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Dean Shareski interviews leaders from coast to coast to coast discussing innovation, change and the role leaders play in providing Canadian students with a world class education
Episodi & Post
Episodi
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5 MAG 2026 · Dean interviews Tim Cavey, an elementary vice principal at an independent school in Vancouver and host of the Teachers on Fire podcast, discussing how growth mindset helped Tim persist in podcasting and why he committed to publishing at least 100 episodes—now reaching about 325. Tim shares his path into education (25 years), explains how BC independent schools receive about 50% per-student funding, and describes how his master’s program at Vancouver Island University and a thesis on podcasting’s influence on professional practice fueled his work. They explore podcasting as an accessible, underrated form of professional learning, the shift to video on YouTube, guest-driven impacts on Tim’s health and school practices, limited but meaningful listener feedback via metrics and LinkedIn, and a leadership misstep during COVID pushing Seesaw too soon without building trust. Tim offers advice to lead through service before title and start a master’s earlier, recommends The Digital Delusion, mentions Love is Blind, and shares the Lift Bar and Grill as a Vancouver hidden gem.
00:00 Growth Mindset to 100 Episodes
01:07 Why Podcasting Matters for Teachers
03:18 Meet Tim Cavey
03:57 Tim’s VP Role and Career
04:45 How BC Independent Schools Work
07:23 Why Tim Started Teachers on Fire
11:37 From Audio to Video Podcasting
13:57 Memorable Guests and Personal Impact
16:08 Feedback, Metrics, and LinkedIn
19:29 Master’s Thesis on Podcasting
20:38 Podcasting as Professional Learning
25:16 Lessons for School Leadership
27:47 Students Discover the Channel
28:57 Leadership Misstep During Covid
30:10 Trust Before Change
32:06 Advice for Aspiring Admins
35:38 Growth Mindset Breakthrough
38:35 Applying Mindset to AI
39:22 Gratitude Shoutout Mentor
40:30 Book Pick Digital Delusion
43:08 Guilty Pleasure TV Binge
44:10 Hidden Gem Coal Harbour
45:24 Closing Thanks and Wrap
28 APR 2026 · Dean introduces a conversation on why online/virtual learning remains a vital, legitimate option in Canadian education, shaped by his early online teaching experience and accelerated by COVID. Guests Jennifer Bertsch, principal of Golden Hills Learning Academy (Alberta), and Robyn Percival, an online science teacher at Ontario’s Virtual Learning Center, compare asynchronous and synchronous models, tools like Moodle, Canvas, and Zoom, and deliberate efforts to build relationship, belonging, and integrity beyond transactional correspondence-style learning. They describe enrollment pathways, hybrid flexibility, rapid growth in participation, and student success stories tied to mental health support and inclusive participation. The discussion also addresses academic integrity in the AI era through transparent expectations, process-focused assessment, and follow-up conversations, and concludes with “queen for a day” changes emphasizing equity of access to resources and mandatory unplugged/physical-activity time for online students.
00:00 Grad Day Breakthroughs
01:10 Early Online Teaching Lessons
02:21 Why Online Learning Matters
03:49 Meet Jennifer and Robyn
05:30 Tech Shifts After COVID
07:54 Who Online School Serves
09:32 Enrollment and Hybrid Pathways
11:30 Synchronous Community Building
14:46 Belonging in Asynchronous Learning
18:53 Success Stories and Impact
24:35 Growth Numbers and Demand
26:15 Hybrid Enrollment Reality
27:38 Ontario Virtual School Growth
29:20 What Makes Online Teachers Thrive
33:38 Autonomy and Course Creation
36:08 AI Assessment in Virtual Classes
40:35 Academic Integrity Over Policing
45:13 Queen for a Day Fixes
46:07 Equity and Screen Breaks
50:08 Closing Thanks and Takeaways
21 APR 2026 · Dean welcomes educator and author and friend, George Couros to discuss using technology only when it improves learning and opens doors for students, emphasizing authenticity, agency, and “going first” as educators. Couros shares how he accidentally entered tech-focused roles, grew through blogging and reflection, and learned to avoid shallow tech use that replaces thinking. They explore examples like student-created documentaries and digital portfolios to deepen understanding, literacy, and audience beyond the teacher, while resisting polarizing “all in/all out” arguments around tech, phones, and AI. Couros introduces his book, “Forward Together,” inspired by a community-building school video and focused on principles and perspectives for moving from conflict to community with humility, challenge, and shared goals. He closes with advice for young educators to consistently blog to find their voice.
00:00 Tech With Purpose
00:46 Meet George Couros
02:20 How We First Met
03:45 Accidental Tech Teacher
06:37 Going First With Social Media
09:15 Student Work That Sticks
12:59 Deep Learning Over Memorizing
14:20 Why Tech Still Matters
16:03 Portfolios And Literacy
19:50 Nuance Agency And Access
25:23 Stress Testing AI Tools
26:29 New Book Forward Together
29:15 Principles Perspectives And Conflict
31:06 A Blogging Blowup Story
31:44 Tone And Self Critique
32:47 Defusing AI Pushback
34:47 Diversity Toward Shared Goals
36:33 Invite Challenge In Room
37:26 Rusty And Tech Wisdom
40:28 Identity And Credibility
45:13 Advice Start A Blog
51:35 Consistency And Health Habits
53:11 Gratitude And Quickfire
57:36 Hidden Gem Windermere
59:49 Closing Thanks And Farewell
14 APR 2026 · Dean interviews Dr. Tim Cusack, Dean of Education at Concordia University of Edmonton and a longtime Naval Reserve officer, about how “deck plate leadership” and naval frameworks (including the firefighting fire triangle) can help educators navigate difficult conversations and lead by being present with people. Cusack shares his 2006 Don Cherry impersonation that led to an appearance on Hockey Night in Canada and reflects on how military experiences shaped his views on trust, respect, distributive leadership, and “people first” mission. He discusses teacher retention, preparing early career teachers to thrive, and strengthening mentorship through research and books, including work on assistant principals’ professional identity and readiness for principalship. The conversation also compares education governance in Alberta and the Maritimes.
00:00 Deck Plate Leadership
01:19 Meet Dr Tim Cusack
03:52 Don Cherry Origin Story
07:56 Navy Service Beginnings
12:08 Military Purpose Pathways
16:19 Dean of Education Role
22:07 Mission Creep in Schools
23:58 Autonomy Versus Isolation
25:46 Governance Across Provinces
28:40 Trades Pathways Spotlight
32:33 Teaching As Adventure
34:15 Assistant Principal Shift
37:52 Research Into Leadership
43:01 Mentorship Toolkit Books
45:38 Gratitude For John Hattie
48:23 Quickfire Favorites
51:34 Edmonton Riverboat Gem
54:11 Closing Thanks
7 APR 2026 · Saskatchewan Teachers Federation
In this episode,I reconnect with Meredith Rhinas, a senior administrator at the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation, to discuss her journey from classroom teaching to union advocacy and leadership. Meredith shares how she built a large social media following as a content creator after her third child, how her platform evolved during COVID into advocacy—especially for women’s heart health after her 2018 open-heart surgery—and how viral videos explaining Saskatchewan bargaining helped put her on STF’s radar. She explains her current role supporting teachers with employment and labour issues, serving on committees and the bargaining team, and describes the emotional weight of absorbing others’ difficult experiences. Meredith reflects on teaching overseas, navigating leadership as a young woman, the importance of difficult conversations, professionalism amid deprofessionalization, and credits her father, Milton Block, as a key influence.
00:00 Embracing Hard Conversations
01:01 Meet Meredith Rhinas
03:02 From Baby to Colleague
04:09 Content Creator Origins
07:05 COVID Shift and Advocacy
10:13 Teachers and Social Media Risks
15:28 Professionalism and Values Online
17:53 Inside the Teachers Federation Role
21:37 The Emotional Weight of Advocacy
24:30 Career Journey Begins Overseas
28:11 Finding the Right Path
29:32 Funding Shifts and Classroom Complexity
33:43 Supporting Teachers Through Process
35:40 Overseas Leadership Trial
40:34 Leading Through Listening
42:30 Advice for Emerging Leaders
46:01 Gratitude for a Mentor
47:02 Studying Deprofessionalization
50:10 Reality TV Reset
51:02 Local Hidden Gem
52:06 Closing Reflections
31 MAR 2026 · Dean interviews Dr. Christopher Fuzessy, superintendent of Foothills School Division in High River, Alberta, about making “flourishing” a central system focus and why it is ongoing, mutual work rooted in interconnected community rather than a checklist. Fuzessy draws on research including Martin Seligman, Robin Wall Kimmerer’s idea that “flourishing is mutual,” and Michael Ungar’s reframing of resilience as “stepping back” supported by redundant systems. They discuss reflective practice, workplace wellness as a system responsibility, and Fuzessy’s self-reflective book Emanate and related partnership with the University of Calgary on leadership support frameworks. The conversation also covers Foothills’ AI journey, including in-house tools to reduce administrative burden and increase time for relationships, student and parent perspectives, and creating flexible AI guardrails, plus Fuzessy’s move from Quebec to Alberta and examples of community-based flourishing in schools.
00:00 Defining Flourishing
00:47 Why Education Changed
02:52 Foothills F Word
05:49 Flourishing Research Roots
06:31 Resilience and Community Support
10:24 Reflective Practice Habits
12:47 Book Emanate Overview
16:31 Flourishing in Schools
21:50 Local Agency Against Anxiety
25:47 AI and Human Flourishing
26:54 Building In House AI Tools
31:40 Early Feedback and Concerns
31:54 Student Driven AI Skills
33:08 Building Division AI Vision
34:14 Parents as AI Partners
36:38 Guardrails and Flourishing
38:52 From Quebec to Alberta
43:22 Government and CAS Support
48:55 Gratitude for a Mentor
50:34 Reading for Systems Change
53:16 Unwinding and Building
54:54 Hidden Gems and Farewell
24 MAR 2026 · Dean's guest is Katherine MacIver, Director of Education at Hastings Prince Edward District School Board in Eastern Ontario, about leadership in education amid constant “noise” and competing demands. MacIver describes focusing on the “big rocks” and keeping conversations centered on students and achievement, while staying connected to classroom learning through tough, curious questions. She emphasizes a skill-based approach grounded in literacy and numeracy, notes qualitative community feedback and improving results in achievement and graduation, and highlights a simple, one-page strategic plan. The discussion explores building culture and trust through everyday interactions, de-siloing central teams, and communicating the “why” repeatedly and with purpose and audience in mind, including practical examples like cybersecurity password changes. MacIver also discusses buffering staff from rhetoric and governance challenges, developing leadership through opportunity and mentorship, and credits mentor Mary Ann Bishop for shaping her approach.
00:00 Why Explain The Why
01:28 Meet Director Katherine
02:18 Blocking Out The Noise
04:19 Staying Close To Classrooms
06:40 Skills First Literacy Math
07:38 Measuring Life After Graduation
10:36 Keeping Talent Local
12:57 Pride Strategic Plan Wins
15:25 Building Trusting Culture
18:49 Communicate Nine Times
20:50 Purpose And Audience
22:31 Parent Focused Messaging
23:15 Staying On Mission
27:32 Calm Under Pressure
29:40 Developing Future Leaders
32:21 Biggest Career Jump
34:37 Mentor Who Shaped Me
36:20 Quick Hitters And Wrap
17 MAR 2026 · Dean talks with ed tech consultant Andy McKiel as an example of innovative professional learning that happens outside traditional workshops and even outside education, then they recall first meeting at the 2007 Manitoba Ed Blogger Con focused on early social media and virtual connections. Andy describes moving from a Grade 4 teacher to a district-level digital learning coach role supporting K–12 teachers, and reflects on how classroom technology use has shifted from learning tools to bigger pedagogical purposes, including supporting increasingly diverse and high-needs learners. They discuss critiques that technology hasn’t changed schools, the value of inquiry learning, and how COVID-19 required rapidly training hundreds of teachers on Microsoft Teams and new communication systems. The conversation centers on building community through social, network-driven PD like Ignite events, challenges to in-person participation post-pandemic, and advice for aspiring coaches
00:00 Learning Beyond the Bubble
02:42 Meeting Andy in 2007
05:02 From Classroom to Coach
07:04 How Teacher Tech Use Evolved
09:19 Has Tech Really Changed Schools
12:49 Rethinking Professional Learning
18:41 Post Pandemic PD Challenges
25:18 Collaboration Culture in Schools
28:41 Pandemic Leadership Test
31:06 Live Event Momentum
31:57 Post Pandemic Tool Hangover
32:47 Sharing Culture in Teaching
34:09 Advice for Aspiring Coaches 37:34 Curiosity and Vulnerability
39:10 Gratitude for Ryan Miller
42:20 ISTE Award Backstory
44:53 What Im Reading and Watching
48:39 Winnipeg Hidden Gems
10 MAR 2026 · Dean reunites with retired Ontario educator Rodd Lucier (“the Clever Sheep”) to unpack seminal professional-learning experiences that shaped their work, from early networked learning and the unconference-style Edcon to the creation of Unplugged in 2012. They describe gathering about 30–39 educators from across Canada (and later beyond) to travel from Toronto to an offline retreat at Northern Edge Algonquin, where participants—self-selected, like-minded, and already leading without titles—built relationships, collaborated in small groups, and wrote and published a book in three days using pre-work and story videos. They discuss why the setting, disconnection, shared responsibility, and informal “hallway” time made it transformative yet hard to replicate, note resources like photos, blog reflections, and a facilitation guide, and reflect on today’s fragmented online spaces, AI, robotics, and the enduring need for human connection in education.
00:00 Leaders Before Titles
00:22 Writing A Book Together
01:03 Seminal Learning Moment
03:19 First Meeting At Edcon
05:54 Rodd The Clever Sheep
09:00 Edcon Joy And Tribe
12:13 Unplugged Origins
13:20 Designing The Retreat
17:49 Measuring Long Term Impact
21:26 Shared Moments Matter
21:52 Six String Nation Metaphor
26:25 Facilitation Guide Takeaways
30:26 Allstar Team Professional Learning
38:09 AI Raises Human Stakes
39:08 What He Reads Now
42:33 Advice to Teachers Try Stuff
43:12 London Hidden Gem Nature Walk
3 MAR 2026 · In this podcast episode, Dean interviews Cadmus Delorme, former First Nation chief (elected at 33) and the 10th Chancellor of the University of Regina (appointed July 2025), about leadership that models calm, heart, and relationship-building. Delorme explains the chancellor’s ceremonial and governance duties, shares how his education, upbringing with residential school survivor parents, and golf shaped his leadership, and describes staying composed during the 2021 unmarked graves discovery to avoid triggering survivors and demonstrate reconciliation. He discusses gaps in Canadians’ education about truth, the need for provinces to treat First Nations and Métis as rights holders, mental health as foundational to leadership, collaboration between on- and off-reserve schools, language preservation challenges in Saskatchewan, advice for young leaders amid social media, parenting approaches, and his One Hoop consulting work on reconciliation and economic inclusion.
00:00 Duty to Reconcile
01:25 Meeting Cadmus Delorme
03:55 Chancellor Role Explained
05:57 Becoming a Young Chief
08:31 Early Leadership Roots
10:43 Leading With Heart
15:19 Collaboration in Education
18:00 Unmarked Graves Response
22:35 Policy and Funding Realities
27:16 Schooling Then and Now
31:52 Language as Relationship
33:23 Humor and Harmony
34:23 Saskatchewan Language Map
36:13 AI and Cultural Tradeoffs
36:54 Advice for Young Leaders
38:10 Social Media and Focus
39:10 Everyday Leadership Habits
40:42 Parenting in the iPad Era
45:06 Mentors Who Shaped Me
48:42 One Hoop Consulting
49:56 Golf Course Favorites
51:22 Books and Learning Habits
53:47 Binge Watching Picks
55:49 Hidden Gems to Visit
56:34 Powwow Invitation and Wrap
Dean Shareski interviews leaders from coast to coast to coast discussing innovation, change and the role leaders play in providing Canadian students with a world class education
Informazioni
| Autore | Advanced Learning Partnerships |
| Organizzazione | voicEd Radio Canada |
| Categorie | Istruzione |
| Sito | alplearn.com |
| dean@alplearn.com |
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