The Power of Making Thinking Visible

with Ron Ritchhart

Please welcome the newest member of the SAPDC team, Trisha Sotropa.  

I would like to introduce myself as the new Learning Facilitator for the Southern Alberta Professional Development Consortium.

My experience includes working as Principal of St. Louis School, chairperson of the MHCBE Literacy Committee and as a teacher for 23 years. As Literacy Committee Chairperson, I contributed to the professional development needs of teachers in Medicine Hat Catholic schools. I have developed and delivered workshops for teachers and principals. As well, I have had successful experience supporting the needs of all students by helping teachers try a variety of instructional strategies.

I earned the degree of Doctor of Education through Western University.  My thesis is a plan for schools to undergo a cultural change in order to engage all students. This plan can encourage a positive collaborative culture in a school. I also completed a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Regina. My focus in that work involved combining literacy and work for social justice. Current research into education has always interested me and guided my practice.

In recent years, I have worked with my colleagues to provide a richly creative, inclusive learning environment for students. Some areas that I may be of help to other teachers include literacy, inclusive education, and concept-based learning. Working elbow to elbow with teachers who are interested in making changes in their practice will be very invigorating and rewarding. I look forward to working with teachers in South Eastern Alberta to improve in areas of need and bring out strengths.

Check out the new SAPDC Blog. First post all about the Student Leadership Conference.

SAPDC Announces New Executive Director

The Board of Directors for the Southern Alberta Professional Development Consortium (SAPDC) are pleased to announce that Dr. Rick Gilson has accepted the position of Executive Director for SAPDC, beginning in the 2018-2019 school year. Dr. Gilson is currently an Assistant Superintendent for Westwind School Division.

Rick shares, “the more I know, the more I know I need to know more. That desire to know more has fueled a passion to share more and invite others to ponder possibilities new knowledge opens for ourselves and the students we serve. I feel that's the key to the future of the SAPDC. We must work with our partners to foster a thirst to know more and share more by as many means as possible. I love the idea of that challenge.”

Rick firmly believes in "Everyone learning Everyday". He embraces technology to support that learning process. He is inspired by the local expertise in Southern Alberta and firmly believes that we need to tap into that collective knowledge in ways that help our young teachers and partners learn and share. Helping professionals help each other across the region is fundamental to the work. He believes that promising, and best or better practices are not proprietary so much as they are often surprisingly hidden and need support in being shared. Being a conduit of learning will most certainly be accomplished differently as we access new technologies and respond to limited resources of time and money.

Rick will replace John Loree, who has been an outstanding support for all of Zone 6 for the past 5 years. We are confident that Rick will be a wonderful addition to the SAPDC team and will lead us forward with high-quality Professional 

Learning Opportunities.

Lorelie Lenaour

SAPDC Board Chair