Ongoing, localized and personalized professional development is essential to the flourishing of teachers. ACSIWC provides structured events to help meet the development goals of Christian schools and their teachers. Each year we host Teacher Conventions which local committees help plan. These conventions feature both keynote presentations and workshops which are intended to match the professional goals of our schools. The distinctive element of each convention is the Christ-centered foundation of all learning experiences for teachers. Every educational topic is presented through the lens of the Biblical narrative. Conventions inform, equip and ultimately inspire.
keynote sessions—Dr. Lara Ragpot
Keynote speaker, Dr. Lara Ragpot, is a full professor and the dean of the School of Education at Trinity Western University (TWU), BC, Canada. She is a registered Educational Psychologist with the HPCSA and an appointed Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg, in South Africa. She has published in the fields of social issues in education, childhood cognitive development, early mathematical cognition, and the interface of neuroscience, psychology, and pedagogy. The goal of her research activities is to facilitate optimal teaching and learning in both post-secondary and K-12 education.
Session One: The Complex Nature of Mental Health Challenges in the Classroom
Mental health challenges are at an all-time high in classrooms all over the globe. Canada is no exception. Students exhibit socio-emotional, and other mental health issues in a variety of behaviours, which cause a myriad of challenges in the teaching and learning environment. This session will explore the neuro-biological basis of a broad spectrum of classroom mental health challenges. Drawing from current research, participants will come to understand the complex nature of mental health which is influenced by innate, environmental, and contextual factors. Discussions will focus on enabling educators to know when, where, and how to support students toward purposeful learning, and joy filled experiences at school.Session Two: The Transformational Teacher—How to Maintain Balance in the Learning Environment
A teacher’s mental health affects the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom. As optimal mental health at work is influenced by the relationship between the individual and others, the nature of the work, and the work environment, these should all be considered to support teachers’ wellbeing. However, as more students enter classrooms with varied challenges, teachers find it increasingly stressful to self-regulate and maintain their homeostasis while supporting their learners. This session will investigate the ways in which teachers can work towards gauging their own mental health; discover ways to self-regulate and maintain balance in the classroom; and find a new sense of joy in their calling to be transformational in their encounters with students.
Global Partner—Classrooms For Africa
Classrooms for Africa is a non–profit organization based in Canada. They provide assistance to communities in Africa who have taken on the challenge of providing education for underprivileged children. They achieve this by providing grants to community–based group to help build classrooms and other school facilities. Their specific aim is to provide basic classroom space for needy communities.
In 2023/2024, all funds raised by our member schools will go directly to the Teacher Training in Uganda project. This project will provide biblical and professional training for teachers in Uganda, which will ultimately result in better opportunities for at risk students in the country.
Refund Policy
If a registered attendee from your school is unable to attend, you are encouraged to send a substitute. No refunds will be provided less than two weeks from the event, except in the case of medical or urgent family emergency.
In the case of medical or urgent family emergency, refunds for a registered attendee will be available upon written request to the ACSI Western Canada office at acsiwc_info@acsi.org.