Conference Contact
Evan Critchley
 
Conference Email
atecconference@nstu.ca

 

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Association of Teachers of Exceptional Children

 Teaching the Whole Child 

Provincial Conference – Friday October 25, 2024

 
Conference Hotel room rates/ deadline: Future Inns, 30 Fairfax Drive, Halifax, NS, B3S 1P1 902.443.4333
Holding a block of rooms for ATEC attendees, for Thursday October 24, 2024 at the NSTU rate of $115 + tax. Rate includes parking and open wifi, breakfast can be added for $15 per person. Deadline to book is October 3, 2024. Mention that you are attending ATEC when booking to receive this rate.

Accuracy of conference information cannot be guaranteed. In the event of a discrepancy, precedent should be given to the appropriate Conference Registration page.

  

Registration closed

 Registration Limit: 1,100 
No refunds after Friday October 11, 2024

 Registration Information
Conference Fee (NSTU Members) 
$100.00
Substitutes 
$80.00
Pre-Service Teachers 
$60.00
Retired Members 
$80.00
Other Affiliates 
$100.00
As per NSTU Operational Procedure 14 E. IV.: receipts of payment and attendance will not be distributed until the conference has concluded.

 Location

Scotiabank Theatre Halifax
190 Chain Lake Drive | Halifax, NS

 Conference Schedule

 
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
 Session A
 
10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
 Break 
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
 Session B
 
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
 Lunch 
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
 Session C 
2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
 Annual General Meeting (AGM)

 Agenda

Friday October 25, 2024 

 
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 285
Auditorium: 9

Katie Novak
  A1  • The Intersection of UDL & SEL
Education is about so much more than being "book smart." To succeed in the 21st century, students must know how to communicate, collaborate, problem solve, and think critically. To help learners develop these skills, we must nurture the whole child academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally. In this keynote, we will explore the transformative harmony of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL), creating a holistic approach that empowers every learner.
Katie Novak, Ed.D., is an internationally renowned education consultant, author, graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, and a former Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Massachusetts. With 20 years of experience in teaching and administration, an earned doctorate in curriculum and teaching, and fourteen published books, Katie designs and presents workshops both nationally and internationally focusing on the implementation of inclusive practices, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and universally designed leadership. Novak's work has impacted educators worldwide as her contributions and collaborations have built upon the foundation for an educational framework that is critical for student success. Dr. Novak is the author of the best-selling books, UDL Now! A Teacher's Guide to Applying Universal Design for Learning in Today's Classrooms, Innovate Inside the Box, with George Couros, Equity by Design, with Mirko Chardin, and The Shift to Student-Led with Catlin Tucker.
 
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 200
Auditorium: 7

Sickboy Podcast
  A2  • Heartfelt Connections: Mastering Empathy and Communication in Education

Join the charismatic hosts of the Sickboy Podcast for a transformative session on empathetic engagement and effective communication in education. This session blends personal experiences, expert insights, and interactive learning to provide a comprehensive understanding of empathy in the classroom.

Event Highlights:

• Personal Narratives: Hosts share their personal stories, setting an authentic tone for the discussion.

• Expert Insights: Learn from renowned experts like Dr. Jody Carrington and Dr. Gabor Mate, offering evidence-based strategies for empathetic communication.

• Empathy Corner: Engage in live or pre-submitted stories from educators, fostering community and mutual understanding.

• Communication Strategies: Discover tailored verbal and non-verbal techniques for diverse student needs.

• Interactive Learning: Participate in reflective exercises and group discussions for dynamic engagement.

• Practical Takeaways: Leave with actionable insights and strategies to create a more inclusive learning environment.

Enhance your empathetic communication skills and make every student connection count.
North America's Revolutionary Voice in Health and Wellness The trio who make up Sickboy – Jeremie Saunders, Taylor Macgillivary and Brian Stever – are hilarious, ridiculously insightful and determined to break down the stigmas associated with illness and disease. Sickboy began with the realization that when faced with difficult situations pertaining to health, people tighten up. They tend to get awkward and simply don't know what to say. Taking the lead from Jeremie's life long battle with Cystic Fibrosis, the trio helps people understand that sometimes the best way to deal with illness, disease and life is merely laughter. Through the therapy of laughter, we can begin to understand whether sick or healthy, we're all human, and we're all dying. So let's talk about it. The podcast was born in a public library recording room. Eventually, it moved into a recording studio, which was funded by a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign. Within a few weeks, Sickboy was among the top-rated podcasts in the country. Five years later, they are a CBC Podcast, using their voices to start conversations and create change in healthcare systems and homes around the world. Their talks are engaging, forward-thinking and hilarious. Let them inspire your audience and blow the conversation wide open today! 
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 90
Auditorium: 11

Jennifer Halliday BSc. CO(c)
  A3  • A Parent’s Perspective - Everything you didn’t ask, but I’m telling you anyway
What parents of special education students would like their teachers to know.
Jennifer Halliday - Mom, SEPAC Chair, Service Dog Handler. Jen has navigated the world of special needs parenting and advocating for the past decade and a half. Her efforts revolve around the desire to make the world a better place for her son and people like him. Her son, Ciaran, lives with Autism and has high support needs. Jen describes herself as a "snowplow parent." This means trying to clear the way for Ciaran, so he has a better chance to succeed, but without feeling mom right there over his shoulder. Jen also built her town’s SEPAC group from near demise and it has flourished into an inspiring community where parents connect and share success and frustrations. A maker of mistakes and a learner by doing, Jen has some things to share that she and other parents would like educators like you to know. A native of Cape Breton, currently living in Massachusetts, Jen is eager to give you a glimpse of her life as a special needs parent - warts and all... 
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 100
Auditorium: 12

Tanya Estwick
  A4  • Understanding Culturally Responsive Pedagogy *Poetic Approach* “We are All educators as we are All students.” 1Onyx

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy is a style of teaching both in Canada and the United States, that promotes diverse, authentic learning environments for students and staff. It is, at its heart, grounded in equity. Through poetic verse, interactive discussions and activities, this unique workshop is a learning & reflecting space for educators who want to reconsider their own cultural pedagogy. Throughout the session, an educational overview with 22 concrete tips for how to make your school environment culturally and linguistically responsive, self reflection, take-a-way, and an educator well-being check-in, will be conversed about and shared. This workshop will provide perspectives and strategies to enable people to connect learning to students' lived experiences; ensuring ways educators can be culturally and linguistically responsive for all students.

Educators will:

• Gain a better understanding of what it is to be responsive, both culturally and linguistically

• Recognize and redress implicit biases

• Learn the importance of building relationships with students, and how to create a school environment that is culturally responsive

• Reflect on the current pedagogical approach with an equitable lens

• See how being culturally and linguistically responsive in teaching increases student success
Tanya Estwick is a Poet and works as a Consultant dealing with Equity and Race Relations Cross-Cultural Human Rights issues for The Cape Breton Victoria Regional Centre for Education. She has over twenty-two years of extensive classroom experience teaching multiple grade levels and subjects while coordinating a Cultural Academic Enrichment program for the Black Educators Association. Tanya was nationally trained to provide services in the Psychology and Education department within a Federal Prison; and she worked as an educator in Community and University Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, (S.T.E.M.) and Literacy Enrichment programs. She was the Keynote speaker for TAPHE Provincial Conference/Cultural Connections: Culturally Responsive Physical & Health Education in Unama’ki, Cape Breton. She aided in the anti-racist movement in Social Work, Child Protection, and the Social Services profession. Through the Nova Scotia's Teachers Union, Tanya co-created and co-facilitated workshops with respect to "Creating a sense of safety and acceptance in today's diverse classroom." Tanya studied in Universities across Canada and in the United States. A community person by choice & heart; a proud mother and grandmother; she is the author of a bestseller book, "The System Almost H.A.D. Me! Understanding Culturally Responsive Pedagogy... For Educators by an Educator." 
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 100
Auditorium: 15

Dr. Laura Leslie
  A5  • Trauma-Informed Pedagogy: A Necessary Shift in Education |  repeat session from ATEC-2023 
The term "Trauma-Informed" is becoming a more commonly used term in educational settings, but what does it mean to be "trauma-informed" for today's educators? This session will include a brief overview of a contemporary conceptualization of trauma, and how it relates to today's classrooms and schools. Dr. Leslie will also overview some strategies for staff in becoming trauma-informed. This general introduction to trauma-informed pedagogy will emphasize the importance of this lens being necessary for more equitable schooling for all.
After 17 years in the classroom as a lower elementary teacher, Dr. Laura Leslie is currently practicing as a school counsellor in the HRCE. Additionally, she works as a part-time instructor in the School of Education at Acadia University. She holds a PhD in educational studies, with a focus on Trauma-informed education and Trauma-informed schools. Dr. Leslie’s areas of research and interest are in trauma-informed pedagogy, crisis response and grief, and social justice education. She lives in Timberlea, Nova Scotia with her husband and two children.
 
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 100
Auditorium: 17

Shelley McLean, M.Ed., BCBA
  A6  • Building a Toolbox of Classroom Behaviour Strategies

Building a Toolbox of Classroom Behaviour Strategies - Do you ever feel like you spend the majority of your day in the classroom putting out fires? In the worst-case scenario, you may have a hard time getting to the lesson you have planned because you are spending most of your time addressing behaviour that interferes with the learning environment in the classroom. In the best-case scenario, you might just be looking for a few strategies to help your classroom run more effectively and efficiently. In either case, this presentation has something for you. This presentation will focus on research-supported Tier 1 strategies that you can incorporate into your daily classroom routines to help your classroom operate more smoothly and support positive student behaviour and learning.Learning Objectives:

At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Describe how to use the M-A-B-Cs of behaviour to promote and support positive classroom behaviour;

• Name and describe at least 5 strategies for preventing interfering behaviour and prompting positive behaviour;

• Use a self-assessment rubric to identify specific classroom management strategies that may support positive changes in student behaviour;

• Name and describe 2 strategies for responding to interfering behaviour in ways that promote positive behaviour change.
Shelley is APSEA’s Coordinator for Autism in Education and Collaborative Learning & Development. Before joining APSEA, she worked in New Brunswick’s Anglophone West School District as a classroom teacher, guidance counselor, school administrator, and district ASD consultant, and with the NB Department of Education and Early Childhood Development as provincial Learning Specialist for ASD and Complex Cases. Shelley has served as part-time instructor for UNB’s (Fredericton) College of Extended Learning Autism Intervention Training Program and for Western University’s Master of Professional Education in Applied Behaviour Analysis program. She also provides thesis supervision for students in the Bachelor of Applied Behaviour Analysis program at George Brown College. Shelley holds bachelor’s degrees in Arts and Education, and a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology. She completed a Graduate Academic Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis from the University of North Texas in 2009, a certificate in Organizational Behaviour Management from the Florida Institute of Technology in 2018, and has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2010.
 
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 100
Auditorium: 17

Barb Welsford
  A7  • Diversity, UDL and Assistive Technology Tyler’s Journey!
This presentation walks you through Tyler’s Journey through school as a learner who relied on (and continues to rely on) Assistive Technology, Accessible Education Materials and team members who held high expectations, presumed potential and were committed at every level to ensure Tyler had access to information and was able to demonstrate his knowledge through alternate and flexible means. Team members throughout K-12 and NSCC with Universal Design for Learning mindsets were critical to Tyler’s success then and now!
Barbara Welsford has been in the field of Assistive Technology for over 30 years. She is the AT Specialist for SSRCE, a certified AT Professional from RESNA in the U.S. and a certified UDL Specialist. Barbara works with students, teachers, administrators and paraprofessional determining appropriate use and application of Tier 3 Assistive Technology and also use and application of Tier 1 and Tier 2 accessible and assistive technology supports. Barbara also designs and teaches graduate courses in Assistive Technology for Acadia University and MSVU. She has been a member of the Education Standard Development team under the Accessibility Act of NS and was Coordinator of the NS Joint RCE/CSAP Accessibility Plan. She sits on the AT/UDL Lead Team for Nova Scotia and is the Accessibility Lead for SSRCE in the province. 
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 75
Auditorium: 4

Sandra Murray
  A8  • Interpersonal Skills & Boundary Setting for Today's World
In this session, various leadership strategies will be discussed such as: 1) How to say NO; 2) How to pause before, during, and after setting a boundary, and what to do within that pause; 3) What questions to ask to get to the bottom of a conversation to be clear about what is being said; and 4) Identify your core beliefs that will impact boundary setting.
With a Bachelor of Education, a Career Development diploma, and a Masters in Counseling Psychology, Sandra brings over a decade of experience as a secondary educator and counselor at the Nova Scotia Teachers Union. Her commitment to empowering educators has led Sandra to specialize in counseling teachers, facilitating workshops on topics such as setting boundaries, self-compassion, transitioning into retirement, difficult conversations, and leadership skills. Sandra is also the proud author of "How to Create a Rural Literacy Center Manual," a testament to her dedication to educational advancement. In her workshops, Sandra’s primary objective is to equip participants with practical strategies while fostering a sense of validation, connection, and understanding. Through a humanistic approach, Sandra aims to help teachers nurture their passion while navigating challenges. Sandra’s goal is to support educators in prioritizing their well-being, enabling them to continue their vital work with renewed energy.
 
10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
 Break 
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Capacity: 285
Auditorium: 9

Katie Novak
  B1  • The Intersection of UDL & SEL
Education is about so much more than being "book smart." To succeed in the 21st century, students must know how to communicate, collaborate, problem solve, and think critically. To help learners develop these skills, we must nurture the whole child academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally. In this keynote, we will explore the transformative harmony of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL), creating a holistic approach that empowers every learner.
Katie Novak, Ed.D., is an internationally renowned education consultant, author, graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, and a former Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Massachusetts. With 20 years of experience in teaching and administration, an earned doctorate in curriculum and teaching, and fourteen published books, Katie designs and presents workshops both nationally and internationally focusing on the implementation of inclusive practices, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and universally designed leadership. Novak's work has impacted educators worldwide as her contributions and collaborations have built upon the foundation for an educational framework that is critical for student success. Dr. Novak is the author of the best-selling books, UDL Now! A Teacher's Guide to Applying Universal Design for Learning in Today's Classrooms, Innovate Inside the Box, with George Couros, Equity by Design, with Mirko Chardin, and The Shift to Student-Led with Catlin Tucker.
 
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Capacity: 200
Auditorium: 7

Sickboy Podcast
  B2  • Heartfelt Connections: Mastering Empathy and Communication in Education

Join the charismatic hosts of the Sickboy Podcast for a transformative session on empathetic engagement and effective communication in education. This session blends personal experiences, expert insights, and interactive learning to provide a comprehensive understanding of empathy in the classroom.

Event Highlights:

• Personal Narratives: Hosts share their personal stories, setting an authentic tone for the discussion.

• Expert Insights: Learn from renowned experts like Dr. Jody Carrington and Dr. Gabor Mate, offering evidence-based strategies for empathetic communication.

• Empathy Corner: Engage in live or pre-submitted stories from educators, fostering community and mutual understanding.

• Communication Strategies: Discover tailored verbal and non-verbal techniques for diverse student needs.

• Interactive Learning: Participate in reflective exercises and group discussions for dynamic engagement.

• Practical Takeaways: Leave with actionable insights and strategies to create a more inclusive learning environment.

Enhance your empathetic communication skills and make every student connection count.
North America's Revolutionary Voice in Health and Wellness The trio who make up Sickboy – Jeremie Saunders, Taylor Macgillivary and Brian Stever – are hilarious, ridiculously insightful and determined to break down the stigmas associated with illness and disease. Sickboy began with the realization that when faced with difficult situations pertaining to health, people tighten up. They tend to get awkward and simply don't know what to say. Taking the lead from Jeremie's life long battle with Cystic Fibrosis, the trio helps people understand that sometimes the best way to deal with illness, disease and life is merely laughter. Through the therapy of laughter, we can begin to understand whether sick or healthy, we're all human, and we're all dying. So let's talk about it. The podcast was born in a public library recording room. Eventually, it moved into a recording studio, which was funded by a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign. Within a few weeks, Sickboy was among the top-rated podcasts in the country. Five years later, they are a CBC Podcast, using their voices to start conversations and create change in healthcare systems and homes around the world. Their talks are engaging, forward-thinking and hilarious. Let them inspire your audience and blow the conversation wide open today! 
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Capacity: 90
Auditorium: 11

Jennifer Halliday BSc. CO(c)
  B3  • A Parent’s Perspective - Everything you didn’t ask, but I’m telling you anyway
What parents of special education students would like their teachers to know.
Jennifer Halliday - Mom, SEPAC Chair, Service Dog Handler. Jen has navigated the world of special needs parenting and advocating for the past decade and a half. Her efforts revolve around the desire to make the world a better place for her son and people like him. Her son, Ciaran, lives with Autism and has high support needs. Jen describes herself as a "snowplow parent." This means trying to clear the way for Ciaran, so he has a better chance to succeed, but without feeling mom right there over his shoulder. Jen also built her town’s SEPAC group from near demise and it has flourished into an inspiring community where parents connect and share success and frustrations. A maker of mistakes and a learner by doing, Jen has some things to share that she and other parents would like educators like you to know. A native of Cape Breton, currently living in Massachusetts, Jen is eager to give you a glimpse of her life as a special needs parent - warts and all... 
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Capacity: 100
Auditorium: 12

Tanya Estwick
  B4  • Understanding Culturally Responsive Pedagogy *Poetic Approach* “We are All educators as we are All students.” 1Onyx

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy is a style of teaching both in Canada and the United States, that promotes diverse, authentic learning environments for students and staff. It is, at its heart, grounded in equity. Through poetic verse, interactive discussions and activities, this unique workshop is a learning & reflecting space for educators who want to reconsider their own cultural pedagogy. Throughout the session, an educational overview with 22 concrete tips for how to make your school environment culturally and linguistically responsive, self reflection, take-a-way, and an educator well-being check-in, will be conversed about and shared. This workshop will provide perspectives and strategies to enable people to connect learning to students' lived experiences; ensuring ways educators can be culturally and linguistically responsive for all students.

Educators will:

• Gain a better understanding of what it is to be responsive, both culturally and linguistically

• Recognize and redress implicit biases

• Learn the importance of building relationships with students, and how to create a school environment that is culturally responsive

• Reflect on the current pedagogical approach with an equitable lens

• See how being culturally and linguistically responsive in teaching increases student success
Tanya Estwick is a Poet and works as a Consultant dealing with Equity and Race Relations Cross-Cultural Human Rights issues for The Cape Breton Victoria Regional Centre for Education. She has over twenty-two years of extensive classroom experience teaching multiple grade levels and subjects while coordinating a Cultural Academic Enrichment program for the Black Educators Association. Tanya was nationally trained to provide services in the Psychology and Education department within a Federal Prison; and she worked as an educator in Community and University Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, (S.T.E.M.) and Literacy Enrichment programs. She was the Keynote speaker for TAPHE Provincial Conference/Cultural Connections: Culturally Responsive Physical & Health Education in Unama’ki, Cape Breton. She aided in the anti-racist movement in Social Work, Child Protection, and the Social Services profession. Through the Nova Scotia's Teachers Union, Tanya co-created and co-facilitated workshops with respect to "Creating a sense of safety and acceptance in today's diverse classroom." Tanya studied in Universities across Canada and in the United States. A community person by choice & heart; a proud mother and grandmother; she is the author of a bestseller book, "The System Almost H.A.D. Me! Understanding Culturally Responsive Pedagogy... For Educators by an Educator." 
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Capacity: 100
Auditorium: 15

Dr. Laura Leslie
  B5  • Trauma-Informed Pedagogy: A Necessary Shift in Education |  repeat session from ATEC-2023 
The term "Trauma-Informed" is becoming a more commonly used term in educational settings, but what does it mean to be "trauma-informed" for today's educators? This session will include a brief overview of a contemporary conceptualization of trauma, and how it relates to today's classrooms and schools. Dr. Leslie will also overview some strategies for staff in becoming trauma-informed. This general introduction to trauma-informed pedagogy will emphasize the importance of this lens being necessary for more equitable schooling for all.
After 17 years in the classroom as a lower elementary teacher, Dr. Laura Leslie is currently practicing as a school counsellor in the HRCE. Additionally, she works as a part-time instructor in the School of Education at Acadia University. She holds a PhD in educational studies, with a focus on Trauma-informed education and Trauma-informed schools. Dr. Leslie’s areas of research and interest are in trauma-informed pedagogy, crisis response and grief, and social justice education. She lives in Timberlea, Nova Scotia with her husband and two children.
 
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Capacity: 100
Auditorium: 17

Shelley McLean, M.Ed., BCBA
  B6  • Building a Toolbox of Classroom Behaviour Strategies

Building a Toolbox of Classroom Behaviour Strategies - Do you ever feel like you spend the majority of your day in the classroom putting out fires? In the worst-case scenario, you may have a hard time getting to the lesson you have planned because you are spending most of your time addressing behaviour that interferes with the learning environment in the classroom. In the best-case scenario, you might just be looking for a few strategies to help your classroom run more effectively and efficiently. In either case, this presentation has something for you. This presentation will focus on research-supported Tier 1 strategies that you can incorporate into your daily classroom routines to help your classroom operate more smoothly and support positive student behaviour and learning.Learning Objectives:

At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Describe how to use the M-A-B-Cs of behaviour to promote and support positive classroom behaviour;

• Name and describe at least 5 strategies for preventing interfering behaviour and prompting positive behaviour;

• Use a self-assessment rubric to identify specific classroom management strategies that may support positive changes in student behaviour;

• Name and describe 2 strategies for responding to interfering behaviour in ways that promote positive behaviour change.
Shelley is APSEA’s Coordinator for Autism in Education and Collaborative Learning & Development. Before joining APSEA, she worked in New Brunswick’s Anglophone West School District as a classroom teacher, guidance counselor, school administrator, and district ASD consultant, and with the NB Department of Education and Early Childhood Development as provincial Learning Specialist for ASD and Complex Cases. Shelley has served as part-time instructor for UNB’s (Fredericton) College of Extended Learning Autism Intervention Training Program and for Western University’s Master of Professional Education in Applied Behaviour Analysis program. She also provides thesis supervision for students in the Bachelor of Applied Behaviour Analysis program at George Brown College. Shelley holds bachelor’s degrees in Arts and Education, and a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology. She completed a Graduate Academic Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis from the University of North Texas in 2009, a certificate in Organizational Behaviour Management from the Florida Institute of Technology in 2018, and has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2010.
 
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Capacity: 150
Auditorium: 13

Barb Welsford
  B7  • Creating Accessible and Successful Learning Environments
Through presentation, interactive polls, case studies, videos and brief discussions we will describe how Universal Design for Learning is the foundation for MTSS (Multi-Tier System of Supports).
Barbara Welsford has been in the field of Assistive Technology for over 30 years. She is the AT Specialist for SSRCE, a certified AT Professional from RESNA in the U.S. and a certified UDL Specialist. Barbara works with students, teachers, administrators and paraprofessional determining appropriate use and application of Tier 3 Assistive Technology and also use and application of Tier 1 and Tier 2 accessible and assistive technology supports. Barbara also designs and teaches graduate courses in Assistive Technology for Acadia University and MSVU. She has been a member of the Education Standard Development team under the Accessibility Act of NS and was Coordinator of the NS Joint RCE/CSAP Accessibility Plan. She sits on the AT/UDL Lead Team for Nova Scotia and is the Accessibility Lead for SSRCE in the province. 
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Auditorium: 4
Capacity: 75

Sandra Murray
  B8  • Interpersonal Skills & Boundary Setting for Today's World
In this session, various leadership strategies will be discussed such as: 1) How to say NO; 2) How to pause before, during, and after setting a boundary, and what to do within that pause; 3) What questions to ask to get to the bottom of a conversation to be clear about what is being said; and 4) Identify your core beliefs that will impact boundary setting.
With a Bachelor of Education, a Career Development diploma, and a Masters in Counseling Psychology, Sandra brings over a decade of experience as a secondary educator and counselor at the Nova Scotia Teachers Union. Her commitment to empowering educators has led Sandra to specialize in counseling teachers, facilitating workshops on topics such as setting boundaries, self-compassion, transitioning into retirement, difficult conversations, and leadership skills. Sandra is also the proud author of "How to Create a Rural Literacy Center Manual," a testament to her dedication to educational advancement. In her workshops, Sandra’s primary objective is to equip participants with practical strategies while fostering a sense of validation, connection, and understanding. Through a humanistic approach, Sandra aims to help teachers nurture their passion while navigating challenges. Sandra’s goal is to support educators in prioritizing their well-being, enabling them to continue their vital work with renewed energy.
 
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
 Lunch 
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Auditorium: 9
Capacity: 285

Katie Novak
  C1  • The Intersection of UDL & SEL
Education is about so much more than being "book smart." To succeed in the 21st century, students must know how to communicate, collaborate, problem solve, and think critically. To help learners develop these skills, we must nurture the whole child academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally. In this keynote, we will explore the transformative harmony of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL), creating a holistic approach that empowers every learner.
Katie Novak, Ed.D., is an internationally renowned education consultant, author, graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, and a former Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Massachusetts. With 20 years of experience in teaching and administration, an earned doctorate in curriculum and teaching, and fourteen published books, Katie designs and presents workshops both nationally and internationally focusing on the implementation of inclusive practices, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and universally designed leadership. Novak's work has impacted educators worldwide as her contributions and collaborations have built upon the foundation for an educational framework that is critical for student success. Dr. Novak is the author of the best-selling books, UDL Now! A Teacher's Guide to Applying Universal Design for Learning in Today's Classrooms, Innovate Inside the Box, with George Couros, Equity by Design, with Mirko Chardin, and The Shift to Student-Led with Catlin Tucker.
 
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Auditorium: 7
Capacity: 200

Sickboy Podcast
  C2  • Heartfelt Connections: Mastering Empathy and Communication in Education

Join the charismatic hosts of the Sickboy Podcast for a transformative session on empathetic engagement and effective communication in education. This session blends personal experiences, expert insights, and interactive learning to provide a comprehensive understanding of empathy in the classroom.

Event Highlights:

• Personal Narratives: Hosts share their personal stories, setting an authentic tone for the discussion.

• Expert Insights: Learn from renowned experts like Dr. Jody Carrington and Dr. Gabor Mate, offering evidence-based strategies for empathetic communication.

• Empathy Corner: Engage in live or pre-submitted stories from educators, fostering community and mutual understanding.

• Communication Strategies: Discover tailored verbal and non-verbal techniques for diverse student needs.

• Interactive Learning: Participate in reflective exercises and group discussions for dynamic engagement.

• Practical Takeaways: Leave with actionable insights and strategies to create a more inclusive learning environment.

Enhance your empathetic communication skills and make every student connection count.
North America's Revolutionary Voice in Health and Wellness The trio who make up Sickboy – Jeremie Saunders, Taylor Macgillivary and Brian Stever – are hilarious, ridiculously insightful and determined to break down the stigmas associated with illness and disease. Sickboy began with the realization that when faced with difficult situations pertaining to health, people tighten up. They tend to get awkward and simply don't know what to say. Taking the lead from Jeremie's life long battle with Cystic Fibrosis, the trio helps people understand that sometimes the best way to deal with illness, disease and life is merely laughter. Through the therapy of laughter, we can begin to understand whether sick or healthy, we're all human, and we're all dying. So let's talk about it. The podcast was born in a public library recording room. Eventually, it moved into a recording studio, which was funded by a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign. Within a few weeks, Sickboy was among the top-rated podcasts in the country. Five years later, they are a CBC Podcast, using their voices to start conversations and create change in healthcare systems and homes around the world. Their talks are engaging, forward-thinking and hilarious. Let them inspire your audience and blow the conversation wide open today! 
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Auditorium: 11
Capacity: 90

Jennifer Halliday BSc. CO(c)
  C3  • A Parent’s Perspective - Everything you didn’t ask, but I’m telling you anyway
What parents of special education students would like their teachers to know.
Jennifer Halliday - Mom, SEPAC Chair, Service Dog Handler. Jen has navigated the world of special needs parenting and advocating for the past decade and a half. Her efforts revolve around the desire to make the world a better place for her son and people like him. Her son, Ciaran, lives with Autism and has high support needs. Jen describes herself as a "snowplow parent." This means trying to clear the way for Ciaran, so he has a better chance to succeed, but without feeling mom right there over his shoulder. Jen also built her town’s SEPAC group from near demise and it has flourished into an inspiring community where parents connect and share success and frustrations. A maker of mistakes and a learner by doing, Jen has some things to share that she and other parents would like educators like you to know. A native of Cape Breton, currently living in Massachusetts, Jen is eager to give you a glimpse of her life as a special needs parent - warts and all... 
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Auditorium: 12
Capacity: 100

Tanya Estwick
  C4  • Understanding Culturally Responsive Pedagogy *Poetic Approach* “We are All educators as we are All students.” 1Onyx

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy is a style of teaching both in Canada and the United States, that promotes diverse, authentic learning environments for students and staff. It is, at its heart, grounded in equity. Through poetic verse, interactive discussions and activities, this unique workshop is a learning & reflecting space for educators who want to reconsider their own cultural pedagogy. Throughout the session, an educational overview with 22 concrete tips for how to make your school environment culturally and linguistically responsive, self reflection, take-a-way, and an educator well-being check-in, will be conversed about and shared. This workshop will provide perspectives and strategies to enable people to connect learning to students' lived experiences; ensuring ways educators can be culturally and linguistically responsive for all students.

Educators will:

• Gain a better understanding of what it is to be responsive, both culturally and linguistically

• Recognize and redress implicit biases

• Learn the importance of building relationships with students, and how to create a school environment that is culturally responsive

• Reflect on the current pedagogical approach with an equitable lens

• See how being culturally and linguistically responsive in teaching increases student success
Tanya Estwick is a Poet and works as a Consultant dealing with Equity and Race Relations Cross-Cultural Human Rights issues for The Cape Breton Victoria Regional Centre for Education. She has over twenty-two years of extensive classroom experience teaching multiple grade levels and subjects while coordinating a Cultural Academic Enrichment program for the Black Educators Association. Tanya was nationally trained to provide services in the Psychology and Education department within a Federal Prison; and she worked as an educator in Community and University Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, (S.T.E.M.) and Literacy Enrichment programs. She was the Keynote speaker for TAPHE Provincial Conference/Cultural Connections: Culturally Responsive Physical & Health Education in Unama’ki, Cape Breton. She aided in the anti-racist movement in Social Work, Child Protection, and the Social Services profession. Through the Nova Scotia's Teachers Union, Tanya co-created and co-facilitated workshops with respect to "Creating a sense of safety and acceptance in today's diverse classroom." Tanya studied in Universities across Canada and in the United States. A community person by choice & heart; a proud mother and grandmother; she is the author of a bestseller book, "The System Almost H.A.D. Me! Understanding Culturally Responsive Pedagogy... For Educators by an Educator." 
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Auditorium: 15
Capacity: 100

Dr. Laura Leslie
  C5  • Trauma-Informed Pedagogy: A Necessary Shift in Education |  repeat session from ATEC-2023 
The term "Trauma-Informed" is becoming a more commonly used term in educational settings, but what does it mean to be "trauma-informed" for today's educators? This session will include a brief overview of a contemporary conceptualization of trauma, and how it relates to today's classrooms and schools. Dr. Leslie will also overview some strategies for staff in becoming trauma-informed. This general introduction to trauma-informed pedagogy will emphasize the importance of this lens being necessary for more equitable schooling for all.
After 17 years in the classroom as a lower elementary teacher, Dr. Laura Leslie is currently practicing as a school counsellor in the HRCE. Additionally, she works as a part-time instructor in the School of Education at Acadia University. She holds a PhD in educational studies, with a focus on Trauma-informed education and Trauma-informed schools. Dr. Leslie’s areas of research and interest are in trauma-informed pedagogy, crisis response and grief, and social justice education. She lives in Timberlea, Nova Scotia with her husband and two children.
 
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Auditorium: 17
Capacity: 100

Shelley McLean, M.Ed., BCBA
  C6  • Building a Toolbox of Classroom Behaviour Strategies

Building a Toolbox of Classroom Behaviour Strategies - Do you ever feel like you spend the majority of your day in the classroom putting out fires? In the worst-case scenario, you may have a hard time getting to the lesson you have planned because you are spending most of your time addressing behaviour that interferes with the learning environment in the classroom. In the best-case scenario, you might just be looking for a few strategies to help your classroom run more effectively and efficiently. In either case, this presentation has something for you. This presentation will focus on research-supported Tier 1 strategies that you can incorporate into your daily classroom routines to help your classroom operate more smoothly and support positive student behaviour and learning.Learning Objectives:

At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Describe how to use the M-A-B-Cs of behaviour to promote and support positive classroom behaviour;

• Name and describe at least 5 strategies for preventing interfering behaviour and prompting positive behaviour;

• Use a self-assessment rubric to identify specific classroom management strategies that may support positive changes in student behaviour;

• Name and describe 2 strategies for responding to interfering behaviour in ways that promote positive behaviour change.
Shelley is APSEA’s Coordinator for Autism in Education and Collaborative Learning & Development. Before joining APSEA, she worked in New Brunswick’s Anglophone West School District as a classroom teacher, guidance counselor, school administrator, and district ASD consultant, and with the NB Department of Education and Early Childhood Development as provincial Learning Specialist for ASD and Complex Cases. Shelley has served as part-time instructor for UNB’s (Fredericton) College of Extended Learning Autism Intervention Training Program and for Western University’s Master of Professional Education in Applied Behaviour Analysis program. She also provides thesis supervision for students in the Bachelor of Applied Behaviour Analysis program at George Brown College. Shelley holds bachelor’s degrees in Arts and Education, and a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology. She completed a Graduate Academic Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis from the University of North Texas in 2009, a certificate in Organizational Behaviour Management from the Florida Institute of Technology in 2018, and has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2010.
 
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Capacity: 175
Auditorium: 13

Barb Welsford
  C7  • UDL Implementation Strategies
A number of UDL Implementation Strategies will be reviewed for the busy teachers in our education system. This session will be designed as interactive, informative and thought provoking. We will ask you to engage in polls, reflections and feedback while we plant the UDL Mindset.
Barbara Welsford has been in the field of Assistive Technology for over 30 years. She is the AT Specialist for SSRCE, a certified AT Professional from RESNA in the U.S. and a certified UDL Specialist. Barbara works with students, teachers, administrators and paraprofessional determining appropriate use and application of Tier 3 Assistive Technology and also use and application of Tier 1 and Tier 2 accessible and assistive technology supports. Barbara also designs and teaches graduate courses in Assistive Technology for Acadia University and MSVU. She has been a member of the Education Standard Development team under the Accessibility Act of NS and was Coordinator of the NS Joint RCE/CSAP Accessibility Plan. She sits on the AT/UDL Lead Team for Nova Scotia and is the Accessibility Lead for SSRCE in the province. 
2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
 Annual General Meeting

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Conference Contact
Evan Critchley
 
Conference Email
atecconference@nstu.ca

 

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