2026 NSLTA - The Heart of the Matter: Sustaining Language & Culture in the Age of AI

Artificial intelligence is moving so quickly that this keynote may already be outdated by the time it begins. Rather than chasing every new tool, this session invites educators to think about AI as a modern literacy and to consider how we can help students become informed, critical, and responsible users of it. Chris Cocek, PhD, is an educator, university instructor, and educational technology leader with more than 30 years of experience in K–12 education. He currently supports system-wide work in artificial intelligence, digital learning, and teacher professional learning with the Halifax Regional Centre for Education. Chris is passionate about helping educators use technology in thoughtful, inclusive, and practical ways that strengthen teaching, learning, and student agency. He is also a confirmed sucker for a good cat video. And yes, AI did help write this bio!

Note: This is a full-day session (10 am to 3:30 pm). If you register for this workshop, please do NOT choose any other workshops in Sessions A, B, C or D below. Audience: General Grade Level: All Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Dr. Laura Leslie (she/her), Counsellor, Halifax Regional Centre for Education This full-day workshop will provide a basic understanding of trauma and its impact and then expand to discuss the unique traumatic experiences that many refugees experience. It will then elaborate on specific barriers that exist that make even trauma-informed practices additionally challenging. Participants will come away with practical suggestions to create the necessary safe spaces needed for refugee children and youth to thrive in Nova Scotia schools. Dr. Laura Leslie has been a public school educator for 20 years. She currently practices as a School Counsellor in the HRCE and a part-time instructor at Acadia University in the BEd and MEd programs. Dr. Leslie holds a PhD with a focus on Trauma-Informed Pedagogy. Her additional research interests include social justice education and school crisis response. She lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia with her husband and two children.

Note: This is a half-day session (10 am to 12:00 pm). If you register for this workshop, please do NOT select any workshops in Session A or B below. You should, however, select your afternoon workshops under Sessions C and D. Audience: General Grade Level: Upper Elementary, Junior/Senior High Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Daniela Jost Guimaraes (she/her), EAL Instructor and Curriculum Developer, Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) As generative AI becomes increasingly present in students’ writing, research, and learning practices, language teachers are being invited to rethink assessment in more intentional ways. This workshop explores how practical AI related frameworks can support meaningful language assessment while protecting learner voice, cultural identity, reflection, and independent thinking. Drawing on frameworks such as the AI Assessment Scale, the GAiIT Framework, process based assessment, and other emerging approaches to responsible AI use, participants will consider how to make informed decisions about when AI should be restricted, limited, supported, or integrated. The session will also emphasize that any learner facing use of AI must be age appropriate, purposeful, transparent, and guided by clear pedagogical goals. Rather than focusing only on final products, participants will examine how planning, drafting, revision, dialogue, and reflection can make learning more visible. Participants will leave with a clearer decision making lens for guiding students to use AI as a thinking partner, not a replacement for their own language development. Daniela Jost Guimarães is a DELTA qualified EAL instructor, curriculum designer, and assessment specialist with over 25 years of experience in English language teaching and teacher education. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, she supports internationally educated professionals through inclusive, authentic, and workplace focused learning. Her work combines CLIL, curriculum design, intercultural communication, and AI informed assessment to help multilingual learners build confidence, belonging, and professional identity. Daniela holds an International Master of Teaching English from Saint Mary’s University and has completed the NILE UK Institute Level 3 Award in AI in Education, strengthening her work in ethical and reflective assessment design.

Note: This is a half-day session (1:40 pm to 3:30 pm). If you register for this workshop, make sure you ALSO select morning workshops in Sessions A and B below. Please do NOT select any workshops in Session C or D below. Audience: General Grade Level: Upper Elementary, Junior/Senior High Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Daniela Jost Guimaraes (she/her), EAL Instructor and Curriculum Developer, Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) As generative AI becomes increasingly present in students’ writing, research, and learning practices, language teachers are being invited to rethink assessment in more intentional ways. This workshop explores how practical AI related frameworks can support meaningful language assessment while protecting learner voice, cultural identity, reflection, and independent thinking. Drawing on frameworks such as the AI Assessment Scale, the GAiIT Framework, process based assessment, and other emerging approaches to responsible AI use, participants will consider how to make informed decisions about when AI should be restricted, limited, supported, or integrated. The session will also emphasize that any learner facing use of AI must be age appropriate, purposeful, transparent, and guided by clear pedagogical goals. Rather than focusing only on final products, participants will examine how planning, drafting, revision, dialogue, and reflection can make learning more visible. Participants will leave with a clearer decision making lens for guiding students to use AI as a thinking partner, not a replacement for their own language development. Daniela Jost Guimarães is a DELTA qualified EAL instructor, curriculum designer, and assessment specialist with over 25 years of experience in English language teaching and teacher education. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, she supports internationally educated professionals through inclusive, authentic, and workplace focused learning. Her work combines CLIL, curriculum design, intercultural communication, and AI informed assessment to help multilingual learners build confidence, belonging, and professional identity. Daniela holds an International Master of Teaching English from Saint Mary’s University and has completed the NILE UK Institute Level 3 Award in AI in Education, strengthening her work in ethical and reflective assessment design.

Audience: General Grade Level: Upper Elementary, Junior/Senior High Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Chris Cocek (he/him), AI Lead- Teaching & Learning, HRCE As generative AI becomes more accessible, educators are rethinking how students demonstrate learning in authentic and meaningful ways. This session explores practical approaches to literacy assessment that prioritize critical thinking, process, creativity, and student voice over simple product completion. Participants will examine why AI detection tools are unreliable, explore assessment redesign strategies, and discuss classroom practices that support transparency, academic integrity, and deeper learning in an AI-influenced world. Chris Cocek, PhD, is an educator, university instructor, and educational technology leader with more than 30 years of experience in K–12 education. He currently supports system-wide work in artificial intelligence, digital learning, and teacher professional learning with the Halifax Regional Centre for Education. Chris is passionate about helping educators use technology in thoughtful, inclusive, and practical ways that strengthen teaching, learning, and student agency. He is also a confirmed sucker for a good cat video. And yes, AI did help write this bio!

Audience: Core French & French Immersion Grade Level: Junior/Senior High Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Tara Sears (she/her), Core French and French Immersion Teacher, Hebbville Academy, SSRCE Looking for a high-engagement way to increase oral participation in your French classroom? In this interactive session, Tara Sears will share how Fun Friday / Vendredi amusant has helped build student confidence, strengthen class community, and encourage communication in both Core and Immersion FSL classrooms. Participants will explore a variety of board games, card games, and conversation activities designed to keep students speaking French. This session will include hands-on opportunities to try activities, discuss implementation strategies, and discover simple, affordable games and materials — including several that can be created with just a photocopier and construction paper. Amusez-vous bien! Tara Sears hails from Cape Breton and now calls Nova Scotia’s South Shore home. She has been teaching French Immersion and Core French at the secondary level for over a decade. Passionate about creating engaging and supportive language-learning environments, Tara’s professional interests include oral communication, student participation, and authentic immersion experiences in French. She is a proud Mt. A and St.Fx alumna and has completed several French Immersion professional learning courses. Tara has also served as a mentor to new French teachers and is committed to creating supportive, engaging language-learning environments.

Audience: General Grade Level: Upper Elementary, Junior/Senior High Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Sarah Toma (she/her), French Teacher, Lockview High School, HRCE This workshop presents AI tools and hacks for the language classroom. The aim is to create dynamic, engaging material for students with the help of AI. Learn how Gemini and Canva AI can help you improve the quality of your lessons or how Brisk can help provide tailored feedback for student work. The world is your oyster with A-Aye! Sarah Toma completed her Bachelor of Education at OISE/UT followed by a Masters Degree in French Literature. She’s been teaching French Immersion and Core French (Grades 5-12) for the past 20 years. Sarah has worked for the Halton & Toronto District School Boards in Ontario, as well as the CSAP and HRCE in Nova Scotia. She has taught a variety of subjects in French ranging from Math to Social Studies. Sarah currently teaches at Lockview High School and is also enrolled in the Technology Integration Program at MSVU. She looks forward to sharing with you some AI hacks for the classroom!

Audience: General Grade Level: All Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Anthony Bucci (he/him), National Council Representative for Nova Scotia, Canadian Association of Second Languages Teachers (CASLT) The Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers (CASLT) is devoted to fostering and advancing professional excellence in language teaching in Canada. It supports its members by creating virtual and face-to-face opportunities for synchronous and asynchronous professional learning, by initiating and disseminating research among our stakeholders, by facilitating the exchange of information and ideas among language educators. Join this session to learn more about how CASLT can best support you. Come with your laptop to explore the educational platform CoLab, and leave with a free one-month trial membership! Tony Bucci is a French Language Arts and I.B. French SL teacher at Charles P. Allen High. Approaching his third decade in education, Tony holds a Master's Degree in Curriculum Studies from Mount Saint Vincent University and a Graduate Diploma in Educational Technology from Cape Breton University. He serves as a National Council representative for Nova Scotia for CASLT and previously worked as French Second Language Consultant for HRCE. Tony has presented numerous workshops on integrating technology and making language learning engaging.

Audience: English as an Additional Language Grade Level: All Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Jason Rodney (he/him), EAL Teacher, Central Spryfield Elementary, HRCE This hands-on workshop shows how to use Google Gemini AI to create comic-strip illustrations and comprehension exercises for the UFLI Decodable lessons and texts (1-128). Using Google Gemini AI for these types of resources reduces teacher workload, improves differentiation, creates additional instructional materials, and strengthens literacy lesson quality for English language learners. Jason Rodney has been a P-12 English, Social Studies, Resource, Learning Center and EAL Teacher in the Halifax Regional Municipality for the last 29 years. He is currently a site-based EAL teacher at Central Spryfield Elementary School in Halifax.

Audience: General Grade Level: All Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Carter Chiasson (he/him), Founder/Director, The Empower Youth Music Project & Emma Stevens (she/her), Youth Ambassador, The Empower Youth Music Project Join educator Carter Chiasson and Mi'kmaw singer-songwriter Emma Stevens for an inspiring presentation on the power of culture, music, and community engagement in education. Drawing on his work with youth and communities across Cape Breton and through projects and partnerships around the world, Carter will share stories of connection, leadership, and the role that authentic experiences play in creating meaningful learning opportunities. Together, Carter and Emma will explore ways to connect learners with language and culture while considering how emerging technologies, including AI, can complement classroom practice and help educators create engaging learning experiences, while keeping relationships, culture, and human connection at the center of learning. Carter Chiasson is a Cape Breton musician, educator, and music producer. For the past ten years, he has taught music and technology arts at ABMHS School in Eskasoni First Nation, guiding the creation of original student works that have been showcased by the National Arts Centre of Canada, at United Nations events, and on stages worldwide. During the pandemic, he led Ancient and Forever, a song and music video project celebrating Cape Breton culture in four languages. Carter has also received the JUNO MusiCounts Music Teacher of the Year Award and the King Charles Medal for community impact. In 2024, Carter founded the Empower Youth Music Project, a non-profit organization focused on supporting young artists in the creation of music and videos that explore social issues. Emma Stevens is a singer-songwriter who performs in the Mi'kmaw language work. Her highlights the importance of language revitalization, cultural preservation, and storytelling through music. By blending traditional language and themes with contemporary sounds, Emma celebrates Indigenous narratives and cultural resilience to honor her heritage and inspire change. She has performed on stages around the world, including multiple United Nations gatherings, and has received recognition from artists such as Paul McCartney. Emma is a founding member and Youth Ambassador of the Empower Youth Music Project, an organization which mentors young artists and develops initiatives to empower youth to create meaningful change through the arts.

Audience: General Grade Level: All Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Sandra Logan (she/her), Core French Coach 4-9, HRCE Ever wish you could create the perfect text for your students—at the right level, in the right language, and ready when you need it? This session explores how educators can use a variety of AI tools to generate engaging, levelled, and culturally responsive texts, including storybooks, graphic novels, and presentations. Through real classroom examples, participants will see how AI can support language learning, boost student engagement, and solve common resource challenges—while keeping sound pedagogy and teacher expertise firmly in the driver’s seat. Sandra Logan is the Core French Coach for grades 4-9 at HRCE. With over a decade of experience teaching Core French, she has a deep understanding of the Neuro-linguistic approach to language learning and has seen its results in her students. This approach taps into the brain's natural language processing abilities, making learning a new language an engaging and efficient journey. She holds a Masters in Technology Integration and a keen interest in gamification and game-based learning. Sandra believes that learning French should be engaging, effective, but most importantly FUN!

Audience: General Grade Level: Junior/Senior High Language of Workshop: English, French Presenter: Roy Francis (he/him), Grade 7/8 Social Studies Teacher, Sackville Heights Junior High, HRCE In this session, teachers will learn how to use AI writing Feedback Tools to help students improve their writing through individualized and targeted feedback. We'll explore how AI tools can analyze students' work and create thought-provoking prompts that guide students to identify and solve writing issues independently. This approach shifts the focus from passive correction to active learning, empowering students to take full ownership of their writing growth. Roy Francis is a veteran educator with the HRCE, currently in his 20th year of teaching. While he currently focuses on Grade 7 and 8 Social Studies, his diverse career includes experience in Core French and Music. Passionate about innovation, Roy constantly integrates new technologies into his classroom to enhance learning. Outside of school, he is an avid long-distance runner who enjoys cottage life and mastering his smoker.

Audience: French Immersion Grade Level: Upper Elementary, Junior High Language of Workshop: English, French Presenter: Thérèse Boudreau MacKinnon (she/her), Grade 9 Immersion FLA, Citoyenete, Ellenvale Junior High, HRCE Dans cet atelier, je vais partager l'unité que j'ai créée pour aider les élèves à briser leurs fossiles de prononciation et de les encourager à parler en classe. Je vais partager le diaporama de phonèmes et graphèmes français que j'utilise pour explorer comment décoder et prononcer les nouveaux mots. De plus, je vais montrer comment j'enseigne aux élèves d'utiliser la technologie pour modeler la bonne prononciation avant de présenter une pièce de théâtre. Pour conclure, on va jouer un jeu que j'ai créé avec Chat GPT qui donne aux élèves l'occasion de décoder et lire des questions sans souci de leur habilité de parler, ni leur connaissance arrière. Thérèse Boudreau MacKinnon has been teaching English or French as a second language in Canada since 1996. She has worked with Federal bilingual programs at Dalhousie and in rural Québec and has been teaching French Immersion in the Halifax area since 2000. Recently, her interests have turned to supporting students' understanding of spoken French using the neurolinguistic approach and Science of Reading techniques. She currently teaches late French immersion at Ellenvale Junior High. Thérèse lives in Dartmouth with her husband, daughter, and son.

Audience: General Grade Level: All Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Justin Dubreuil (he/him), Teacher, West Bedford High School, HRCE This workshop focuses on practical, classroom-ready applications of AI by introducing the Chalkie AI platform. Chalkie AI was made by teachers for teachers and is connected to Canadian curriculum outcomes. The goal of this workshop is to demonstrate AI's application in lesson planning and to show how it can meaningfully reduce teacher workload while enhancing instructional quality and differentiation. Justin Dubreuil is a Nova Scotia-based educator who has taught both Canada and the United Kingdom. He teaches secondary courses including English Language Arts and Economics, emphasizing real-world learning, critical thinking, and student engagement. Prior to teaching, he spent 15 years working in the non-profit sector, focusing on youth leadership and outdoor education. He is passionate about experiential learning and the thoughtful integration of technology, including AI, to enhance education. Justin is committed to inclusive, future-focused classrooms that support student success and life beyond school.

Audience: General Grade Level: Junior/Senior High Language of Workshop: English, French Presenter: Sam Cusimano (he/him), Classroom Teacher FLA 7-9, Graham Creighton Junior High School, HRCE Explore the popular game Dungeons & Dragons and its potential to support student literacy. This session highlights how the game fosters creative thinking and writing, while also developing essential skills such as listening, note-taking, and effective communication. Participants will learn practical strategies for integrating D&D into the classroom, along with ways to use AI tools to adapt gameplay to align with curricular outcomes and encourage deeper student engagement and idea development. Sam Cusimano has been teaching at Graham Creighton Junior High in Cherry Brook since 2023. He primarily works as a French Language Arts (FLA) teacher, and has also taught Core French and Healthy Living. An active member of the school community, Sam contributes to extracurricular programs by assisting with various sports teams and leading clubs such as Dungeons & Dragons and chess. Sam values collaboration and is always eager to engage in meaningful professional dialogue with colleagues.

Audience: Core French & French Immersion Grade Level: Upper Elementary, Junior/Senior High Language of Workshop: French Presenter: Louise Arsenault (she/her), Retired Teacher and French Immersion Substitute Connaissez-vous le phénomène de Manie musicale ? C'est un tournoi de 16 chansons courantes en français qui sauront engager vos élèves. Cet atelier est une introduction au concours où on parlera de ce que c'est la Manie musicale, comment y participer à un niveau de base qui demande très peu de préparation, ainsi que des options pour en faire une très grande partie de ton programme de français, si voulu. An Acadian from New Brunswick, Louise Arsenault has spent her career teaching French Immersion. Most of Louise's teaching has been at the grade 8 French immersion level in Nova Scotia, but she has also taught other grades, French first language and taught for a few years in Louisiana. Louise emphasizes cooperative learning in her classroom.

Audience: General Grade Level: Upper Elementary, Junior/Senior High Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Sarah Toma (she/her), French Teacher, Lockview High School, HRCE This workshop presents AI tools and hacks for the language classroom. The aim is to create dynamic, engaging material for students with the help of AI. Learn how Gemini and Canva AI can help you improve the quality of your lessons or how Brisk can help provide tailored feedback for student work. The world is your oyster with A-Aye! Sarah Toma completed her Bachelor of Education at OISE/UT followed by a Masters Degree in French Literature. She’s been teaching French Immersion and Core French (Grades 5-12) for the past 20 years. Sarah has worked for the Halton & Toronto District School Boards in Ontario, as well as the CSAP and HRCE in Nova Scotia. She has taught a variety of subjects in French ranging from Math to Social Studies. Sarah currently teaches at Lockview High School and is also enrolled in the Technology Integration Program at MSVU. She looks forward to sharing with you some AI hacks for the classroom!

Audience: General Grade Level: All Language of Workshop: English, French Presenter: Aren Morris (she/her), Fine Arts Specialist, Halifax Regional Arts One of the most important things you can do at the start of your school year is to build a positive classroom community where everyone feels they belong. While this takes time, energy and a consistent effort, both teachers and students will reap the benefits of a classroom where relationships are built not only between teacher and student, but among the students themselves. Join Aren, a former high school drama/dance educator and current Fine Arts Specialist P-12, to explore tried and tested techniques for ensemble building (from the world of improv, dance and theatre) that can be used in any classroom space to build a community where confidence, trust, self-expression and working together are paramount. Aren Morris is a Halifax-based arts educator and writer. She has been writing, directing, facilitating, and producing student theatre in education for decades and now works with Halifax Regional Arts. She loves finding ways to incorporate the Performing Arts into Curriculum Delivery. Aren’s debut, We Happy Few (2022), is a locally inspired historical fiction novel. She recently hosted “Just My Type”, an improvised typewriter poetry fundraiser for WFNS and is now revising her second novel. Aren also collaborates with AfterWords and Read By the Sea literary festivals, and creates and produces theatre for youth audiences with local artists, dancers, and writers.

Audience: General Grade Level: All Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Ryan Bucci (he/him), 7/8 Social Studies and Health Teacher, Dartmouth South Academy, HRCE You do not need to know how to code to build something your students will actually use. Vibe Coding is the practice of using natural language to create real applications with AI — and it is changing what is possible for classroom teachers. This session explores the basics of getting started, walks through real student-ready apps built and tested in an actual classroom, and shows you what becomes possible when the barrier between your idea and a finished tool disappears. Ryan Bucci brings 20+ years of experience designing and running programs in camp and school settings. A 2018 Governor General's Award for Excellence in Teaching finalist, he is an ambassador for Brisk Teaching and a Magic School AI Pioneer. For the past two school years, Ryan has been actively exploring how to build and integrate AI tools directly into his teaching practice and into the hands of his students through Vibe Coding.

Audience: Core French & French Immersion Grade Level: Upper Elementary, Junior High School, Senior High School Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Dayna Crathorne (she/her), French Immersion and Core 9 Teacher, Millwood High, HRCE This workshop presents (and provides a Google Drive) for activities including digital Wheel of Fortune, Grudge Ball, Baseball, Fly Swatter Matching, and High Risk (betting your team points). The activities are applicable to all language learning classrooms and align with ANL for Core French. Dayna Crathorne is a French Immersion and Core French teacher with 13 years of experience. She holds Masters degrees in both Educational Technology and Indigenous and Place-Based learning. Dayna prides herself on bringing exciting engagement activities into her classes, particularly Core French. She is looking forward to showing colleagues digital tools for les activités de réinvestissement (like a digital claw machine and Spin the Wheel), alongside some low- and no-tech options. Her goal is for everyone to walk away with a brand-new idea!

Audience: General Grade Level: All Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Rae Brown (she/her) EAL Teacher, Harbour View Elementary, HRCE In this interactive one-hour workshop, participants will learn and play two board games based on a map of Nova Scotia. These adaptable games encourage authentic communication as students discuss where they are from, places they know, and destinations they would like to visit. Suitable for local students and newcomers, and all levels of language learners, the games promote vocabulary development, oral language skills, and meaningful cultural exchange. Participants will leave with practical ideas for modifying the games to work with maps of any community, region, or country around the world. Also, games can be modified to reach students grades 2-12. Rae Brown has been teaching and learning within HRCE for over 20 years. She enjoys embedding games in the practice of supporting students with language acquisition and cultural trade.

Audience: General Grade Level: Junior/Senior High Language of Workshop: English, French Presenter: Roy Francis (he/him), Grade 7/8 Social Studies Teacher, Sackville Heights Junior High, HRCE Imagine a classroom where students interact with virtual mentors and receive instant, personalized feedback. This session explores how integrating AI can unleash creativity and prepare students for the future. We will dive into the specific tools my students and I use, discussing the practical benefits and challenges of implementation. Rather than just watching, you’ll get hands-on experience. Using your Chromebook or laptop, you will begin building a custom toolkit ready for immediate use. Bring a list of tasks you’d like to automate or enhance, and prepare to walk away with a powerful new digital teacher! Roy Francis is a veteran educator with the HRCE, currently in his 20th year of teaching. While he currently focuses on Grade 7 and 8 Social Studies, his diverse career includes experience in Core French and Music. Passionate about innovation, Roy constantly integrates new technologies into his classroom to enhance learning. Outside of school, he is an avid long-distance runner who enjoys cottage life and mastering his smoker.

Audience: General Grade Level: Senior High Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Ben Sichel (he/him), Teacher and IB Workshop Leader, Citadel High School, HRCE Does the language you speak affect the way you think? What percentage of the world is multilingual? What is the difference between a language and a dialect? Why do people code-switch? What is lost when a language dies? Come hear about a new pilot International Baccalaureate (IB) course "not as a neutral medium for communication but rather as a set of socially embedded practices." Ben Sichel has taught high school Spanish and French as well as history and humanities courses for over 20 years in the HRCE and loves to think, read and talk about the relationship between languages and cultures. He holds an M.Ed. with a focus in intercultural and anti-racist education and leads workshops for IB teachers across North America on a variety of topics.

Audience: General Grade Level: All Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Justin Dubreuil (he/him), Teacher, West Bedford High School, HRCE This workshop focuses on practical, classroom-ready applications of AI by introducing the Chalkie AI platform. Chalkie AI was made by teachers for teachers and is connected to Canadian curriculum outcomes. The goal of this workshop is to demonstrate AI's application in lesson planning and to show how it can meaningfully reduce teacher workload while enhancing instructional quality and differentiation. Justin Dubreuil is a Nova Scotia-based educator who has taught both Canada and the United Kingdom. He teaches secondary courses including English Language Arts and Economics, emphasizing real-world learning, critical thinking, and student engagement. Prior to teaching, he spent 15 years working in the non-profit sector, focusing on youth leadership and outdoor education. He is passionate about experiential learning and the thoughtful integration of technology, including AI, to enhance education. Justin is committed to inclusive, future-focused classrooms that support student success and life beyond school.

Want to get involved with the Nova Scotia Language Teachers' Association? NSLTA? Or, would you just like the opportunity to win a prize? If so, then join us for our 2026 AGM. We will review the minutes from our last AGM, provide financial statements, vote on a budget for the next year, and elect some new executive members. Those in attendance have a chance to win one of five $100 classroom bursaries!

Audience: General Grade Level: Junior/Senior High Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Chris Cocek (he/him), AI Lead- Teaching & Learning, HRCE Discover how Gems and NotebookLM can support literacy instruction, planning, differentiation, and professional learning. This practical session explores how educators can use custom AI assistants and AI-supported research tools to organize resources, generate instructional supports, analyze texts, and enhance reading and writing instruction. Participants will explore classroom-ready examples while discussing responsible and informed AI use that keeps teachers and students at the centre of the learning process. Chris Cocek, PhD, is an educator, university instructor, and educational technology leader with more than 30 years of experience in K–12 education. He currently supports system-wide work in artificial intelligence, digital learning, and teacher professional learning with the Halifax Regional Centre for Education. Chris is passionate about helping educators use technology in thoughtful, inclusive, and practical ways that strengthen teaching, learning, and student agency. He is also a confirmed sucker for a good cat video. And yes, AI did help write this bio!

Audience: Core French & French Immersion Grade Level: Junior/Senior High Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Tara Sears (she/her), Core French and French Immersion Teacher, Hebbville Academy, SSRCE Looking for a high-engagement way to increase oral participation in your French classroom? In this interactive session, Tara Sears will share how Fun Friday / Vendredi amusant has helped build student confidence, strengthen class community, and encourage communication in both Core and Immersion FSL classrooms. Participants will explore a variety of board games, card games, and conversation activities designed to keep students speaking French. This session will include hands-on opportunities to try activities, discuss implementation strategies, and discover simple, affordable games and materials — including several that can be created with just a photocopier and construction paper. Amusez-vous bien! Tara Sears hails from Cape Breton and now calls Nova Scotia’s South Shore home. She has been teaching French Immersion and Core French at the secondary level for over a decade. Passionate about creating engaging and supportive language-learning environments, Tara’s professional interests include oral communication, student participation, and authentic immersion experiences in French. She is a proud Mt. A and St.Fx alumna and has completed several French Immersion professional learning courses. Tara has also served as a mentor to new French teachers and is committed to creating supportive, engaging language-learning environments.

Audience: English as an Additional Language Grade Level: All Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Lori Stafford (she/her), EAL Consultant P-9, Central Office, HRCE This session explores practical AI tools to support all learners, along with EAL learners, while making teacher planning more efficient and responsive. We’ll focus on how to use AI to adapt materials, scaffold language, and provide multiple entry points so all students can access learning. Participants will leave with ready-to-use strategies that can be applied immediately in their classrooms. Lori Stafford is an English as an Additional Language (EAL) Consultant supporting P–9 schools. She holds a Master’s degree in TESL and a Master’s in Curriculum with a focus on Technology Integration, and is currently in the Instructional Leadership Academy with the Department of Education. At the regional level, Lori is on the UDL and AI Lead Teams. Her role involves supporting multilingual learners and the teachers who work with them, with a focus on inclusive, culturally responsive practices. She works alongside educators to build capacity in classrooms and ensure students have equitable access to learning, while developing the language and skills needed to succeed across subject areas.

Audience: General Grade Level: Lower/Upper Elementary Language of Workshop: English, French Presenter: Aren Morris (she/her), Fine Arts Specialist, Halifax Regional Arts Most teachers sense the potential of puppetry in the classroom but can be held back by fear of the unknowns: What about supplies? How do I teach basic techniques? Can early elementary students even write a play? Isn’t it just chaos? Under the belief that anything can be a puppet and we are all storytellers, Aren will lead teachers through a simple puppet construction, basic puppetry techniques, story structures to support student-devised puppet plays and tips for rehearsal and performance. After all, puppetry naturally bridges oral literacy, writing skills, self-expression and audience behaviors, all while bringing a sense of play and engagement into the classroom. Aren Morris is a Halifax-based arts educator and writer. She has been writing, directing, facilitating, and producing student theatre in education for decades and now works with Halifax Regional Arts. She loves finding ways to incorporate the Performing Arts into Curriculum Delivery. Aren’s debut, We Happy Few (2022), is a locally inspired historical fiction novel. She recently hosted “Just My Type”, an improvised typewriter poetry fundraiser for WFNS and is now revising her second novel. Aren also collaborates with AfterWords and Read By the Sea literary festivals, and creates and produces theatre for youth audiences with local artists, dancers, and writers.

Audience: General Grade Level: All Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Ryan Bucci (he/him), 7/8 Social Studies and Health Teacher, Dartmouth South Academy, HRCE You do not need to know how to code to build something your students will actually use. Vibe Coding is the practice of using natural language to create real applications with AI — and it is changing what is possible for classroom teachers. This session explores the basics of getting started, walks through real student-ready apps built and tested in an actual classroom, and shows you what becomes possible when the barrier between your idea and a finished tool disappears. Ryan Bucci brings 20+ years of experience designing and running programs in camp and school settings. A 2018 Governor General's Award for Excellence in Teaching finalist, he is an ambassador for Brisk Teaching and a Magic School AI Pioneer. For the past two school years, Ryan has been actively exploring how to build and integrate AI tools directly into his teaching practice and into the hands of his students through Vibe Coding.

Audience: Core French & French Immersion Grade Level: Upper Elementary, Junior High School, Senior High School Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Dayna Crathorne (she/her), French Immersion and Core 9 Teacher, Millwood High, HRCE This workshop presents (and provides a Google Drive) for activities including digital Wheel of Fortune, Grudge Ball, Baseball, Fly Swatter Matching, and High Risk (betting your team points). The activities are applicable to all language learning classrooms and align with ANL for Core French. Dayna Crathorne is a French Immersion and Core French teacher with 13 years of experience. She holds Masters degrees in both Educational Technology and Indigenous and Place-Based learning. Dayna prides herself on bringing exciting engagement activities into her classes, particularly Core French. She is looking forward to showing colleagues digital tools for les activités de réinvestissement (like a digital claw machine and Spin the Wheel), alongside some low- and no-tech options. Her goal is for everyone to walk away with a brand-new idea!

Audience: General Grade Level: All Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Sandra Logan (she/her), Core French Coach 4-9, HRCE Ever wish you could create the perfect text for your students—at the right level, in the right language, and ready when you need it? This session explores how educators can use a variety of AI tools to generate engaging, levelled, and culturally responsive texts, including storybooks, graphic novels, and presentations. Through real classroom examples, participants will see how AI can support language learning, boost student engagement, and solve common resource challenges—while keeping sound pedagogy and teacher expertise firmly in the driver’s seat. Sandra Logan is the Core French Coach for grades 4-9 at HRCE. With over a decade of experience teaching Core French, she has a deep understanding of the Neuro-linguistic approach to language learning and has seen its results in her students. This approach taps into the brain's natural language processing abilities, making learning a new language an engaging and efficient journey. She holds a Masters in Technology Integration and a keen interest in gamification and game-based learning. Sandra believes that learning French should be engaging, effective, but most importantly FUN!

Audience: General Grade Level: Junior/Senior High Language of Workshop: English, French Presenter: Roy Francis (he/him), Grade 7/8 Social Studies Teacher, Sackville Heights Junior High, HRCE Imagine a classroom where students interact with virtual mentors and receive instant, personalized feedback. This session explores how integrating AI can unleash creativity and prepare students for the future. We will dive into the specific tools my students and I use, discussing the practical benefits and challenges of implementation. Rather than just watching, you’ll get hands-on experience. Using your Chromebook or laptop, you will begin building a custom toolkit ready for immediate use. Bring a list of tasks you’d like to automate or enhance, and prepare to walk away with a powerful new digital teacher! Roy Francis is a veteran educator with the HRCE, currently in his 20th year of teaching. While he currently focuses on Grade 7 and 8 Social Studies, his diverse career includes experience in Core French and Music. Passionate about innovation, Roy constantly integrates new technologies into his classroom to enhance learning. Outside of school, he is an avid long-distance runner who enjoys cottage life and mastering his smoker.

Audience: General Grade Level: Senior High Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Ben Sichel (he/him), Teacher and IB Workshop Leader, Citadel High School, HRCE Does the language you speak affect the way you think? What percentage of the world is multilingual? What is the difference between a language and a dialect? Why do people code-switch? What is lost when a language dies? Come hear about a new pilot International Baccalaureate (IB) course "not as a neutral medium for communication but rather as a set of socially embedded practices." Ben Sichel has taught high school Spanish and French as well as history and humanities courses for over 20 years in the HRCE and loves to think, read and talk about the relationship between languages and cultures. He holds an M.Ed. with a focus in intercultural and anti-racist education and leads workshops for IB teachers across North America on a variety of topics.

Audience: General Grade Level: All Language of Workshop: English, Mi'kmaw Presenter: Karen Beals (she/her), Artisan, Crossroads Beading & Quill Art Learn how Mi'kmaq artist Karen H. Beals, from Glooscap First Nation, uses quills and bark to create art, demonstrating one of the oldest Mi'kmaq art forms. Discover more about this Indigenous artistry by creating your own Quill Insertion framed piece or ornament. All supplies are included. Karen Beals is a Mi’kmaw artist from Glooscap First Nation whose work integrates traditional quillwork, beading, and birchbark art. Her creations include medallions, jewelry, decorative pictures, quilled ornaments, earrings, and framed artworks that beautifully showcase Mi’kmaw heritage. Karen’s work is deeply rooted in her cultural identity, incorporating research on historical Mi’kmaw designs, symbols, and petroglyphs. She takes pride in sharing the knowledge she’s gained through her craft, offering workshops on beading and quill insertion to pass these traditions on to others.

Audience: General Grade Level: All Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Chris Cocek (he/him), AI Lead- Teaching & Learning, HRCE What if literacy teachers could create engaging digital learning experiences without needing coding experience? This hands-on session introduces “vibe coding,” where educators use AI prompting tools to build interactive literacy activities, storytelling experiences, writing supports, and classroom resources. Participants will explore practical classroom examples connected to reading, writing, media literacy, and critical thinking while learning how AI can support creativity, engagement, and student-centered literacy learning. Chris Cocek, PhD, is an educator, university instructor, and educational technology leader with more than 30 years of experience in K–12 education. He currently supports system-wide work in artificial intelligence, digital learning, and teacher professional learning with the Halifax Regional Centre for Education. Chris is passionate about helping educators use technology in thoughtful, inclusive, and practical ways that strengthen teaching, learning, and student agency. He is also a confirmed sucker for a good cat video. And yes, AI did help write this bio!

Audience: Core French & French Immersion Grade Level: Upper Elementary, Junior/Senior High Language of Workshop: French Presenter: Louise Arsenault (she/her), Retired Teacher and French Immersion Substitute Connaissez-vous le phénomène de Manie musicale ? C'est un tournoi de 16 chansons courantes en français qui sauront engager vos élèves. Cet atelier est une introduction au concours où on parlera de ce que c'est la Manie musicale, comment y participer à un niveau de base qui demande très peu de préparation, ainsi que des options pour en faire une très grande partie de ton programme de français, si voulu. An Acadian from New Brunswick, Louise Arsenault has spent her career teaching French Immersion. Most of Louise's teaching has been at the grade 8 French immersion level in Nova Scotia, but she has also taught other grades, French first language and taught for a few years in Louisiana. Louise emphasizes cooperative learning in her classroom.

Audience: English as an Additional Language Grade Level: All Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Lori Stafford (she/her), EAL Consultant P-9, Central Office, HRCE This session explores practical AI tools to support all learners, along with EAL learners, while making teacher planning more efficient and responsive. We’ll focus on how to use AI to adapt materials, scaffold language, and provide multiple entry points so all students can access learning. Participants will leave with ready-to-use strategies that can be applied immediately in their classrooms. Lori Stafford is an English as an Additional Language (EAL) Consultant supporting P–9 schools. She holds a Master’s degree in TESL and a Master’s in Curriculum with a focus on Technology Integration, and is currently in the Instructional Leadership Academy with the Department of Education. At the regional level, Lori is on the UDL and AI Lead Teams. Her role involves supporting multilingual learners and the teachers who work with them, with a focus on inclusive, culturally responsive practices. She works alongside educators to build capacity in classrooms and ensure students have equitable access to learning, while developing the language and skills needed to succeed across subject areas.

Audience: General Grade Level: Lower/Upper Elementary Language of Workshop: English, French Presenter: Aren Morris (she/her), Fine Arts Specialist, Halifax Regional Arts Most teachers sense the potential of puppetry in the classroom but can be held back by fear of the unknowns: What about supplies? How do I teach basic techniques? Can early elementary students even write a play? Isn’t it just chaos? Under the belief that anything can be a puppet and we are all storytellers, Aren will lead teachers through a simple puppet construction, basic puppetry techniques, story structures to support student-devised puppet plays and tips for rehearsal and performance. After all, puppetry naturally bridges oral literacy, writing skills, self-expression and audience behaviors, all while bringing a sense of play and engagement into the classroom. Aren Morris is a Halifax-based arts educator and writer. She has been writing, directing, facilitating, and producing student theatre in education for decades and now works with Halifax Regional Arts. She loves finding ways to incorporate the Performing Arts into Curriculum Delivery. Aren’s debut, We Happy Few (2022), is a locally inspired historical fiction novel. She recently hosted “Just My Type”, an improvised typewriter poetry fundraiser for WFNS and is now revising her second novel. Aren also collaborates with AfterWords and Read By the Sea literary festivals, and creates and produces theatre for youth audiences with local artists, dancers, and writers.

Audience: General Grade Level: Upper Elementary, Junior/Senior High Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Ryan Bucci (he/him), 7/8 Social Studies and Health Teacher, Dartmouth South Academy, HRCE What if your next language unit had multiple pathways built in from day one — not as an afterthought, but by design? This hands-on session walks participants through a real, tested classroom unit built on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and project-based learning. Using a live Google Site as the model, participants will explore how AI tools like Magic School AI, Brisk Teaching, and Google AI make it possible to build differentiated, culturally responsive units faster than ever. Leave with a UDL unit template and a project-based assignments your students can start next week. Ryan Bucci brings 20+ years of experience designing and running programs in camp and school settings. A 2018 Governor General's Award for Excellence in Teaching finalist, he is an ambassador for Brisk Teaching and a Magic School AI Pioneer. For the past two school years, Ryan has been actively exploring how to build and integrate AI tools directly into his teaching practice and into the hands of his students through Vibe Coding.

Audience: English as an Additional Language Grade Level: Junior/Senior High Language of Workshop: English Presenters: Sandra Borges (she/her), Team Lead/EAL Instructor, Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) & Saba Mogharebi (she/her), EAL Instructor, ISANS Classrooms today are home to learners with diverse linguistic backgrounds, and intentional use of AI can open new possibilities for inclusive teaching. This hands-on workshop explores how AI tools, guided by Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and translanguaging principles, can transform diversity into a powerful asset for everyone in the room. Participants will leave with practical strategies to differentiate instruction, scaffold content, and create materials that honour learners' full identities using tools such as Mizou and Curipod. While AI can enhance engagement and efficiency, teachers remain the thoughtful architects of meaningful, culturally sustaining classrooms. No tech expertise needed, just an openness to explore! Sandra Borges is a passionate English Language Teacher with over 20 years of experience in ELT, having taught diverse learners in Canada, Brazil, and China. She is committed to inclusive spaces where linguistic diversity, learner agency, and intercultural communication are celebrated as strengths. She currently serves as Team Lead and EAL Instructor at the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) and teaches in the EAP Program at Dalhousie University. Saba is an EAL and EAP instructor with over 15 years of experience in the field. She currently works as an EAL Instructor at ISANS and teaches English for Academic Purposes at the Language Centre of Dalhousie University. Her work is grounded in humanizing learning, promoting meaningful learner engagement, and creating inclusive classrooms where diversity is valued and no learner feels excluded.

Audience: General Grade Level: Upper Elementary, Junior/Senior High Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Kenneth MacKenzie (he/him), Vice President, Beinn Mhàbu In an age of rapidly expanding AI tools, language teachers are being asked to do more than ever—often with limited time and resources. This workshop explores why culture, identity, and belonging are central to effective language learning, not optional add-ons. Drawing on insights from minority and heritage language education, participants will examine practical, classroom-ready strategies for teaching idioms, humor, storytelling, and cultural norms across languages. The session also offers a clear framework for using AI in ways that support language learning without flattening cultural meaning or student voice Kenneth MacKenzie is Vice-President & Director of Beinn Mhàbu, a community-based post-secondary campus in Mabou, Nova Scotia focused on language, culture, and place-based education. He is an experienced language educator with a background in Gaelic and second-language instruction, and works at the intersection of culturally grounded pedagogy, community learning, and educational innovation. His work explores how culture, identity, and belonging support meaningful language learning, and how emerging tools such as AI can be used thoughtfully without flattening linguistic or cultural meaning.

Audience: English as an Additional Language Grade Level: Junior High School, Senior High School Language of Workshop: English Presenter: Allison Stewart (she/her), English as an Additional Language, Citadel High School, HRCE Many English language learners sound fluent in the hallways, but struggle with the "language of school". While EAL students often acquire social language (BICS) naturally, they require targeted support to master academic registers (CALP). Morphological awareness, an important component of skilled reading, can help to bridge this gap. This workshop will discuss UFLI’s new Word Origins program for teaching orthography, morphology, and syntax. Designed for upper elementary Tier 1 instruction, Word Origins is also used as a Tier 2 and 3 intervention at the secondary level. Attendees will learn how morphological awareness empowers students to decode multisyllabic words independently, building the linguistic foundation necessary for complex, content-area learning–no translator required! Allison Stewart has dedicated her career to supporting newcomers both in the UK and here in Halifax in various roles: as a secondary English Language Arts teacher, as a Resource teacher, and as an English as an Additional Language teacher. Allison’s expertise is backed by three Master of Education degrees: in Literacy Education, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, and Leadership in Inclusive Education. She currently works for HRCE as a site-based English as an Additional Language specialist teacher at Citadel High School in Halifax.

Audience: French Immersion Grade Level: Upper Elementary, Junior High Language of Workshop: English, French Presenter: Thérèse Boudreau MacKinnon (she/her), Grade 9 Immersion FLA, Citoyenete, Ellenvale Junior High, HRCE Dans cet atelier, je vais partager l'unité que j'ai créée pour aider les élèves à briser leurs fossiles de prononciation et de les encourager à parler en classe. Je vais partager le diaporama de phonèmes et graphèmes français que j'utilise pour explorer comment décoder et prononcer les nouveaux mots. De plus, je vais montrer comment j'enseigne aux élèves d'utiliser la technologie pour modeler la bonne prononciation avant de présenter une pièce de théâtre. Pour conclure, on va jouer un jeu que j'ai créé avec Chat GPT qui donne aux élèves l'occasion de décoder et lire des questions sans souci de leur habilité de parler, ni leur connaissance arrière. Thérèse Boudreau MacKinnon has been teaching English or French as a second language in Canada since 1996. She has worked with Federal bilingual programs at Dalhousie and in rural Québec and has been teaching French Immersion in the Halifax area since 2000. Recently, her interests have turned to supporting students' understanding of spoken French using the neurolinguistic approach and Science of Reading techniques. She currently teaches late French immersion at Ellenvale Junior High. Thérèse lives in Dartmouth with her husband, daughter, and son.

Audience: General Grade Level: All Language of Workshop: English, Mi'kmaw Presenter: Karen Beals (she/her), Artisan, Crossroads Beading & Quill Art Learn how Mi'kmaq artist Karen H. Beals, from Glooscap First Nation, uses quills and bark to create art, demonstrating one of the oldest Mi'kmaq art forms. Discover more about this Indigenous artistry by creating your own Quill Insertion framed piece or ornament. All supplies are included. Karen Beals is a Mi’kmaw artist from Glooscap First Nation whose work integrates traditional quillwork, beading, and birchbark art. Her creations include medallions, jewelry, decorative pictures, quilled ornaments, earrings, and framed artworks that beautifully showcase Mi’kmaw heritage. Karen’s work is deeply rooted in her cultural identity, incorporating research on historical Mi’kmaw designs, symbols, and petroglyphs. She takes pride in sharing the knowledge she’s gained through her craft, offering workshops on beading and quill insertion to pass these traditions on to others.