COTA Summer Institute

We are pleased to announce the 2021 COTA Summer Conference! Our theme this year is: Educational Potpourri. The pandemic has impacted us each in diverse ways, and we will each require something different to rejuvenate ourselves as professionals. We have many exciting and diverse options for you this summer.

To ensure the safety of our educators and guests, we have decided to host an online conference again this summer. We will have interactive webinars with expert presenters and facilitators. The sessions typically run (though there are exceptions) for either 60 or 75 minutes, each including a 15 minute question period. There will be opportunities to ask questions, plan, and collaborate with colleagues. 

Please Note - COTA MEMBERS should fill out their self-directed pd form even if you plan on attending this conference. Emergencies arise and having a back up plan (self-directed pd form) will allow you to make up these summer in lieu pro-days during the year.

 

Featured Speakers:

 

Dr. Jody Carrington- Monday, August 30th Keynote Speaker

 

Over the past 15 years, Dr. Jody Carrington has assessed, treated, educated and empowered some of our most vulnerable and precious souls on the planet. She is a child psychologist by trade, but Jody rarely treats kids. The answer lies, she believes, in the people who hold them. Especially when kids have experienced trauma, that’s when they need big people the most. Some of her favourites include educators, parents, first responders, and foster parents. Jody has shifted the way they think and feel about the holy work that they do.

Before Jody started her own practice and speaking across the country, she worked at the Alberta Children’s Hospital on the inpatient and day treatment units where she held families with some of the difficult stories. They taught her the most important lesson: we are wired to do hard things. We can handle those hard things so much easier when we remember this: we are wired for connection.

 

This all started when Jody received her Bachelor of Arts with Distinction from the University of Alberta. She completed a year-long internship with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police during that time, and worked alongside families struggling with chronic illness at the Ronald McDonald House. She received her Master’s degree in Psychology at the University of Regina and completed her PhD there as well, before completing her residency in Nova Scotia.  

Her first book, Kids These Days: A Game Plan for (Re)Connecting with those we Teach, Lead & Love, came out in 2019 and sold 20,000 copies in just three months. It is now on Amazon’s Best Sellers List.

 

Kevin Lamoureux- Tuesday, August 31st Keynote Speaker

 

Kevin Lamoureux is a Faculty member at the University of Winnipeg and a well known public speaker. He has served as Associate Vice President for the University of Winnipeg, Education Lead for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, and as Scholar in Residence for several school divisions.

 

He is an award winning scholar with an impressive publication and research grant record, and has consulted for governments, organizations and institutions across Canada. His most recent book contribution, for Ensouling Our Schools with Dr. Jennifer Katz, is being used by educators across Canada working to create inclusive spaces for all students. He has been seen on TV, in documentaries, in print, and in the media. More than anything, Lamoureux is committed to reconciliation and contributing to an even better Canada for all children to grow up in.

Brent Carmichael- Wednesday, September 1st Keynote Speaker

 

My name is Brent Carmichael, I am a producer, songwriter, aspiring motorsport athlete, entrepreneur and community activist in Kelowna, BC. 

 

Part of my community work consists of increasing diversity and inclusion education and programs in our community. 

Dr. Peter Liljedahl

 

Dr. Peter Liljedahl is a Professor of Mathematics Education in the Faculty of Education and author of the recently published book, Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics (Grades K-12): 14 Teaching Practices for Enhancing Learning. He is the former president of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME) and the current president of the Canadian Mathematics Education Study Group (CMESG). Peter is a former high school mathematics teacher who has kept his research interest and activities close to the classroom. He consults regularly with teachers, schools, school districts, and ministries of education on issues of teaching and learning, problem solving, assessment, and numeracy.

 

Dear COTA Members,

 

We are excited to announce that registration for the 2021 Conference is officially open!

 

We encourage all COTA Members to fill out a Self-Directed Pro D form this summer, even if you plan on attending the Summer Conference. You must complete the self-directed PD form by June 30th. Any forms submitted after June 30th will not be accepted and teachers might lose out on 3 day’s pay over Spring Break. 

 

Teachers should sign up for the COTA Summer Institute by June 30th,as well.

 

You may access the Self-Directed form here: https://www.mycota.ca/members-area/personal-pro-d.html

 

Please consult this tutorial if you have any questions: https://www.mycota.ca/pro-d-blog/2020/05/06/directions-on-how-to-use-the-self-directed-professional-development-online-form-on-mycota.ca/

 

To peruse the schedule, buy tickets, and register for sessions you will need to visit our conference website, hosted by Sched. Sched hosts the entire conference schedule, information about speakers and their sessions, and all the Zoom links that you will need to participate. It is possible to obtain tickets through our conference website. Please see below for a step-by-step guide on how to purchase tickets and register.

 

Instructions to obtain tickets and register:

 

Step 1: Visit our conference website: https://cotasummerconference2021.sched.com/

 

Step 2: Select “Tickets” at the top of the page near the middle.

 

Step 3: Select your ticket type. PLEASE BE AWARE it is crucially important that you select the correct ticket format. COTA members are all teachers (and TTOCs) and Student Support Services staff. CUPE represents CEAs, clerical and administrative staff, custodians, and operations staff. The UBCO Student ticket covers current teacher candidates and interns. ALL OTHER ATTENDEES (including SD23 admin) will need to select an “Out of District” ticket for each day that they attend.

 

Step 4: Enter your information to register.

 

Step 5: Click “REGISTER.”

 

Step 6: Next, you will select the sessions you would like to attend. This is done by selecting “Schedule” at the top of the page. Then, once you have selected the events you want to attend, hover over the listing and select “Add to My Sched” at the top left of the popout. Or, simply click on the title of the event that you would like to attend, and then click the “Add to My Sched” circle at the far left of the coloured (red, green, or blue depending on the session) tab.

 

If you change your mind about what session you would like to attend, simply hover over the listing and select “Remove from My Sched” at the top left of the popout. Or, simply click on the title of the event that you would like to attend, and then click the “Remove From My Sched” circle at the far left of the coloured (red, green, or blue depending on the session) tab.

 

Each session has a brief description as well as the Zoom link and password your session will require and any documents you will need will be attached. 

 

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Maggie Conway at cotaprod@sd23.bc.ca or 250-860-3866.