NCTCA 2025

Giving your best self and skillset to others all day is one of the most rewarding and powerful things you can do in your career…and it is also exhausting, and sometimes even heart-breaking. When you work in the “helping” professions, the costs of caring can take their toll. This session explores these costs and the continuum of how they can affect us, what to watch for in yourself and your colleagues, and ways to restore and recover as we continue the important work of reading, writing, arithmetic…and relationship.

The term bullying has earned its buzzword status in this generation and seems to be met all too often with eyerolls and “tattle-tale” tut-tuts. But it’s still very much a dynamic impacting our students and schools…in both the kids and the adults. Bullying is alive and well, and as we all know has consequences in the classroom, the staffroom, the community and the connected world. It has an impact on mental health, belief systems, development and interactions in all settings of our lives, and so we need to understand it. This session teaches what bullying is and isn’t, how it’s changed, and how we can best respond in discipline, support, and society.

This workshop will assist professionals to begin to understand the psychological and physiological factors that underly anxiety in children. Participants will also learn tools they can implement to help children better manage anxiety. Leading edge research, data, information and approaches (such as Eli Lebowitz' SPACE Approach)from the field of psychology will be included in this session.

Are you seeking effective strategies to manage heightened student behaviors? Join us for an engaging workshop designed for educators who want to enhance their de-escalation skills. In this interactive session, you'll learn practical tips based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) principles, central to the SILA Skills training mission. You'll gain tools to confidently navigate "flipped-lid" situations while building resilience and fostering meaningful connections in high-stress environments. Don't miss this chance to strengthen your classroom management skills!

Classroom behaviors are on the rise, and we know this is a challenge at every grade level. As educators, it’s crucial for us to make meaningful connections and practice empathy, but how can we achieve both? In this session, You will be introduced to DBT-informed skills that focus on the balance between acceptance and change—two forces that can complement each other when applied thoughtfully. You’ll leave with practical strategies to help you navigate these challenges and foster stronger connections in your classroom. Let’s work together to create a more supportive learning environment!

This thought provoking session will delve into the complexities of racism and anti-racism in education. Inspired by Dr. Beverly Tatum's analogy of the walkway towards addressing racism. You will gain a foundational comprehension of how racism is deeply interwoven into society’s fabric and our education system, often concealed from view. It is this concealed nature that necessitates our active pursuit of anti-racism. We'll embark on a journey to challenge common misconceptions like "colorblindness" and the notion of a pure meritocracy. We aim to dispel the belief that racism is a thing of the past or confined to isolated incidents of hatred. Instead, we'll cultivate a profound comprehension of its ever-present, pervasive nature that affects us all in varying, sometimes imperceptible, ways. Some may be acutely aware of its presence, while others remain oblivious. The aim is clear: to ensure equitable treatment for all so that every child can access the same high-quality education and have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential. Together, we will work towards creating a more just and inclusive educational future for all. You'll leave with an understanding of how racism is deeply woven into society's fabric, with a focus on actively practicing anti-racism to ensure equitable treatment for all in our schools. You'll gain practical tools, knowledge, and strategies, empowering you to be a better ally to your students and colleagues. Join me as we unmask the hidden dimensions of racism and commit to a future where every child's potential is nurtured.

Are you dedicated to advancing equity and inclusion in your classroom? This empowering session integrates culturally responsive teaching, antiracism, and allyship. We will explore practical strategies grounded in anti-racism principles to create a welcoming, inclusive, and safe learning environment for all students. Learn how educators plays a crucial role in dismantling systemic barriers and fostering belonging for ALL students. Participants will leave this session equipped with a wealth of actionable insights and tools to implement immediate change in educational spaces, cultivating a more equitable educational experience for ALL students.

In the first half of this session, employees from Black Gold Schools will lead you through the story of their first year starting and running Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). You will learn what an ERG is, and how it can offer a meaningful internal community of shared identities (racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, etc) that offers a route to equity and inclusion in the workplace. You will leave this session with access to a folder of all our resources (PD we have completed and offered, info on how to structure meetings, etc). In the second half of this session, we will offer a panel discussion where participants will have the opportunity to ask ERG members questions, as well as anything else related to our pursuit of a more inclusive workplace.

Global crisis’, rights and equity issues are entering, and sometimes disrupting, classrooms within increasing frequency, leaving both students and educators feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. In this session, participants will explore approaches that create environments where they can explore complex topics and equip students with tools to address injustice. Participants will also examine how classroom culture, courage to engage in complex conversations and project-based learning, can be used together to help students find hope and equip them with skills to take action.

In the pursuit of equitable education, AP Seminar serves as a vital initiative aimed at creating pathways to post-secondary success for underserved and marginalized students. Developed through a collaboration between the Centre for Global Education, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Future Launch, alongside Edmonton Public, Calgary Catholic, the Peel and Toronto District School Boards, two ground-breaking and innovative inquiry-based AP Seminar programs focuses on building passion-based learning experiences. This session will explore how the AP Afro-Canadian Diaspora and AP Nature & Land-based Seminar programs not only fosters critical skills that prepare students for higher education but also actively engages students from diverse backgrounds in an interdisciplinary learning journey. Participants will learn about innovative strategies to integrate the seminar’s themes into their classrooms, ensuring that Nature & Land-based and/ or African diasporic narratives are not only represented but celebrated within the curriculum. By centering marginalized voices and experiences, the AP Seminar programs aim to inspire students to see themselves as capable and confident contributors to their communities and the global landscape. Join us as we embark on this important journey to empower all students, particularly those from underserved backgrounds, to realize their potential and thrive in their educational pursuits.