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At the bottom of this page, you will find a link to a sign-up form where you can pre-select the sessions of your choosing to ensure we have adequate space for all delegates who would like to attend. Please complete this form only once you are approved by your provincial organization
Each concurrent session will be offered twice only. There will be a break built into each session.
Concurrent Sessions Include:
SESSION A: Offered Day 2 at 1:00 pm (Room 126 ) AND Day 3 at 9:00 am (Room 126)
Voices from Community: Bringing Class into the Community
Presenters: Heather Hiscock - NSTU member
Session Description:
This workshop will explore the history of a school to community program at Heather's school and guide participants in brainstorming and planning its implementation in their own learning spaces. The program is designed to engage students across intersectionalities, fostering investment, leadership development, and hands-on projects that connect the school with the surrounding community. By recognizing each student's uniqueness and fostering common ground, this initiative creates meaningful opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Heather Hiscock is a dedicated high school teacher based in Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, with over 20 years of teaching experience in Canada, the Middle East, and Borneo. Throughout her career, Heather has consistently sought ways to ensure cultural relevance in her teaching, aiming to connect with all of her students.
Recently, she completed her M.Ed in Social Justice and Equity at Acadia University, where her capstone project focused on fostering community within the classroom. This work reflects her commitment to creating inclusive and supportive learning environments.
In addition to her teaching, Heather is actively involved in the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU), serving on provincial committees and as a local president. She is also the past chair of the Canadian Teachers' Federation’s Status of Women Advisory Committee. A passionate advocate for equitable education, Heather believes in the transformative power of learning to drive meaningful change.
At this conference, Heather will present on how she has utilized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles to cultivate changemakers in her classroom. She looks forward to engaging with fellow educators and sharing insights that can inspire impactful changes in teaching practices.
SESSION B: Offered Day 2 at 1:00 pm (Room 225) AND Day 3 at 1:00 pm (Room 232)
Voices from The Algorithm: AI as Your Teaching Assistant- Practical Ways to Lighten the Load
Presenters: Stacey Hopkins & Danielle Kelsey - NLTA member
Session Description:
Are you using Artificial Intelligence to work smarter, not harder? Join school administrator Stacey Hopkins and special education teacher Danielle Kelsey as they demystify AI and show how it can act as a powerful teaching assistant, helping to lighten the load. From streamlining lesson planning and generating resources to providing you quick feedback and helping conduct routine tasks, AI has the potential to free up your time so you can focus on what truly matters - your students.
But let’s be clear: AI is an assistant, not a teacher. Great teaching is built on relationships, intuition, and human connection - things no algorithm can replicate.
In this hands-on session, we’ll explore:
✅ AI for efficiency – Save time with lesson planning, assessment, and feedback tools
✅ AI for differentiation – Adapt resources and strategies to meet diverse learning needs
✅ AI with intention – Understand its limitations and ensure human-centered teaching
You’ll leave with ready-to-use tools, practical strategies, and a clear understanding of how AI can enhance, but never replace, the work that only teachers can do.
Stacey Hopkins is the Assistant Principal at Beaconsfield Junior High in Newfoundland and Labrador, where she’s passionate about student-centered learning, inclusive school culture, and finding joy in the everyday chaos of middle school life. With a background as a classroom teacher and district program specialist, Stacey brings a mix of experience, curiosity, and a love of collaboration to everything she does. Deeply committed to future-ready education, Stacey champions innovation that prepares both students and educators for a rapidly changing world. She was honored to receive the Premier’s Award for Teaching Innovation in 2021. Whether she’s supporting teachers, cheering on students, or diving into school development work, Stacey leads with heart, energy, and a deep belief in the power of education to transform lives. Also: she’s never met an ed tech tool she didn’t want to try at least once.
Danielle Kelsey is the Department Head of Student Services at Beaconsfield Junior High in Newfoundland and Labrador and a per-course instructor at Memorial University. With experience as a classroom teacher, instructional resource teacher, and student success teacher, Danielle is passionate about creatively engaging students and supporting their success, knowing it looks different for everyone. She is passionate about creatively engaging students and supporting their success, knowing it looks different for everyone. With a focus on practical strategies and relationship-building, Danielle works to create meaningful learning experiences that meet students where they are. She is also dedicated to productivity and efficiency in education, frequently leveraging AI tools to streamline tasks, reduce workload, and enhance support for both students and educators.
SESSION C: Offered Day 2 at 1:00 pm (Room 232) AND Day 3 at 9:00 am (Room 232)
Voices from Peers: Addressing Harmful Speech- Strategies for Combating Racism, Homophobia, and Discrimination
Presenters: Andrea Garland & Debbie Langston
Session Description:
Join us for an interactive session focused on addressing harmful speech. You will learn practical tools and have the chance to practice strategies for reducing the harm caused by discriminatory language.
Andrea Garland is the SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) consultant with the Department of Education and Early Years, as well as a Registered Counselling Therapist and Teacher. With over 20 years of experience, she has brought her passion for emotional intelligence and well-being to both students and staff in PEI. Andrea is deeply committed to fostering an education system that promotes respect, collaboration, and empowerment, ensuring that every learner and educator feels valued and supported throughout their journey.
Debbie Langston is dedicated to social activism, with a strong background in the community and volunteer sectors. A 2023 CBC Black Changemaker, Debbie is an award-winning writer who writes a monthly column about social justice issues for Postmedia. Since joining the Department of Education and Early Years as a Diversity Consultant in 2021, Debbie has worked closely with educators across PEI to build capacity, empathy, and understanding around issues of marginalization. Her mission is to help create an educational environment where all students and staff feel safe, accepted, and respected.
SESSION D: Available Day 3 at 9:00 am (Room 225)
AND at 1:00 pm (Room 225)
Voices from Within: Perfectionism
Presenter: Ronna Gauthier - NBTA member
Session Description:
Many teachers struggle with perfectionism. The inability to attain perfection as an educator can lead to feelings like inadequacy, frustration, and a lack of fulfillment. Attend this session to learn more about perfectionism, why the profession attracts perfectionists & how they are impacted, and what you can do to take some of the pressure off.
Ronna is a lifelong resident of New Brunswick and has been in education for 33 years. She completed her BA in 1991, her BEd in 1992 and her Masters in Psychological Counselling in 2011. Over the span of her career, she has been a classroom teacher, Guidance Counsellor, Member of a NB Child & Youth team and a counsellor of teachers for the NBTA. She enjoys her life on Grand Lake NB with her husband Tracy and her two adult children close by. She is eager to share her knowledge and experience with fellow educators.
SESSION E: Offered Day 3 at 1:00 pm (Room 126 )
Voices from the Past : Kairos Indigenous Blanket Exercise
Presenters: Kate Akagi, Passamaquoddy Knowledge Keeper, and Eva Frost, Gesgapegiag Knowledge Keeper
Session Description:
The blanket exercise is an interactive educational program that teaches the history of colonization in Canada. The program was created in response to the 1996 report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, and is used as a teaching tool across Canada.
Kate Akagi is a member of the Passamaquoddy tribe and has been instrumental in promoting Indigenous culture and healing practices within the community. She has led events such as smudging ceremonies and discussions on Indigenous healing. With a 30-year career as an elementary school teacher, she has enriched her students' understanding of these heritages. Now retired, she continues to be a distinguished community leader and educator in Saint Andrews, New Brunswick. She currently serves as the Deputy Mayor of the town.
In recognition of her extensive contributions, Kate was awarded the Order of New Brunswick in 2023, honoring her advocacy for First Nations, dedication to education, and community engagement. Additionally, she received the Raymond Murphy Memorial Award from the Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick, acknowledging her outstanding service to her municipality. In 2024 she received the King Charles III Ordination Medal for her indigenous work and volunteerism.
Eva Frost holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education from the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton. She began her career as an educator, teaching for ten years in her home community of Gesgapegiag, Quebec, at Wejgwapniag School. Transitioning into the post-secondary sector, Eva has been with New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) for nine years. She currently serves as the Library Coordinator at NBCC's St. Andrews campus, where she supports students and faculty in their academic and research endeavors.
Beyond her professional life, Eva has been happily married for over 25 years and is a proud mother of five children—two sons and three daughters. Her family continues to grow, as she is also a loving grandmother to six grandchildren, with two more on the way. She cherishes time spent with her grandchildren and is deeply passionate about learning more about her Mi’kmaq culture.
Sign-up for Concurrent Session Options:
Complete this form only once you are approved by your provincial organization.
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