Language Interpreter,Technology Instructor at NAIT, Entrepreneur and Assistive Technology Specialist among other things. Combining his disabilities background with his professional training and work as an IT Systems Engineer, James started a high-tech communications company providing live streaming text for individuals with hearing loss to be able to see what’s being said in real time (similar to CART but at half the cost). James is performing Assistive Technology Assessments for the province of Alberta, and continues to look for ways to ‘enable’ people for success in their education and careers.

Presenter:

James Coffey

Topic:

Hard of Hearing

and Technology

STRAND

1 & 2

STRAND

1 & 2

Strand:
Inclusionary Practices

Room:
Mount Kidd C

Date / Time:
Saturday, October 18

9:00-10:30

Michelle is a Registered Psychologist and Certified Teacher. She is in private practice where she conducts learning assessments and provides strategy instruction for individuals with learning and attention problems. Michele has presented workshops to parents, professionals, and students throughout Canada on a wide range of topics related to learning and learning differences. She has provided strategy instruction to individuals, small groups and large audiences.

Presenter:

Michele Pentyliuk

Topic:

Reading Readiness Tool: Catching Children Before they Fail

STRAND

Strand:
Diversity

Room:
Stewart

Date / Time:
Saturday, October 18

9:00-10:30

Terryl Makuk, M.Sc., Reg. Psychologist. Terryl currently works as a psychologist for the Calgary Board of Education with the Calgary and Area RCSD. Terryl’s half-time position supports children with selective mutism and their families, their teachers, and the school staff.

Presenter:

Terryl Makuk

Topic:

More than just Shy... helping children with selective mutism

STRAND

Strand:
Mental Health

Room:
Silver

Date / Time:
Saturday, October 18

9:00-10:30

Works with the Calgary Board of Education as a psychologist in Risk and Resiliency.

Presenter:

Brian Shustak

Topic:

Understanding "At-Risk" youth through a trauma lens

STRAND

Strand:
Inclusionary Practices

Room:
Bronze

Date / Time:
Saturday, October 18

9:00-10:30

Kurtis Hewson has been an educator and administrator in several Alberta schools. A 2010 ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award finalist, he is currently faculty with the University of Lethbridge and engaged in doctoral studies at the U of A.
Lorna Hewson has served in a variety of teaching roles for two decades. The past chair of the executive council of the Alberta Assessment Consortium, Lorna is currently the Director of Learning Support Services for the Livingstone Range School Division.

Presenters:

Kurtis and Lorna Hewson

Topic:

Investigating a Collaborative Response Model

STRAND

Strand:
Mental Health

Room:
Gold

Date / Time:
Saturday, October 18

9:00-10:30

Allan Donsky, M.D. FRCPC Psychiatry, FRCPC Pediatrics, is qualified as both a Pediatrician and Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist.

He is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Calgary and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Child and Youth Studies at Mount Royal University.

With a view to offering his work to more students, educators and other professionals, he currently spends his time working in Mental Health Classrooms teaching Mindfulness.

Presenter:

Dr. Allan
Donsky

Topic:

Dealing with Anxious

Students

STRAND

Strand:
Inclusionary Practices

Room:
Mount Kidd A

Date / Time:

Saturday, October 18

9:00-10:30

Marcia Wakarchuk Jones is the founder of Inner Dancer - Creative Movement and Dance. She is a Certified 5Rhythms® Teacher and Movement Analyst trained in Laban Movement Analysis, the Bartenieff Fundamentals ^TM and Body Mind Centering®. She holds a professional certificate in Integrative Body Psychology (IBP) and has studied Dance Movement Therapy and Brain Compatible Dance Education. She teaches Baby’s First Dance, Toddler and Parent Creative Movement and Creative Dance for preschoolers.

Presenter:

Marcia W. Jones

Topic:

Maximize Brain Growth: Somatic Based Education for Elementary Children

STRAND

Strand:
UDL

Room:
Dawson

Date / Time:
Saturday, October 18

9:00-10:30

Paula began teaching with the CBE in 1998. She was part of the AISI Project for Cycles 3, 4 and 5 and focused on writing at the Division II level. When Paula was a kid she hated EVERYTHING about writing. Sheryl has worked with the CBE since 1989. She has shared her passion for writing with students and teachers in grades 2 to 9. Sheryl was a member of the AISI Literacy Mentorship Team for three years at which time she co-authored Inspiring Young Writers. Even as a child, Sheryl loved EVERYTHING about writing.
They met at the University of Lethbridge while completing their M.Ed, which focused on Literacy. They’ve been celebrating their love of writing ever since. They’ve presented at the 2014 Calgary Teachers Convention and the Young Writer’s Conference.

Presenter:

Sheryl Schoenthahler & Paula Matikainen

Topic:

Living the Writing Cycle

STRAND

1 & 2

STRAND

1 & 2

James Coffey   Technology for accommodating Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Learning Disabilities – Doing it Right!
Kathy Howery   Universal Design for Learning & Assistive Technology Better Together
Kathy Howery    What Does Literacy mean for Students with Severe Disabilities
Linda Chmiliar   Improve your “APP”titude – Finding the Right App for Students with Special Needs
Salima Hudani   Be a Technology Charged Teacher! 50 Web Tools Anyone Can Use!
Cynthia Martin   Heart-Head-Heart – IPADS for Junior and Senior High

Schoenthahler &
Matikainen Living the Writing Cycle

UDL, DIFFERENTIATION, PERSONALIZATION and EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

STRAND

1 & 2

STRAND

1 & 2

Mary Catherine McKenna - Students with Refugee Backgrounds: Where to start, What to do and to avoid
Mardi Bernard - Educating Traumatized Children: Practical Strategies for understanding and supporting children of trauma
Gajraj & Belliveau - Successful Programming for Trauma Exposed Students

Fuller and Diachok - Restorative Teaching Practices for Refugee Students: Transform Your Curriculum

Noella Piquette - Supporting Cultural Diverse Students

Krista Schultz - Trauma and Compassion Fatigue

Brian Shustack - Understanding At Risk Youth Through a Trauma Lens

Rob Chubb - ColourSpectrums: A Universal Language Celebrating Diverse Learners

DIVERSITY

STRAND

Philip Jones - How to Fit a Heart Attack into Your Busy Schedule
Alexander Cook - Mental Health – A Personal Story
Allan Donsky - Understanding and Supporting Anxious Students
Derek Peterson - Let’s Grab the Spirit of Carnival by Seeing in New Ways & Introduction to Changing the World: Spirit of Carnival
Les Redick - Mentoring the ADHD Student: Tools for Parents and Teachers & Science of Learning – Strategies to Help the Unmotivated and ADHD Student
Teryl Makuk   More Than Just Shy…Helping Children with Selective Mutism
Dr. Coranne Johnson    ADHD in the Classroom – What can a Teacher Do?
Dr. Gary Jones   “Whats up with those Boys” Boys and Learning

MENTAL HEALTH

STRAND

Paula Kluth   Inclusion and Students with Disabilities (Pre –Conference)
Jo Gusman   English Language Learners
L & K Hewson   Investigating a Collaborative Response Model (RTI, PLC, & Inclusion)
Marcia F. G. Jones   Maximize Brain Growth: Somatic Based Education for Elementary Children
Kuzmanovski & Zylka   Top Ten Tips for Successful Inclusion of Students with Autism
Clare Mahon   Engaging all kinds of Minds: A Treasure Chest of Practical Solutions & Active Students & Active Minds: Let the Fun Begin!
Franny McAleer   Opening Minds: Creativity, Problem Solving, Inquiry and Teamwork & Differentiating the Questioning Process with Six Thinking Hats
Stephen Murgatroyd   Equity – The Cornerstone for Education in Alberta
Michelle Pentyliuk Reading Readiness Tool – Catching Children Before they Fail
Tamara Martin Spady   Drawing the Words

INCLUSIONARY PRACTICES

STRAND

1.   Education Station
2.   Tools for Kids
3.   Oxford University
4.   Scholastic Education
5.   Wintergreen
6.   Educational Distributors/ McGraw Hill Ryerson
7.   Alberta Distance Learning
8.   Intellimedia
9.   Pearson Canada
10.   Strategic Transitions
11.   Secrest Resources
12.   Pearson Assessments
13.   Morgex
14.   Premier Literacy
15.   Foothills Educational Materials

Conference Sponsors

and Exhibitors: