2026 NOIIE Symposium
Hosts
Tashi Kirincic
Coordinator of Inclusive Literacy Practices, Secondary Schools (SD 37)
Tashi Kirincic is a teacher-leader in the Delta School District, located on the traditional territory of the Tsawwassen and Musqueam People. She is passionate about cultivating and sustaining spaces where teachers can connect, get curious about teaching and learning, and work together to create powerful and inclusive learning environments. Tashi is the Coordinator of Inclusive Literacy Practices for Secondary Schools in Delta. She received her Masters of Language and Literacy Education from the University of British Columbia and is a graduate of UBC’s Transformative Education Leadership Program.
Lori Burger
District Vice Principal of Indigenous Education, Equity and Excellence & Director of Instruction
Lori Burger is from the Nisga’a Nation, from the community of Gitlaxt’aamiks in the Nass valley. She is Giskaast (Killerwhale), from the house of Wisin xbiltkw, and Cree from Treaty 6 territory in Saskatchewan on her mother’s side, as well as settler heritages on her father’s side. Lori is committed to uplifting Indigenous voices and passionate about Indigenous representation both professionally and personally. She cares deeply about Indigenous representation and reconciliation learning, and is actively involved in evaluating Indigenous literatures and resources for use in the K-12 public school system. She has worked with the Association of Book Publishers of BC Indigenous Books for Schools and the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) on authenticating First Peoples resources.
Lori has been involved in Indigenous education for over twenty years in roles spanning from Support Worker to Teacher, to Vice Principal and District Administration. Lori is currently the District Vice Principal of Indigenous Education, Equity and Excellence and also Director of Instruction in School District 52 in Prince Rupert. Her personal and professional focus continues to be equity and empowerment of Indigenous youth, and Indigenous education for all.
Keynote Speakers
Ron Berger
Senior Advisor, EL Education
Ron Berger is a well-known national and international keynote speaker focused on inspiring a commitment to quality, character, and citizenship in students. He is the Senior Advisor at EL Education, a nonprofit school improvement organization that partners with public schools and districts across America, leads professional learning, and creates open educational resources.
Ron is the author of best-selling education books, including: An Ethic of Excellence, A Culture of Quality, Leaders of Their Own Learning, Transformational Literacy, Management in the Active Classroom, Learning that Lasts, and We Are Crew: A Teamwork Approach to School Culture. He was a professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he did his graduate work. He founded and directs the website Models of Excellence: The Center for High-Quality Student Work, which holds the world’s largest collection of beautiful K-12 student work.
Ron was a public school teacher and master carpenter in rural Massachusetts for over 25 years and received the Autodesk Foundation National Teacher of the Year award.
Jo Chrona
Speaker, Education Consultant and Advocate, and Author
Jo Chrona is a speaker, education consultant and advocate, and author of Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies: An Act for Reconciliation and Anti-Racist Education (2022). Jo Chrona is Ts’msyen, and a member of the Kitsumkalum First Nation. She also has European ancestry. Jo’s professional experience includes over 25 years teaching in both the K-12 and post-secondary systems in BC, working as a Policy Analyst and Curriculum Manager for the First Nations Education Steering Committee, an Advisor to the BC Ministry of Education, and a Faculty Associate in SFU’s BC Teacher Education Program. Jo has also been involved in curriculum development and resource writing, professional learning through inquiry networks, and Indigenous and anti-racist education. She participated in aspects of educational transformation in BC’s K-12 system, as well as managing and contributing to the development of authentic Indigenous teacher resources.
Jo has a Bachelor of Arts from SFU, a Diploma in Education and Master’s Degree in Educational Technology from the University of British Columbia (UBC), and completed UBC’s Transformative Educational Leadership Program (TELP). She also maintains her BC Teacher Certification. In between speaking, consulting, and providing professional learning sessions that focus on the intersections of Indigenous and anti-racist education, and how Indigenous pedagogies and high-expectations relationships create stronger educational experiences for all, Jo is co-writing a book focussing on the intersections between assessment, equity, well-being, and Indigenous pedagogies.
Judy Halbert & Linda Kaser
Co-directors, Networks of Inquiry and Indigenous Education
Co-leaders, Transformative Educational Leadership Program, UBC
Dr. Judy Halbert and Dr. Linda Kaser are co-directors of the Networks of Inquiry and Indigenous Education (NOIIE) and co-leaders of the Transformative Educational Leadership Program at UBC (TELP). They have served as teachers, principals, district leaders and have seconded directors at the Ministry of Education. Judy and Linda consult extensively with school systems internationally, and are deeply committed to achieving equity and quality for all learners—and to networking for innovation and improvement across systems.
Judy Halbert and Linda Kaser were identified by the Big Change Organization as Pioneers for their work with NOIIE and in 2019, along with Debbie Leighton Stephens, they were awarded the Cmolik Prize for the enhancement of public education in British Columbia.
Judy and Linda are co-authors of Leading Through Spirals of Inquiry (2022), The Spiral Playbook (2017), Spirals of Inquiry for Equity and Quality (2013), Leadership Mindsets: Innovation and Learning in the Transformation of Schools (2009) and with Helen Timperley, A Framework for Transforming Learning in Schools: Innovation and the Spiral of Inquiry (2014).
Jillian Lewis/DJ GrooveHeart
Education Consultant & DJ
Jillian Lewis is an educator with over 30 years of experience teaching, learning, and leading in British Columbia. She has served as a classroom teacher, elementary school principal, and now independent education consultant, and has always had a passion for building community and facilitating collaborative inquiry. Jillian is deeply committed to nurturing the social and emotional well-being of all learners and those who care for them. She is a life-long learner and a self-taught photographer and musician. Her most recent field of study has been behind the decks as a DJ, sharing joy through music and dance.
Kath Murdoch
Seastar Educational Consulting
Kath Murdoch is a teacher with over 40 years experience working with children and educators. The author of many popular books for teachers, Kath works around the world to share and explore her passion for the power of inquiry to transform teaching and learning in schools.
Leona Prince
Director of Instruction for Indigenous Education, School District 91
Siy Leona Prince sadnee. Lhts’umusyoo habilh dzees zilh. Lusilyoo haba dza gel dzut. Sne’ Joyce Prince tl’a Sbeb Gordon Barfoot habatnee. Leona Prince is a Dakelh woman from the Lake Babine Nation and Nak’azdli and belongs to the Lhts’umusyoo Clan. She is a descendant of Stiche and Chief Kwah. She is the mother of three amazing children and is a passionate award-winning educator.
In 2017, she was awarded the Alumni of the Year award for Professional Excellence by the Alumini Association of UNBC, her alma mater. She also received an Indspire Award for Educational Leadership at the 2018 Guiding the Journey Educator Awards. Leona is a sought-after speaker and has authored two children’s books, A Dance Through the Seasons, and Be a Good Ancestor which was released in the spring of 2022.
Breakout Session #1
Friday May 8, 1:00 – 2:00pm
STEVESTON ROOM
Grounded to Grow: How courage, collaboration and curiosity anchor and elevate our inquiry journey (Australia)
Like a river, the inquiry culture of Riverside Primary School is continually shaped by certain conditions. Drawing on lived practice, we will share insights into how an intentional focus on community, courage, collaboration and curiosity has successfully nourished multiple, ongoing journeys of inquiry for over a decade.
Presenters: Kath Murdoch (consultant) Carmel McGee (Riverside Primary School)
LULU ISLAND ROOM
Small Moves, Real Change: Using the Spiral to Ground and Grow Practice (BC, Canada)
In this session, Sandra and Tashi will share stories from their respective districts that reveal how the spiral comes alive in their day‑to‑day practice and how it supports purposeful shifts in learning. You’ll have the opportunity to reflect on your own context and consider how the spiral can help clarify focus, deepen collaboration, and strengthen your work with educators.
Presenters: Tashi Kirincic (SD 37) and Sandra McAulay (SD 70)
GULF OF GEORGIA ROOM
Indigenous Impact Initiative for Systemic Change (BC, Canada)
How can we continue to transform schools and classrooms to be places of belonging and relevance for Indigenous learners? School teams across four BC school districts share how they use collaborative inquiry to explore how to support the achievement and thriving of Indigenous learners and create systemic change.
Presenters: Jo Chrona, Jana Fox (SD 54), Lori Burger (SD 52), Guest Speakers from Indigenous Impact Inquiry Teams
BRIDGEPORT ROOM
From Children’s Perspectives to System Change (Sweden, Catalonia & Latvia)
Anna and Patrik (Sweden) explore children’s perspectives in learning. Begonya (Catalonia) shares leading professional conversations using Timperley’s framework for teachers. Zane (Latvia) presents the early journey of a tri-district network pursuing deeper learning.
Presenters: Anna Fahlin (Principal, Stockholm, Sweden), Patrik Sjoberg (Principal, Stockholm, Sweden), Zane Olina (Zane Olina, Founder of MIIT (Deeper Learning Education Network), Latvia), Begonya Folch
Breakout Session #2
Friday May 8, 2:15 – 3:15pm
STEVESTON ROOM
Sag̱aytg̱awdi: Grounding Assessment in Indigenous Knowledges for Equity and Well-Being (BC, Canada)
How can approaches to classroom assessment help create more inclusive environments where all students can achieve and thrive, while respecting and celebrating their unique identities and cultures? This session explores how Indigenous knowledges can inform assessment for learning strategies to create responsive learning experiences grounded in relationship, identity, and authenticity.
Presenters: Jo Chrona, Brooke Moore (SD 24)
LULU ISLAND ROOM
The First 20 Days – Empowering Educators Through Pedagogy and Instructional Routines (BC, Canada)
This session will share how building pedagogical and instructional foundations through thoughtful planning can empower K-7 and new-to-career teachers in their first years of teaching. Join us in exploring the Richmond developed tool of “The First 20 Days of Teaching and Learning” and how it supports our educators for those beginning years and beyond.
Presenters: Brooke Douglas (SD 38) and Linda Chau (SD38)
GULF OF GEORGIA ROOM
Spiralling Through Story Studio (BC, Canada)
In this hands-on breakout session, you will experience the Story Studio Framework: Inspire, Create, Share and learn how it has been used as a transformative tool at a systems, classroom, and individual level. The Spiral of Inquiry has inspired the evolution of Story Studio over the past 8 years.
Presenters: Claire D’Aoust (SD 37)
BRIDGEPORT ROOM
Deeper Learning Strategies and Concepts (USA)
Leading with Symmetry: In this session we will explore how to use symmetry to support our school transformation goals. Symmetry is that parallelism between the work of adults in the system and the work we hope that teachers will do with students. How do we align our leadership moves, with the moves we want teachers to make in the classroom, with the learning experiences we want students to have? We are seeking much more ambitious experiences for all students, which will require different kinds of schools and learning experiences for teachers and other adults, which will in turn require different actions and roles on the part of school and district leaders. How do we think about these ideas in terms of our transformation work at our own schools?
Presenter: Alisa Berger (Executive Director, Deeper Learning Institute)
Main Ballroom/Outside
Lessons from Nature – Nurturing networks of nature-based practices (BC, Canada)
Networks offer a space for connections, collaboration, and being in alignment with like-hearted people. We come to this learning with humility, gratitude, and curiosity. This session is an invitation to consciously guide learners in a counter cultural way of thinking by slowing down, going outside, and deepening our understanding and knowledge of land-based pedagogy. We will explore how lessons in nature guided our thinking and actions to shift cultures of practice, systems thinking, and thoughtfully integrate land-based teachings into our ways of being and leading. Sharing stories from the Nature Schools Network, we will highlight how this is informing our own practice and the practice of colleagues around the province. Come away with ideas, a reaffirmed sense of belonging, and an invitation to further grow this important work. Our future depends on it.
Presenters: April Pikkarainen (SD 38) & Kevin Vines (SD 38)
2026 NOIIE Symposium
Strong Roots: Rising Up
Dates & Times
May 8th
7:30am – 8:30am PT (Breakfast & Registration)
8:30am – 5:00pm PT (Symposium)
May 9th
7:30am – 8:15am PT (Breakfast)
8:15am – 12:15pm PT (Symposium)
Location
Westin Wall Centre (Airport)
3099 Corvette Way, Richmond, BC
www.westinvancouverairport.com
Transportation
Skytrain: The Capstan Station is about a 2 minute walk from the Symposium hotel. There is also additional parking at the Bridgeport Skytrain Station.
Parking: Paid parking at the Symposium venue is limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. A coupon code for parking onsite will be provided closer to the date. Alternatively, there is overflow parking available at the building across the street from the hotel.
Accommodation
We have a limited room block with a discounted group rate of $290+tax at the Westin Wall Centre (Symposium venue). Book early if you wish to stay here. The deadline to book a discounted room is April 6th, 2026 or until sold out. Please do not book and hold rooms you intend to release later. 72 Hour Cancellation Policy — Changes and Cancellations must be made 3 days before arrival to avoid charges.
Online: 2026 NOIIE Symposium Room Booking
Phone: 604-303-6565 (indicating “2025 NOIIE Symposium”)
Email: reservations@wallcentre.com (indicating “2025 NOIIE Symposium”)
Once the room block at the Westin is full, please see a list below of additional accommodation options in close proximity to the Symposium venue. Please note, schools and districts often qualify for a government rate.
Versante Hotel (7 minute walk)
River Rock Resort (10 minute walk)
Radisson Hotel Vancouver Airport (11 minute walk)
Days Inn by Wyndham Vancouver Airport (8 minute walk)
Hampton Inn by Hilton Vancouver/Richmond Airport (7 minute walk)
We greatly acknowledge and thank our NOIIE sponsors, who help make the 2026 Symposium possible:
