Ciera Vadnais is a third year Education student at the University of Saskatchewan. Her teaching areas are Secondary level Biology and Drama. Having completed one placement in an urban school and one in a rural school - and thoroughly enjoying both experiences - she looks forward to her extended practicum this upcoming fall semester. Ciera has served as a Peer Mentor for two semesters and enjoys contributing to Saskatoon’s community theatre scene, reading dystopian fiction, and pursuing creative art projects in her spare time.

Celia Deschambeault has been an educator for over 20 years. She has worked in many capacities from being an elementary teacher, high school teacher, vice-principal, principal, coordinator, consultant, superintendent and finally director of education. She holds a Bachelor of Education with distinction, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Education and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree at the University of Regina. Celia is currently the Director of Education for Nisto Awasisak Memorial School in Cumberland House Cree Nation. She has made phenomenal changes in the school which includes making Swampy Cree language and Land-Based Education a foundation. Those changes support decolonization and the revitalization of Swampy Cree Language. Celia is also a Cree Language resource developer and has recently supported Saskatoon Catholic, Sask. Rivers, Northwest School Division and Meadow Lake Tribal Council in Language and decolonization. Her passion is making meaningful change in education.

Tansi, my name is Jackie Durocher, an Indigenous Educator, leader and advocate for Northern Saskatchewan. I am a proud member of Lac La Ronge Band and Buffalo Narrows is my home community. My two children and 4 Grandchildren are what drive my passions in creating a better Saskatchewan for them and future generations.

For the past 32 years, I have navigated the education system in Northern Lights School Division #113. Serving in diverse capacities ranging from elementary teacher, Principal, and currently serving as the Superintendent of Education. I have served over 14 communities in Northern Saskatchewan in the past 7 years. My passion for education is rooted in Mental Health Education and the Decolonization of Education.

Davin Hildebrand is currently the Deputy Director of Education with the Northwest School Division.  He has been a LEADS member for the past 11 years working on a number of portfolios, including Human Resources.  Davin also teaches sessional courses at the University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina, University of Alberta, Brandon University and Western University.  He has three busy children and is married to Courtney, a school principal.

Amy Orth started her teaching career in 2004 and has been a school administrator since 2012.  She likes to learn about leadership and is passionate about exploring ways for systems and organizations to improve their performance – how ever that might be defined.  Amy works with STF Professional Learning to facilitate learning opportunities for other educational leaders and recently completed a McDowell research project called “Female Leaders and their Impact on School Culture in Saskatchewan”.    She has two small kids and one husband and when not working, can usually be found making someone a snack.  

Susan began her career in education in Meadow Lake in 1997. She brings a deep commitment to supporting teacher growth and student learning. Susan holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and has conducted research on effective professional development through a McDowell Foundation research grant. Throughout her career, she has mentored and coached teachers as U of S Cooperating teacher, Learning Coach, Catalyst Teacher, and School Administrator.

Now serving as a Superintendent of Learning with the North East School Division, Susan works alongside a dynamic team of principals, teachers, and division staff to enhance student learning, assessment practices, and teacher capacity across the system.

She balances her professional life as the mom of a teenager, a proud grandma, and an acreage-dweller who loves gardening, home projects, golfing, and time outdoors.

Dallas Puto (B.Ed. M.Ed.) is a retired high school & elementary school principal in Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools and Red Deer Catholic Schools. He has also served as an Executive Director for a non-profit and an Educational Advisor for the WHL. Raised on a farm near Hafford, SK, Dallas now works as a Sessional Lecturer at the University of Saskatchewan, as a consultant and copywriter.

I have the privilege of being a Superintendent of Schools with Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division.  In this role I get to support our school-based leadership teams here in our division as well as develop community engagement and communications at the division level.  I have spent most of my career in education in Alberta having taught and been a school-based administrator in two divisions there. I have a passion for creating compassionate learning communities in the spaces I serve and completed my Doctoral research in this topic using Integral Theory.   I moved to Prince Albert in 2022 to join the incredible work being done in Sask Rivers and to be able to live and play in both the prairies and the forest. 

Jennifer Wilde is the proud principal of Lawson Heights School in Saskatoon and a dedicated leader with a deep passion for supporting educators and building strong, collaborative teams. With a career rooted in both classroom experience and system leadership, Jennifer has served as a Coordinator of Early Learning as well as a Coordinator of Mathematics and Assessment with Saskatoon Public Schools. Formerly known as Jennifer Brokofsky, she brings a wealth of insight into the intersection of curriculum, pedagogy, and professional growth.

Jennifer is especially passionate about the foundational importance of early learning and the critical role leaders play in empowering the educators who shape children’s earliest school experiences. In her current leadership role and throughout her career, she has championed a relational, strengths-based approach that nurtures teacher agency and fosters a sense of shared purpose.

Outside of school, Jennifer is the proud mom of three children and is engaged to her best friend Jason. Her session will draw on both lived experience and leadership practice, offering heartfelt and practical guidance for aspiring and early career leaders supporting early years education.