We are pleased to welcome Dr. Cris Mayo this year as our keynote speaker. Dr. Mayo serves as professor and co-ordinator of the Master of Interdisciplinary Studies Program in the Department of Education at the University of Vermont (UVM). Their publications include a number of books, book chapters and journal articles in Educational Theory, Studies in Philosophy of Education, Sexuality Research and Social Policy, and Educational Policy and Theory, among others. In addition, they co-edited two collections and they are currently the editor-in-chief of the Oxford Encyclopedia on Gender and Sexuality in Education, and currently serves as associate editor of Educational Theory. Prior to joining UVM, they served as Professor and Director of the LGBTQ+ Center and in Women's and Gender Studies at West Virginia University. For more information on the keynote speaker, click here.

Beyond the Books: Unlocking the Power of Teacher-Librarian Collaboration (K–12)

The role of the Teacher-Librarian in BC schools. How to collaborate with your Teacher-Librarian. There is no need to work alone, your Teacher-Librarian can offer help and support in a variety of ways.

Opening Doors to Language Development: Establishing Effective Instructional Routines (Elementary)

Participants will leave with:

• sample lessons
• a package of instructional routines
• a better understanding of how instructional routines develop different language skills.

Exploring Mathematical Routines in the Early Years: Fostering Our Youngest Learners as Confident, Capable Mathematicians (Primary)

Come and join in a conversation about exploring mathematics in the early years! In this interactive session, we will dig into a variety of intentional routines that bring joy, curiosity, and meaningful thinking into primary math spaces. Together, we will try out accessible, low-floor/high-ceiling practices that support number sense, encourage student voice, and help our youngest learners develop confidence as mathematicians. This session is designed to leave you with practical ideas you can use right away to build community, spark discourse, and nurture capable, joyful K–3 mathematicians.

Unexpected Generosity of AI: Going Beyond the Basics for Teachers (English) (K–12)

Participants will explore:

• AI as a Reflective Partner in Teaching Practice—Participants will discover how AI can be used not just for generating lesson plans or resources, but as a reflective partner to support professional growth, problem-solving, and decision-making in the classroom.
• Strategies for Differentiation and Equity with AI—Participants will learn how AI can help them design differentiated activities, adapt materials for diverse learners, and create inclusive classroom supports that go beyond surface-level assistance.
• Sustainable Workflows and Unexpected Generosity—Participants will leave with practical workflows and advanced prompts that show how AI can reduce workload, save time, and contribute to teacher well-being—illustrating the “unexpected generosity” of supporting the daily realities of teaching.

Possibilities of Place: Grounding Teacher Practice in Place-Responsive Learning (Secondary)

Participants will:

• Learn from and respond to place as a way to orient teachers' work towards hopeful solutions to complex problems in our world.
• Use experiential learning activities to engage bodies and minds and activate curriculum, with holistic outcomes that are greater than the sum of parts.
• Develop connections between students, between students and place, and between schools and communities.

Exploring the First Nations Journeys of Justice Curriculum (K–12)

Note: This workshop is from 1:00–3:45 p.m. and occurs over two session times, with a break in between.

Participants will learn that:

• Teachers can engage curriculum for elementary level students that supports their understanding of Indigenous sovereignty.
• Indigenous stories are interconnected with Indigenous knowledge systems and a fundamental part of Indigenous curriculum.
• All teachers in BC are responsible for engaging Indigenous curriculum in schools, and that non-Indigenous educators learn alongside their students.

Comment être antiraciste dans nos écoles, nos syndicats et nos communautés (French) (K–12)

This interactive workshop equips teachers with a better understanding of antiracism and how it can be incorporated into their daily teaching practice. Participants will consider key skills students and teachers need to discuss and implement antiracism and will have the opportunity to explore teaching strategies and resources to integrate this approach into their classrooms.

Routines That Matter: Building Confident, Thinking Mathematicians in Grades 3–9 (Intermediate)

Come and explore routines that truly matter for developing mathematical thinkers in the intermediate and middle years! This session will invite you to experience routines that surface student thinking, spark meaningful discussion, and create space for all learners to engage deeply in the math. Together, we will try practices that build agency, strengthen flexible thinking, and help students see themselves as confident and capable mathematicians across the strands. You’ll leave with practical approaches that deepen understanding and strengthen math learning in Grades 3–9.

Roles and Responsibilities of Support Teachers. (Learning Assistance, Resource, Learning Support, Inclusion Support) (K–12)

Participants will be provided with a general:

• Overview of roles and responsibilities of support teachers
• Overview of Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
• Understanding of School-Based Teams.

Strategies for Discussing Controversial Issues (K–12)

Discussing controversial issues with students is an important part of social justice, the inquiry process, and building the skills for students to become active, engaged and critically minded democratic citizens. This workshop provides practical classroom strategies to discuss controversial issues in a respectful manner.

Self Care: Teacher Rejuvenation in a Time of Burnout (K–12)

Participants will:

• Explore how setting boundaries and practicing resistance, especially to systemic and institutional pressures can be powerful tools for protecting their well-being. Sustaining one's well-being is a necessary foundation for sustaining the well-being of the communities we serve and can reignite a passion for teaching.
• Reflect on and identify the real-life obstacles such as excessive paperwork, staff shortages, and administrative demands that drain joy from their practice
• Begin the work of unlearning colonial norms in order to foster more just, equitable, and joyful educational spaces for both themselves and their students.

Aller au-delà des bases : l’IA au service d’une pédagogie réfléchie et inclusive (French) (K–12)

Participants will explore:

• AI as a Reflective Partner in Teaching Practice—Participants will discover how AI can be used not just for generating lesson plans or resources, but as a reflective partner to support professional growth, problem-solving, and decision-making in the classroom.
• Strategies for Differentiation and Equity with AI—Participants will learn how AI can help them design differentiated activities, adapt materials for diverse learners, and create inclusive classroom supports that go beyond surface-level assistance.
• Sustainable Workflows and Unexpected Generosity—Participants will leave with practical workflows and advanced prompts that show how AI can reduce workload, save time, and contribute to teacher well-being—illustrating the “unexpected generosity” of AI in supporting the daily realities of teaching.

Making Reading Instruction Work for Every Learner (Elementary)

This interactive workshop equips educators with practical tools and strategies to deliver structured literacy instruction aligned with the Science of Reading. Participants will learn how to use assessment data to decide when to teach whole-class lessons and when to target instruction in small groups. The session will explore a range of literacy activities that support explicit teaching in phonemic awareness, orthographic mapping, vocabulary development, and comprehension of passages. Educators will leave with a clear framework for getting started, ideas for differentiating lessons, and where to find tools for ongoing progress monitoring and formative assessment. Whether you’re new to structured literacy or refining your practice, this workshop provides actionable strategies to ensure all students become confident, capable readers.