ISABC 2025 Professional Development Day
February 14, 2025
About the Conference
The ISABC is proud to announce our upcoming 2025 Professional Development Day, “EmpowerEd: Framing the Future for Education” This one-day, in-person event is set to take place on February 14th, 2025, across several satellite locations, bringing together educators from all corners of the Independent Schools Association of British Columbia.
In response to valuable feedback from last year, we’re excited to adopt a satellite format for this year’s conference, moving away from a fully virtual event. This change allows for more localized, in-person interactions while maintaining the collaborative spirit that defines the ISABC community.
This year’s conference is designed to foster deep connections among our educators. The theme “EmpowerEd” underscores our commitment to empowering educators with the tools, knowledge, and collaborative opportunities necessary to navigate and shape the future of education.
Registration is Now Closed. If you registered to attend you will be contacted prior to the event with more information.
Registration and Fees
The registration fee includes access to all sessions, lunch, and refreshments throughout the day. Schools will be invoiced after the conference.
- For ISABC School Members: $30 per attendee
- For External Attendees: $80 per attendee
Conference Objectives
Keynote Speaker – Valerie Hannon
Keynote – Leading Education for a Flourishing Future: Let’s explore the change forces at work in shaping the future. What will it take to empower young people to thrive in the face of them? Humanity stands at an inflexion point. Existential crises, but also unprecedented opportunities, confront us. If future generations are to flourish, education must reassess its fundamental purpose.
Host Schools and Topics
We’re thrilled to have our host schools confirmed for the ISABC Pro-D Day 2025. Each host will offer an enriching in-person experience. More details for each school will be available in December 2024. Please review the details of each session when they become available in preparation for when registration opens in January 2025.
The following ISABC schools will host in-person sessions on specialized topics, each providing a unique and enriching experience for educators:
Please go to the schools tab that you would like to attend to complete their registration form.
Registration is Now Open until January 26th
Collingwood School
Fostering Courageous Conversations
About this Session:
Time: 8:30am – 3:30pm
Location: Collingwood School (Morven Campus)
During this hands-on workshop, participants will dive deep into fostering courageous conversations in the classroom. You will discuss current challenges and opportunities, unpack a practical framework for navigating classroom discussions, analyze real world case studies, and directly connect with students to understand their perspectives. Collaborate with colleagues to create an action plan that empowers you to effectively navigate challenging topics, address sensitive situations, and promote respectful dialogue in your school community. Leave equipped to create a safe and inclusive learning environment where every student’s voice is valued.
Registration is Now Closed. If you registered to attend you will be contacted prior to the event with more information.
Meet the Facilitator:
Sarah Prevette – Future Design School Founder
SARAH PREVETTE is a visionary leader renowned for her ability to galvanize dynamic groups and craft transformational strategies for some of the country’s most prominent business leaders and renowned brands. Globally recognized for her expertise in human-centered design and entrepreneurship, Sarah has dedicated her career to empowering others to drive innovation and create meaningful change.
As the founder of Future Design School, Sarah is passionate about inspiring the next generation of problem solvers. She actively supports schools through strategic consulting and equips educators with the tools to cultivate inclusive experiences within classrooms. Beyond her professional endeavors, Sarah is deeply committed to philanthropy and advancing human rights, championing causes that seek to build a more equitable and compassionate world.
Named one of North America’s top entrepreneurs by Inc. Magazine and one of the “Top 20 Power Elite” by Canadian Business, Sarah’s insights and accomplishments have been featured in prestigious publications such as The Globe and Mail, Entrepreneur Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal.
A sought-after speaker, she has delivered keynote speeches at high-profile events including South by Southwest, Big Omaha, GrowCo, Summit Series, and Google Forward. Additionally, she has shared her expertise as a lecturer at esteemed academic institutions including Harvard, Columbia, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Session Goals and Expected Outcomes:
Agenda:
Registration is now closed. If you registered you will be contacted prior to the event with more information.
Fraser Academy
Collaborative and Proactive Solutions
About this Session:
Time: 8:30am – 3:30pm
Location: Fraser Academy
“Kids do well if they can and doing well is preferable” is the mantra we must all live and breathe with Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS). CPS, created by Dr. Ross Greene, is an approach to support students with challenging behaviour and all students and children in your lives. The approach aims to build the skills young people require to meet the expectations of school and how to proactively approach planning to support these students.
Attendees will understand the philosophy behind CPS and be equipped with the skills and tools required to begin implementing CPS upon returning to their classroom.
Registration is Now Closed. If you registered to attend you will be contacted prior to the event with more information.
Meet the Facilitator:
Michael Carlyle, Principal, Langley School District
Michael has been an educator for 20 years, teaching in the United Kingdom, Ontario and British Columbia. Michael moved into the Principal role 6 years ago at Alice Brown Elementary, and he is currently serving the Langley School District as the coordinator of Feeding Futures. Michael is passionate about Dr. Greene’s Collaborative and Proactive Solutions Approach and after taking the CPS 3 day advance training decided to complete his CPS Course to become a certified facilitator. Michael practices this approach with his students daily and is thrilled to come to Fraser Academy to share his insights with ISABC educators. To learn more take a moment to view Michael’s paper on Redefining Challenging Behaviour.
Agenda:
Registration is now closed. If you registered you will be contacted prior to the event with more information.
St. John’s School
Artificial Intelligence in Education
About this Session:
Time: 8:30am – 3:30pm
Location: St. John’s School
This session will allow educators investigate Artificial Intelligence and its impact on communities, schooling and education broadly.
The purpose of this event is to help participants explore Artificial Intelligence’s transformative potential and better understand its complexities, while recognizing that we are still in the early stages of discovery. The event is designed to balance immediate needs—like providing practical tools or basic understanding—with opportunities to tackle bigger, strategic questions.
By the end of the day, all participants will have contributed to a shared framework that captures key learnings and insights and, perhaps most importantly, further questions we want to pursue. We want to ensure our ideas generated don’t get lost but instead become enduring and actionable.
Registration is Now Closed. If you registered to attend you will be contacted prior to the event with more information.
Meet the Morning Facilitator:
Lucas Wright, UBC Senior Education Consultant
Lucas Wright, a Senior Education Consultant at UBC and trained elementary educator, brings over 14 years of expertise in educational technology and instructional design. With a Master’s in Adult Education from UBC and certifications in digital storytelling, instructional skills, and online learning, he specializes in integrating Generative AI (GenAI) into teaching and learning. Lucas has led workshops at UBC, other post-secondary institutions across BC, and for K-12 leaders, focusing on critical GenAI literacy and its intersections with teaching and learning. He has also facilitated over 150 sessions on tools like Zoom, WordPress, and Pressbooks. His work empowers educators and students to create dynamic, engaging learning environments with GenAI at the forefront.Meet the Afternoon Facilitators:
Peter Scott, Futurist, NASA Technology Expert
Peter Scott has been helping people understand and leverage AI for over ten years. He has a Masters in Computer Science from Cambridge and worked for NASA for many years at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He has three TEDx talks, two books, and a weekly podcast all on the impact of AI, and has testified to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on AI in Britain’s House of Lords. His podcast has featured some world-renowned guests, giving Peter access to some of the best thinking on the planet about how we deal with AI. He’s been working on AI in education for over a year with influencers such as Sir Anthony Seldon. He’s currently working with schools in Victoria, Los Angeles, and Britain.
Workshop: AI in Education: Strategies and Trends: Peter has been working with high schools in three countries for over a year on their AI strategies and will share lessons learned on best practices and pitfalls to avoid in this rapidly evolving environment. He will synthesize the expertise from top educators on changes to assessment, homework, pedagogy, curricula, and the relationships with external institutions such as universities. This will include how to stay ahead of trends in AI literacy, career counseling, and ensuring emotional welfare for students and teachers in these times with their unique challenges and opportunities.
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Michelle Culver, Founder of Rithm Project
Michelle Culver is the Founder of the Rithm Project, which rebuilds and evolves human connection for young people in the age of AI. She has led at the forefront of human flourishing for over two decades, working at the intersection of equity and innovation. As EVP of Regional Operations, she oversaw 14 executive directors, 300 staff members and a $68 million budget, impacting over 200,000 students. Her work with the fastest improving school districts in the nation fueled her belief in fundamentally redesigning American public education, leading her to create the Reinvention Lab, TFA’s R&D engine.
Workshop: The Social impact of AI – Michelle’s workshop will look at the transforming impact AI will have on how we work, teach and learn, AI will also impact how we relate to each other as humans. In this workshop, we consider the role we play as educators in human development & shaping our students’ critical thinking & agency to leverage this emerging technology for good while mitigating for the harms. During this hands-on session, we will explore the state of the technology today and consider possible futures for how this may unfold.
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Myke Healy, Assistant Head: Teaching and Learning at Trinity College School
Workshop: Artificial Intelligence, Academic Integrity, and a ‘Postplagiarism‘ Landscape – Explore how AI is transforming academic integrity in K-12 education. This session examines how Large Language Models like Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Notebook LM, and ChatGPT are reshaping teaching and assessment, requiring us to move beyond traditional concepts of plagiarism. Discuss practical strategies for policy development, assessment design, and ethical AI integration in this emerging “postplagiarism” landscape. Leave with actionable approaches for your school community.
Session Topics:
There will be multiple sessions available for teachers to select from and attend. You can expect to see workshop themes fall under the following 4 categories:
Tentative Agenda:
Registration is now closed. If you registered you will be contacted prior to the event with more information.
St. Margaret’s School
Indigenous Education & Civil Discourse
About this Session:
Time: 8:30am – 3:30pm
Location: St. Margaret’s School (Victoria)
This session aims to provide educators with the opportunity to practice skills that can help bridge the gaps that limit genuine dialogue and understanding. An increase in polarization – real and perceived – means that collaboration and dialogue skills are vital inside the classroom, in the halls and away from school. Helping to (re)establish the skills and dispositions needed for civil discourse online and in real life – in ourselves and with our students – is needed now more than ever if we are to build a more respectful and equitable future for all.
We will practice skills applicable to any situation where there is opportunity for conflict and disagreement in the first part of the day and then practice and apply further skills more specifically to an Indigenous context in the afternoon.
Registration is Now Closed. If you registered to attend you will be contacted prior to the event with more information.
Meet your Facilitators:
Jason McBride, Head of Pearson College
Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Jason is an experienced, international leader who has been fortunate to previously have led schools in Malaysia, Thailand, Canada and the UAE. Jason brought 25 years of experience in education back to Canada in 2023 to join and lead his second United World College. Jason believes that schools exist for two main reasons: first, to raise great human beings who can help make the world a more peaceful and sustainable place, and second, to help young people build the learning and academic skills they need to pursue their own chosen path. Having worked in a variety of school models around the world, Jason strives to keep students — especially their wellbeing — at the centre of the decision-making process. He and his family are proud to call Pedder Bay home on our campus that sits on the unceded and traditional territory of the Sc’ianew/Beecher Bay people.
Rebecca Beauchamp, Director, Indigenous Initiative and Engagement
Rebecca was born and raised in Aotearoa New Zealand. She is Māori (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu) on her father’s side and of English ancestry on her mother’s side. Her work at Pearson College is focused on the implementation of the Reconciliation Plan, which centres the wellbeing of Indigenous students, their families and communities.
Agenda:
Registration is now closed. If you registered you will be contacted prior to the event with more information.
West Point Grey Academy
Enhancing Learning Through Assessment
About this Session:
Time: 8:30am – 3:30pm
Location: West Point Grey Academy
In this session, educator’s will examine the following questions: How might assessment promote learning as well as measure it? How do we raise student achievement on high-stakes assessments without “practicing for the test?” How can thinking like an assessor focus curriculum planning and instruction? What kinds of assessments will motivate learners to do their best? What types of feedback are the most effective for students and teachers?
This session will explore these questions while examining seven practical and proven classroom assessments practices to improve learning, as well as measure it.
Registration is Now Closed. If you registered to attend you will be contacted prior to the event with more information.
Meet your Facilitator:
Jay McTighe
Since education is a “learning” profession, Jay set a learning goal when he was 57 years of age to be surfing by 60. He did it!
Agenda:
Registration is now closed. If you registered you will be contacted prior to the event with more information.