Strengthening Governance
ASBA provided a variety of both in-person and virtual professional development and learning resources for members through General Meetings, Speakers’ Corners, advocacy sessions, a Trustee Governance Program and a new online learning management system. Additionally, expert services were offered by ASBA’s three Education Consultants.
Strategic Priority Goals
Goal 1: Provide professional development and learning resources for trustees
Goal 2: Provide consulting services and support for school boards
Fall and Spring General Meetings
ASBA’s 2023 Fall and 2024 Spring General Meetings included a professional development day, providing an in-person opportunity for trustees to learn with, and from, each other on topics integral to the work of trustees and system leaders. Sessions featured thought-provoking insights from industry experts.
Keynotes
- Todd Hirsch delivered Adapting to Sudden, Unwanted Change: Lessons from Spiders in Space, drawing insights from his book Spiders in Space to explore how leaders can navigate unexpected challenges and adapt to new realities.
- Dr. Jodie Lobana presented The GPT Horizon: Fostering Innovation while Navigating Risks in Alberta’s School Board, offering an overview of Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT) and their transformative potential in education.
- Shawn Kanungo led Strategy in a World of Disruption, providing a roadmap for the future and showcasing innovative approaches to staying competitive and relevant in an evolving landscape.
93%
overall satisfaction with the 2023 Fall General Meeting
99%
overall satisfaction with the 2024 Spring General Meeting
Virtual Learning
In addition to in-person professional development, ASBA hosted a series of virtual Speakers’ Corners, including an international-level session with the Education Commission of the States. These sessions provided valuable insights into research and practices influencing school board governance in the United States and beyond.
ASBA also offered advocacy sessions designed to equip members with a deeper understanding of the provincial political landscape and the broader impacts of federal government decisions on Alberta’s school boards.
By facilitating these learning opportunities, ASBA continues to support trustees in making informed, strategic decisions that enhance education governance and student success across the province.
Key topics covered included:
- Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan
- Career Education
- Collaboration with Municipalities
- Exemplary Practices Towards Reconciliation in Education
- Insights & Research on Federal Issues
- Provincial Political Landscape
- Putting Data to Work/Faisons parler les données: Francophone and French as a Second Language Teacher Recruitment and Retention
- Research, Practices, Trends, and Issues in U.S. Education
- Trustee Code of Conduct and Recall Legislation, and Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers and Teacher Leaders
Trustee Governance Program
Tailored to Alberta school boards, ASBA’s Trustee Governance Program is exclusively available through the Association’s partnership with the University of Calgary Continuing Education. This program empowered trustees as leaders in the education system and allowed them to further their professional development through a university certificate program. Upon completion of all program modules, trustee participants received a certificate from ASBA at the 2024 Spring General Meeting.
LearnASBA
In response to member feedback, a new learning management system, LearnASBA, was developed with new and updated learning resources and microlearning. This platform will offer increased flexibility and accessibility to members to learn about topics relevant to their roles as trustees. Microlearning may take on many different forms, from learning modules, interactive maps, infographics to videos, each to be completed in under ten minutes.
Consulting Services
ASBA’s Education Consultants developed customized plans for members for evaluations, reviews, recruitments, and workshops, with select services available in both English and French. These seasoned experts bring deep industry knowledge, process expertise, and a strong network to support school boards in achieving excellence in governance. To ensure equitable access for all member boards, ASBA absorbs costs related to travel, meals, accommodations and administrative expenses. This commitment allows members, regardless of location, to benefit from professional services, targeted professional development and leadership support designed to strengthen governance.
