2025  Catholic Trustees Seminar

Breakfast / Registration

Speaker: Deirdre Kinsella Biss, Education Consultant, Catholic Principals' Council of Ontario

Hope is at the Heart of our Leadership

Hope is the sacred space between now and not yet. This seminar will reflect on monographs published by The Institute for Catholic Education (ICE) that explore themes from Renewing the Promise. Understanding hope’s impact in our school communities begins with the Heart, Head, and Hands Framework. This model offers insights into considering contemporary issues in Catholic Education. To deepen our understanding of hope as an educational resource, active discussion on the monograph The Hope in Our Hearts: Living Our Faith Every Day, will focus on how we live faith in our school communities. Emphasis will be placed on the Catholic leader’s role in building supportive communities, fostering belonging, celebrating differences, and helping students thrive.

Speaker: Rick Petrella, Seminar Chair & Chair, Brant Haldimand Norfolk CDSB

Performance Appraisals are an essential tool for employee development, feedback and organizational strength.  A consistent, balanced approach that is fair, transparent and development focused will yield the most benefit.  The panel will discuss the Ministry of Education requirements and provide an overview of the process from three different board perspectives.

Speakers on Discussion Panel:  

Thomas D'Amico, Director of Education, Ottawa CSB

Tyrone Dowling, Director of Education, Waterloo CDSB

Lewis Poche, Associate Program Director, Higher Powered Learning, Alliance of Catholic Education, University of Notre Dame, USA

Speakers: Ian Howcroft, CEO, Skills Ontario and Nicole Stoikos, Programs Manager, Skills Ontario

Skills Ontario is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting Skilled Trades and Technology as viable first choice careers to youth across the province. Learn about who we are and what we do at Skills Ontario including but not limited to student presentations, the Skills Ontario Competition and Trades and Tech Days. Everything we do has the main goal of changing lives and inspiring leaders through Skilled Trades and Technologies. 

A Pastoral Plan case study examining the development, implementation and the lived experiences (outcomes) of this strategy in nurturing faith formation, engagement and animation in our Catholic school communities.  The presentation will take a close look at the TCDSB's current Pastoral Plan, In God's Image: Growing in Knowledge, with Justice and Hope.

Speakers on Discussion Panel:

Galen Eagle, Communications Manager, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland & Clarington CDSB

Sharlene Hunter, Communications Manager, Ottawa CSB

Pauline Stevenson, Communications Manager, Simcoe Muskoka CDSB

Catholic Student Trustees will participate in an eye-opening workshop welcoming relevant discussions and insights regarding Indigenous cultures and heritage, as well indigeneity in the Catholic Education System. They will listen to various perspectives, contribute to group conversations, and be provided the opportunity to further their contribution towards this impactful subject through the revisitation of the Indigenous Influencers project in 2025.

Speakers on Discussion Panel:  

Thomas D'Amico, Director of Education, Ottawa CSB

Tyrone Dowling, Director of Education, Waterloo CDSB

Lewis Poche, Associate Program Director, Higher Powered Learning, Alliance of Catholic Education, University of Notre Dame, USA

Skills Ontario is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting Skilled Trades and Technology as viable first choice careers to youth across the province. Learn about who we are and what we do at Skills Ontario including but not limited to student presentations, the Skills Ontario Competition and Trades and Tech Days. Everything we do has the main goal of changing lives and inspiring leaders through Skilled Trades and Technologies. 

A Pastoral Plan case study examining the development, implementation and the lived experiences (outcomes) of this strategy in nurturing faith formation, engagement and animation in our Catholic school communities.  The presentation will take a close look at the TCDSB's current Pastoral Plan, In God's Image: Growing in Knowledge, with Justice and Hope.

Speakers on Discussion Panel:

Galen Eagle, Communications Manager, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland & Clarington CDSB

Sharlene Hunter, Communications Manager, Ottawa CSB

Pauline Stevenson, Communications Manager, Simcoe Muskoka CDSB

Catholic Student Trustees will participate in an eye-opening workshop welcoming relevant discussions and insights regarding Indigenous cultures and heritage, as well indigeneity in the Catholic Education System. They will listen to various perspectives, contribute to group conversations, and be provided the opportunity to further their contribution towards this impactful subject through the revisitation of the Indigenous Influencers project in 2025.

MPP Billy Pang, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education

Carole Allen and Dave Sieger will provide an update on the work of Friends and Advocates of Catholic Education (FACE), the joint venture of OCSTA, OECTA and ACBO to promote and protect publicly funded Catholic Education in Ontario.  The presentation will include insights on the current political and media landscapes, election readiness, advocacy efforts, strategic communications, messaging, and the importance of unity and discipline among Catholic Education representatives. 

Breakfast