Keynote Speakers
Morning Keynote Speaker (Orillia and Thunder Bay): Jim Strachan has been working with (and learning from) children for 42 years as a social worker, classroom teacher of grades 2 to 8, instructional leader for information technology, program coordinator for beginning teachers, and as an education officer supporting mentorship and authentic learning for both new and experienced educators across Ontario. By modeling caring, compassion, cooperation, and humour, Jim believes we can contribute to the success of all learners. It is his daily challenge to live these beliefs! Jim starts each day in his kayak watching the sun rise on Lake Ontario. In his current role as an education consultant, he’s finding lingering on the lake is more joyful now than ever. All of Jim’s current Mentoring for Mentors resources (along with several pictures from his kayak) can be accessed at: sites.google.com/view/mentoringforall.
Lunch Keynote Speaker (Orillia and Thunder Bay): Marlo Beaucage is an Indigenous educator with extensive experience across provincial and First Nations schools throughout Ontario. She currently serves as Systems Principal with the Kinoomadzwin Education Body, operating within the Anishinabek Education System, and as an instructor and Faculty Advisor at Lakehead University. Throughout her career, Marlo has taught at elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels, and she is deeply committed to integrating Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Being, and Doing into classroom practice and across all curriculum areas. In her leadership and teaching roles, she works to align school systems with community values, language revitalization, and culturally grounded pedagogy. Marlo collaborates with educators, students, and communities to support student achievement, well-being, and cultural vitality, while advancing reconciliation and inclusive education. Her work is characterized by mentorship, pedagogical innovation, and a steadfast dedication to creating learning environments that affirm Indigenous identities and worldviews.
Dinner Keynote Speaker (Orillia): Primrose Goss is the Principal of Leadership and Development with the Simcoe County District School Board, bringing 28 years of educational experience as a classroom educator and school administrator. A passionate advocate for equity, leadership, and student success, she has inspired students, staff, and families throughout her career. Primrose leads system-wide initiatives in leadership development, mentorship, coaching, succession planning, administrator eligibility, and professional learning for new teachers and school leaders. She further supports educator growth as a Teacher Leadership AQ instructor with Lakehead University. Known for her coaching expertise, she empowers individuals to realize their potential, embrace feedback, and achieve meaningful professional growth.
Dinner Keynote Speaker (Thunder Bay): Franki-Lynne Mauro is a current Bachelor of Education student at Lakehead University with a strong passion for advocacy, mentorship, and creating inclusive spaces for all to thrive. She holds a Joint Honours degree in Political Science and History from Queen's University, where she first developed her interest in student leadership. During her time in Kingston, Franki was actively involved with the Arts and Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS), taking on a variety of leadership positions and ultimately serving in an Executive role in 2025. These experiences helped shape her commitment to supporting others and fostering a strong sense of community. Now in her final year of the Bachelor of Education program at Lakehead University, Franki's focus continues to be creating space for everyone to feel supported, comfortable, and seen. She carries this commitment into her role as Co-President for Lakehead University’s Education Student Teachers’ Association and in any opportunity she has to represent her peers.
Dinner Keynote Speaker (Thunder Bay): Noah Siren is an educator, community leader, and lifelong learner passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Education from Lakehead University and is pursuing graduate studies in History. His experience spans senior elementary and secondary education, more than a decade as a historical interpreter at Fort William Historical Park, and leadership roles as Chair of United Way Thunder Bay’s GenNext and President of Lakehead University’s Education Student Teachers’ Association. Across these roles, Noah is passionate about mentorship, building meaningful relationships, and helping others develop confidence in their abilities. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys hiking, canoeing, and pursuing music, art, and woodworking projects.
Conference Speakers (Orillia)
Dr. Glenda Black is a professor at the Schulich School of Education, Nipissing University. She has worked in the Canadian school system as a teacher, administrator, and teacher educator. Awarded numerous federal, provincial, and national advocacy grants, Glenda has researched and written extensively on teacher education. Her areas of interest are action research, Indigenous education, educational leadership, international teaching, and curriculum development.
Lorelei Bunkowsky has served as a dedicated teacher, principal, and now in the Winnipeg School Division as Assistant Superintendent, for over 34 years. Deeply rooted in literacy intervention and inclusive education, she is known for her compassion, integrity, and unwavering commitment to helping children and families who need a difference made the most. Lorelei’s heart remains with her first love—teaching in the classroom where it all happens, where she discovered the power of curiosity, connection, and belonging to shape lifelong learning.
Dr. Finney Cherian is an Associate Professor at the University of Windsor. His research focuses on mentoring, social justice, and teacher education. He leads Professional Development School partnerships that advance collaborative, reflective, and educative mentorship practices supporting teacher candidate learning across practicum contexts.
Noa Daniel holds a Master of Education, is an educator, mentor, author, and educational consultant whose work centres on the power of relationships to transform learning and professional growth. She is the Founder and Director of The Mentoree, a mentorship institute that creates opportunities for educators to learn with and from one another through conversation, reflection, and connection.
Jennifer Della Mea has been a secondary English teacher, teacher-librarian, and department head for over twenty years with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board. Over her career, Jennifer has enjoyed building a classroom defined by curiosity, compassion, and a deep love of learning. From her earliest days as a new educator to her seasoned years as a mentor, she continues to center human connections as the foundation of her professional role in schools to foster positive relationships and growth. Jennifer lives in Bolton, Ontario with her family and loves reading, writing, nature, and peaceful walks with her dog, Cooper.
Kym Geddes holds an M.B.A and is a multi-award-winning broadcast journalist and former News Director at NEWSTALK1010 Toronto. For more than 25 years, Kym helped thousands of listeners understand the day's most complex stories—in minutes. Today, she draws on that newsroom experience to help educators, leaders, and students communicate with clarity, confidence, and purpose by transforming complex ideas into messages that are understandable, influential, and memorable.
Dr. Susan Hopkins is the Executive Director of The MEHRIT Centre, where she’s been leading Self-Reg initiatives across Canada and internationally for the past 10 years. With over 25 years of experience in education and child development, she has worked in diverse settings—from the Tłı̨chǫ region of the Northwest Territories to northern Italy, and across schools, early years programs, and government systems. Susan works with educators, early years professionals, universities, researchers, and policy leaders, always with a focus on improving the well-being of children and youth by supporting the adults who care for and guide them. She is the co-author, with Dr. Stuart Shanker, of Restoring Resilience (2025) and Self-Reg Schools: A Handbook for Educators (2019). Her work brings the science and practice of Shanker Self-Reg® to life through stories, strategies, and strong partnerships.
Luke LeClair is an Ontario Certified Teacher and Occasional Teacher with the York Region District School Board. He is a recent graduate of Lakehead University’s Bachelor of Education program, specializing in the Intermediate/Senior divisions with teachable subjects in History and Social Sciences. Throughout his teacher education and professional experiences, Luke has worked with students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 in a wide range of subjects and capacities. His teaching philosophy emphasizes inclusivity, student-centred learning, community, and creating classroom environments where students are supported, challenged, and confident in their abilities. Luke values mentorship as an important part of becoming an educator, having experienced firsthand how the guidance, encouragement, and perspectives of peers and students can shape both confidence and professional growth. Luke is committed to being an educator who listens to his students, advocates for their needs, builds community, strengthens rapport, and continually reflects on how he can better serve the communities he teaches in.
Joanne Lombardi is the Practicum and Community Engagement Manager in the Faculty of Education at Western University, where she leads initiatives that strengthen practicum, mentorship, and university-school partnerships. With more than four decades of experience in education, she has served as an elementary teacher, Special Education Coordinator, and principal, and was recognized as one of Canada's Outstanding Principals by The Learning Partnership in 2010. At Western, she is leading the development of the new one-year Bachelor of Education practicum model and the Western Practicum Partnership. Her work is driven by a commitment to authentic school-based learning, collaborative leadership, and meaningful partnerships that support the next generation of educators.
Sophia Lombardi is an educator with a passion for mentorship, learning, and creating meaningful connections within education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English and Philosophy from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Bachelor of Education from Lakehead University. She currently works in secondary schools across Toronto and hopes to pursue a Master of Education with a focus on Social Justice in Education. Through her experiences as both a mentor and mentee, Sophia has come to value mentorship as a meaningful space for growth, guidance, and shared learning. Her experiences in teaching, tutoring, and leadership continue to shape how she learns from and supports those around her. She hopes to continue contributing to educational communities where mentorship, connection, and learning are valued.
Laura Lee Millard Smith currently serves as an Instructor and Faculty Advisor in the Faculty of Education at Lakehead University, where she teaches secondary teacher candidates and contributes to faculty academic committees. With over two decades in public education, she has led diverse learning initiatives, established alternative education programs, and served as a high school administrator across multiple communities in Simcoe County. Laura Lee has presented extensively on educational outreach, student engagement, and leadership at provincial and international conferences, including events hosted by CESBA, ONLEAD, and the Ministry of Education. Her writing on supporting vulnerable learners has also been featured in the OPC Register. Active in governance and professional learning, she has served on the board for Ontario ASCD, held leadership roles with the Ontario Principals Council, and currently sits on the board for Sweet Charity.
Marg Moran is a distinguished instructional leader and retired school principal with 30 years of transformative experience in public education. Currently serving as an instructor for the Lakehead Faculty of Education, Marg channels her deep pedagogical expertise into cultivating the next generation of educators. With a deep passion for impactful pedagogy, she actively mentors new teachers, translates educational research into daily classroom success, and models high-quality instructional practices that drive student achievement. She firmly believes that intentional mentorship is the cornerstone of teacher retention and school success. By modeling exemplary pedagogy, collaborating on real-world classroom challenges, and motivating early-career teachers, she inspires future educators to achieve instructional excellence. Central to her philosophy is the power of authentic relationships; she recognizes that strong, supportive connections form the vital foundation for all successful teaching, mentorship, and school leadership.
Dr. Lana Parker is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education at the University of Windsor. Her primary area of research is in philosophy of education, with a focus on the intersubjective relation at the heart of teaching and learning. She is also interested in how neoliberalism and capitalism inflect those relations. Lana has done studies on mentoring relationships, and co-authored Mentoring Each Other: Teachers Listening, Learning, and Sharing to Create More Successful Classrooms with Dr. Diane Vetter. Lana’s nationally funded research currently includes a phenomenological analysis of how capitalism and social media shape youth engagement with information, including mis- and disinformation. She published an edited collection on this topic, Education in the age of Misinformation: Philosophical and Pedagogical Explorations (Palgrave Macmillan, 2023). She is a founding member of the Public Education Exchange and serves as co-editor at Philosophical Inquiry in Education.
Jason Pratt is a Principal in Brampton, Ontario, who believes that the greatest investment we can make in education is in one another. Guided by a passion for mentorship and professional growth, he works to create school communities where educators feel supported, inspired, and empowered to lead. He is in his 17th year as a secondary school administrator and has led teacher mentorship across five distinct school communities. Throughout his career, Jason has championed collaborative learning cultures that prioritize instructional excellence, student achievement, and staff well-being through leadership on Board and Family of Schools learning teams. He is committed to developing leadership capacity at all levels, encouraging educators to embrace innovation, reflect on their practice, and engage in meaningful professional learning. By fostering strong relationships built on trust, authenticity, and shared purpose, he helps create environments where both students and staff can thrive. Jason is particularly passionate about coaching and mentoring emerging leaders, building high-performing teams, and leveraging data-informed decision-making to improve student outcomes. He believes that sustainable school improvement is achieved when educators are empowered to recognize their strengths, take risks in their learning, and contribute their unique talents to the collective success of the school community. A lifelong learner himself, Jason is dedicated to cultivating inclusive, positive, and future-focused learning environments that prepare students for success while inspiring educators to continue growing in their craft. His leadership is grounded in the belief that when we invest in people, we unlock the potential for extraordinary impact in schools and beyond.
Dr. Tom Russell is Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Education, Queen’s University. He retired in 2019 after 42 years at Queen’s, where his teaching focused on secondary school science (physics in particular) and the improvement of teaching. His research focused on reflection-in-action, how individuals learn to teach, learning from experience, and self-study of teacher education practices. He was a co-editor of the 2004 International Handbook of Self-Study of Teaching and Teacher Education Practices and served as co-editor of the journal Studying Teacher Education during its first 15 years of publication. He has published numerous book chapters and co-edited more than a dozen books.
Domenic Scuglia is an accomplished educational leader with 41 years of experience in education, including eight years as director of education in both Saskatchewan and Ontario. Throughout his career, he has championed equity, diversity, and inclusion, working to ensure that every student is supported to achieve their highest potential. He is deeply committed to maximizing student success while building school communities where all staff, students, and families feel respected, valued, and have a genuine sense of belonging. As a retired director of education in Ontario, he continues to be guided by the belief that when everyone is welcomed and included, entire communities thrive.
Brian Weishar currently teaches in the Faculty of Education at Lakehead University Orillia. He is a classroom teacher and professional learning facilitator and coach, and has worked with educators from across Ontario and in other parts of Canada. He has presented at Reading for the Love of It (RFTLOI), National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE), and Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). He is also chair of the English Language Arts Network of Ontario (ELAN), which recently created many resources to support the teachers’ implementation of the new Language and English curriculum.
Syed Ali Nasir Zaidi is a PhD candidate at the University of Windsor and instructor at St. Clair College for AA&T. His research sits at the intersection of PDS, teacher candidate social psychology, and practicum settings, focusing on collaborative mentorship and writing-based reflective practices that foster self-reflexivity. Syed sees his research through complexity and chaos lenses to understand learning, relationships, and reflective practice in teacher education.
Conference Speakers (Thunder Bay)
Tyler Armstrong has devoted his professional and academic life to the betterment of the First Nation population. First and foremost, he is a Shkaabe (helper) to his people and is a member of Michikan Lake First Nation within Nishnawbe Aski Nation. Tyler has completed his Master of Education degree with a Specialization in Indigenous Education with a thesis that examined whether Indigenous ways of knowing, seeing, doing, and being contribute to an Indigenous scholar’s success, and a Master of Social Work Degree – Indigenous Field of Study that focused on holistic healing. Currently at Lakehead University, Tyler is the Program Coordinator for the Keewatinase Indigenous Teacher Education Program (KITEP), a program in which he helped to design. He is also a PhD student in the Joint PhD in Educational Studies at Lakehead University with a focus on Indigenous education program development.
Dr. Paul Cormier is a status Indian and proud member of the Red Rock Indian Band in Northern Ontario, Canada. He holds a Ph.D. in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Manitoba, a Master of Conflict Analysis and Management from Royal Roads University, and a Bachelor of Education from McGill University. He employs Aki Gakinoomaagewin to transform the education system from one of violence towards Indigenous peoples to spaces for peace in his role as researcher and mentor. His research interests include Indigenous peacebuilding, traditional Indigenous education systems, and considering research as a process for peacebuilding in Indigenous contexts. He primarily publishes in the areas of Indigenous peacebuilding, Indigenous education/learning systems, and Indigenous research methodologies. Dr. Cormier is an Associate Professor and Chair, Keewatinase – Indigenous Education at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay.
Jennifer Della Mea has been a secondary English teacher, teacher-librarian, and department head for over twenty years with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board. Over her career, Jennifer has enjoyed building a classroom defined by curiosity, compassion, and a deep love of learning. From her earliest days as a new educator to her seasoned years as a mentor, she continues to center human connections as the foundation of her professional role in schools to foster positive relationships and growth. Jennifer lives in Bolton, Ontario with her family and loves reading, writing, nature, and peaceful walks with her dog, Cooper.
Mike Filipetti is a former principal and Special Education teacher from Thunder Bay Catholic Schools and is currently the Intermediate / Senior Division Coordinator at the Faculty of Education at Lakehead University, supporting teacher candidates, associate teachers, and faculty advisors during practicum. Outside of work, he is an active educational consultant focusing on policy, special education, and principal mentoring and still finds opportunities to present on technology and implementing artificial intelligence as a Google for Education Certified Innovator and a Google Champion.
Kym Geddes holds an M.B.A and is a multi-award-winning broadcast journalist and former News Director at NEWSTALK1010 Toronto. For more than 25 years, Kym helped thousands of listeners understand the day's most complex stories—in minutes. Today, she draws on that newsroom experience to help educators, leaders, and students communicate with clarity, confidence, and purpose by transforming complex ideas into messages that are understandable, influential, and memorable.
Sarah Gibbon has been an elementary teacher with Lakehead Public Schools for over 25 years. Throughout this time, she has remained dedicated to mentoring and nurturing the next generation of educators. She gives teacher candidates experience working and learning in a responsive and student-centred classroom, which emphasizes a growth mindset, collaboration, critical thinking, and inclusion. Sarah has also been a contract lecturer in language at Lakehead University for the past 10 years, directly sharing her expertise and modelling best practices. Her work in classrooms at the university closely aligns with her beliefs and philosophy of teaching at the elementary level, or at any level or age.
Dr. Ruth G. Kane, originally from New Zealand, is a full professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa. Ruth has served as Director of Teacher Education from 2006 to 2013 and Director of Graduate Studies (Anglophone) from 2015 to 2021 and 2024. Her research has included: study of the mentoring and supervision of new teachers in New Zealand and Ontario, the preparation of teachers for urban schools; and equity in teaching and teacher education in Canada and internationally. She has co-led a 3-year ArcticNet-funded study of sustainable Inuit-centered teacher education for Inuit Nunangat. Most recently, her work has focused on the ways in which communities of practice enacted through virtual networks can support transformational learning and sustainable changes in practice. This mixed-method study has the potential to advance our understandings about equitable, accessible ways to address social issues for isolated or otherwise marginalized populations.
Dr. Trista Hollweck is a pracademic who integrates the worlds of research, policy, and practice and leads educational networks at local, provincial, national, and international levels. A former teacher, vice-principal, and school district consultant, Trista researches and writes about teacher induction, mentoring and coaching programs, educational networks, women’s educational leadership, learning through play, scaling educational innovations, and systemic change. Trista is passionate about collaborative-based professional learning and development, especially mentoring and coaching in education. Her doctoral dissertation was a case study on the Western Quebec School Board’s Teacher Induction Program (TIP), an initiative she designed, implemented, and led from 2008-2016. As an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa (Ontario, Canada), Trista designed and teaches the graduate-level course “Mentoring and Coaching in Professional Contexts.”
Dr. Julian Kitchen, professor emeritus, was a secondary school teacher for 13 years before becoming a teacher educator (University of Toronto) in 1999 and a professor at Brock University from 2006 to 2025. Dr. Kitchen is the author of Relational Teacher Education and Professionalism, Law and the Ontario Education. He has examined teacher education approaches in several international handbook chapters. Dr. Kitchen edited the journal Studying Teacher Education and numerous books, including the International Handbook of Self-Study of Teaching and Teacher Education Practices (2nd edition) and two volumes of Initial Teacher Education in Ontario.
Dr. Claire Mooney is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at Trent University. She is a mathematics educator working with undergraduate, pre-service, and graduate students. She is interested in the experience of pre-service teachers as they rediscover and explore mathematics. She has written professional texts for pre-service teachers in the UK to support their development as confident teachers of mathematics. She also enjoys music and the creative arts and recognises the importance of creativity in all aspects of learning. More recent work has focused on educational leadership and how this impacts the work of faculty within higher education.
Jason Pilot is Chair of Science at Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute, and contract lecturer at the Faculty of Education at Lakehead University. He has been teaching for 26 years, 25 in secondary school, teaching Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Grades 9 & 10 Science. He has facilitated many workshops on Assessment and Evaluation, Inquiry-based Learning, and integration of Technology, including AI, in the classroom. Jason has been a long-time mentor for teacher candidates.
Matt Roy is a science teacher with 20 years of experience in Public Education. After attending Queen's University for his B.Sc. in Physics and B.Ed. Matt taught middle school science in Colombia for two years before returning to Canada. Over the next decade, Matt worked for both Lakehead Public Schools as a classroom teacher and Lakehead University as a sessional lecturer and faculty advisor as he navigated a long stint of precarious employment. He has since worked as the Experiential Learning Resource Teacher for Lakehead Public Schools and now happily teaches Physics at Westgate High School, where he spends time with mousetrap cars and rockets. Matt is heavily involved in his union (OSSTF) and wears many hats, including chairing the Lakehead University Faculty of Education Teacher Education Liaison Committee.
Dr. Geri Salinitri is Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Education at the University of Windsor, with a distinguished 40-year career in education. Her professional journey began as a secondary science teacher and counselor, progressing to roles as Associate Professor and Associate Dean within the Faculty of Education. Throughout her academic tenure, Dr. Salinitri has mentored over 30 graduate students, many of whom have become successful leaders in the field of education. Her research portfolio includes more than 30 publications and presentations focused on mentoring in teacher education, STEM education, at-risk youth, skills development, teacher education, and restorative practices.
Dr. Clayton Smith is a Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Windsor, with a distinguished 40-year career in higher education. He has engaged in higher education administration and teaching at four post-secondary institutions in Canada and the U.S. and completed two terms as vice-provost at the University of Windsor, where he oversaw a broad portfolio that included academic governance, internationalization, enrolment management, and student affairs. His research areas include international student engagement, open education, promising practices for teaching international learners, student mentoring in higher education, student success, and strategic enrolment management.
Xuan Tai Nguyen is a PhD student at the University of Windsor with research interests in education, student engagement, and educational technology. His work focuses on improving learning experiences and support systems for diverse student populations through research, mentorship, and innovative educational practices.