CATCA 2025

How do you transform your fears, chronic stress and burnouts from energy-draining experiences into fuels for your passion and purpose?
This is the question Chidi Iwuchukwu has asked thousands of people, and the responses gives true insights into what makes us resilient ,optimistic and persistent.
This keynote is crafted to help learners in educational settings see difficulties as opportunities for personal and professional growth. By harnessing humor, engaging storytelling, insightful questions, and actionable advice, Chidi aims to inspire educators to navigate life's pressures with optimism and confidence.
Kidnapped at gunpoint and held for ransom, Chidi Iwuchukwu lives to share his remarkable journey from overcoming harrowing life experiences to become “The PRO Guy- Persistent, Resilient and Optimistic” and it rings true in every sense of the words. His amazing story of survival and thriving will wow your audience.

Watch as he uses impactful story telling, insightful questions, and engagement on your stage to share on staring terror, trauma and torture in the face, coming back from the brink, imperatives of self-care, actionable insights to transform self-care ideas into reality, and practical and battle-tested strategies to build resilience. Chidi will rock your stage with his presence, passion, purpose. Chidi’s vulnerability, openness and insights not only inspires but transforms an audience! As an experienced Toastmaster, he meticulously crafts every winning performance in order to make a difference with his message. His dynamic aura on stage turns to dynamite instantly! He knows how to build motivation, amp up his audience through emotional rollercoasters with laughing, crying and reflecting together to deliver lasting results. If Chidi can survive and thrive given all life has thrown at him, anyone can overcome and soar. Arriving at this self-evident truth will take a soul-searching and self-reflective journey from stories he shares from the stage.

This is not just a keynote. This is an immersive performance.

Nearly 50 percent of new teachers leave the profession within their first five years. How can we change this? At this session, expect an eclectic mix of stories, strategies, research, and laughs as Will Langille tells the tale of his first year of teaching. Whether you're a beginning teacher, mentor teacher, teacher leader, or principal, this session will provide you with ways to help new teachers succeed at the start of their career.

Over the past number of years, with the growth of tiered response systems in schools, educational organizations have become proficient at tiering students for intensifying levels of support. When done well, it ensures a systematic approach to supporting a greater number of students and maximizing resources. When not done well, it can lead to higher levels of support becoming overwhelmed and resources stretched thin as more and more students are identified as requiring intensified supports. The great news is there is a better way that comes when you STOP tiering students! This session will provide an explanation of the paradigm shift from tiering students to tiering supports and share considerations when establishing, refining and utilizing a continuum of supports in schools and districts that has long standing impact for teachers and students.

During this session, connect with other Secondary Art teachers to collegially share best practices. Use the following document to help with note keeping: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p9HDjWaTu-7V9CUVOheC31lWM4jH10IyhfqZk7od4yY/edit?usp=sharing

As educators, it is critical to consider how diversity, inclusion, and equitable our practices are. But how can we ensure that a curricular focus lives alongside a social-justice approach? Join ACEE staff to learn about climate justice, and how to include multiple perspectives when teaching about the climate and environment. Questions covered include: What is intersectionality? What is the role of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in understanding climate impacts, resilience, and solutions? What is the role of environmental education in reconciliation? Why are two-eyed seeing and social justice vital climate solutions?

Learning Outcomes:
- Understand that climate change is a human rights issue, not just a global and scientific one
- Understand how positionality impacts how we view and understand global issues
- Gain tools on how to approach topics with students from a justice perspective

With this year being my 20th year of teaching, during this session I will be sharing parts of my journey for new teachers. During my time, I have taught in three different school divisions, in three different communities and in grades 3-12 (except for grade 4). All of this and teaching was not on my list of expected careers. Also, during this session I will be sharing some of my other experiences with teaching, including PD, and school trips, including three to Europe.

Teaching online demands unique approaches to instruction, classroom management, and student engagement. This round-table session invites online educators to share effective strategies and best practices for digital teaching. Discussion topics will include: methods for fostering a cohesive online classroom community, utilizing formative assessments during live sessions, providing differentiation and support for diverse learning needs, streamlining communication, and enhancing student engagement. Do take all your notes within this document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WDMw3r34xVsWcmGGG9kgdZDiwg4jH3jM5gTq1064xS4/edit?usp=sharing

This session would be a place for Specialized Program teachers to come together to discuss assessment, ISP goals, behaviour management, and other topics that are brought up by participants. This session has been very valuable in the past as it provided opportunities for collaboration between teachers in different districts who are in similar positions. Here is the document to work from: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18GxAaPXVsB2m6RNmh-4sCe00U8w52mRj2pKb1AWVP8M/edit?usp=sharing

Enjoy complimentary drinks and some pizza while catching up with your colleagues! Drink choices include a variety of locally produced canned craft beer, hard teas and sodas, as well as alcohol-free Craft Sodas. A variety of pizza toppings will be available, along with veggie trays, with plates and napkins provided for the more "civilized" among us. There will be some entertainment from our keynote speaker, Tom Pesce.

EdCamp - EAL/ESL

With the increased number of English Language Learners across central Alberta, more and more teachers are working with English Language Learners. This collaborative session will provide educators the opportunity to discuss best practices in supporting EAL/ESL students and to ask questions about this area. Here is the document you will work from: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lGbYXhyt0rBrRRKdk3uZQqCXXYL9FMa9LxiYoi5LzI8/edit?usp=sharing

In this session, we will explore how compassion can be intentionally embedded into the fabric of school culture, benefiting students, teachers, school leaders, and support staff alike. Attendees will share practical strategies to foster compassion in daily interactions and schoolwide practices. We'll discuss why compassion serves as a powerful lever for creating psychological safety, enhancing mental well-being, and building stronger, more resilient educational communities. Join us to discover how compassionate practices can lead to more inclusive, supportive, and psychologically safe environments where all members of the school community can thrive.

A retrospective on coaching, not a how-to, there is no right or wrong way to lead. New perspectives for a new generation.
Our actions teach more than our words. Alternatives to traditional authoritarian coaching approaches
High-impact phrases to bring a team together around a common goal beyond the W
Powerful tools to mentor lesser-skilled athletes into the game (we don’t all have club players)
Full Athlete includes Sleep, Hydration, Nutrition, Relationships, Activity, Downtime, Stress Management, Academics, and Service.
Defining every athlete's role - Going deeper than positions
The HUGE opportunity to engage in empowering captains
Is game day for you or the players?
The Power of Team meetings and time outs
Dedicated to one of the greats: Kevin Pelehos

EdCamp to discuss Film studies in the area and ways to grow and embrace the course/program. Here is the document to carry on conversations for future use:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XEpXRn0qo1zpSHRMonW885405Mg0cX6gkY9hYy0uKUg/edit?usp=sharing

This session explores diverse leadership models and the traits that define effective school leaders, with a focus on how gendered expectations shape leadership roles and responsibilities. Participants will delve into the ways in which bias and gendered assumptions influence school leadership dynamics, particularly in the context of Alberta's education system. Through critical reflection and discussion, attendees will gain insights into how these factors impact not only leaders but the broader teaching profession. The session aims to provide actionable strategies for fostering a more equitable environment for all and promote leadership that is inclusive, supportive, and fair.

Often, it is through the lens of teachers that we learn what is best practice for helping students feel safe in our classrooms. In this honest and lighthearted session, Zoe, who graduated from high school in 2023, brings to light the highs and lows of her school experience. Through storytelling and providing alternatives to what she experienced, you will get a first-hand account of how Teachers can impact students firsthand. From the subtle to the obvious, this is a rare opportunity to get a student perspective from the seats in the classroom.

Are you looking to connect with other educators in the Knowledge and Employability (K&E) programs? Join us for a session where we’ll create a space for you to collaborate, share stories, and find solutions to the unique challenges of K&E programs.

K&E programs are often smaller in scale, which can make it difficult to find peers to collaborate with. This session is designed specifically for you to connect with like-minded professionals, share your stories of success, and discuss the challenges you face in the classroom. Whether you're navigating student engagement, individualized learning, or program development, you'll leave with new strategies and a stronger sense of community.

Don’t miss out on this chance to build a collaborative community that will support you throughout the year. Bring your experiences, questions, and ideas—we can't wait to see how we can help each other thrive!



Edcamp for high school teachers who teach K&E courses or students.

Do collaborate by using this document
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bb-LbObhmNYTdnRbdshWB-glPXckYJJNzZ0gOZnp6sQ/edit?usp=sharing

Session Overview: This interactive session will explore how educators can use Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) and popular pop culture fan interests to create a dynamic, inclusive learning environment. Attendees will gain insights into how D&D fosters critical thinking, empathy, resiliency, and creativity in students while building a community around shared interests. We’ll also provide practical tools, live demonstrations, engaging activity ideas that can be implemented quickly, and a Q&A section to ensure attendees leave with actionable ideas.

Please follow this link for the session's pre-survey. We have a fantastic and unique prize to give away at the end of the session. Thanks!
https://forms.gle/MqHA3i4GzLFX8kVU6

A retrospective on coaching, not a how-to, there is no right or wrong way to lead. New perspectives for a new generation.
Our actions teach more than our words. Alternatives to traditional authoritarian coaching approaches
High-impact phrases to bring a team together around a common goal beyond the W
Powerful tools to mentor lesser-skilled athletes into the game (we don’t all have club players)
Full Athlete includes Sleep, Hydration, Nutrition, Relationships, Activity, Downtime, Stress Management, Academics, and Service.
Defining every athlete's role - Going deeper than positions
The HUGE opportunity to engage in empowering captains
Is game day for you or the players?
The Power of Team meetings and time outs
Dedicated to one of the greats: Kevin Pelehos