A specialist council of the Alberta Teacher's Association
About Us
We are a vibrant volunteer group of teachers, counsellors, instructional leaders, and administrators. Our work experience, education, and skill set is varied among us. What we have in common, however, is the love of teaching students with diverse learning needs and supporting teachers in doing so confidently and competently.
Meet The Executive
President
Jennifer Lacourse
Meet Jennifer, your President and a passionate educator dedicated to transforming the educational experience for all students regardless of ability or behaviours. Jennifer has been an active member of the council since 2018. With a fervent commitment to inclusion, Jennifer believes in the power of diversity, actively fostering an environment that celebrates differences and promotes a sense of belonging. Jennifer currently works with Red Deer Public Schools and collaborates seamlessly with parents, fellow educators, and support staff to ensure a holistic approach to her students' well-being, making her a driving force for positive change in both her classroom and the broader community. Through her infectious enthusiasm for inclusive education, Jennifer is not just a teacher; she is a catalyst for building a more compassionate and understanding society. Jennifer is passionate about providing professional development to members and has also added association instructor to her resume!
Treasurer
Carryl Bennett
Carryl has taught Grades 4 - 12 in public and Catholic schools, in French immersion and English streams.
Currently, she is teaching junior high in a K-9 school in Greater St Albert Catholic Schools. In her work with the ATA, she is Local President of Greater St Albert Catholic Teachers’ Local 23 and President of North Central Teachers’ Convention Association. She is so excited to be joining CIE as treasurer and to learn how she can serve Alberta teachers with this council. Carryl brings a diverse perspective to the council as she has served on the executive of other specialist councils for the ATA.
Secretary
Aurelie Smith
With over 16 years of experience in elementary education, Aurelie Smith exemplifies a deep commitment to teaching, learning, and leadership. Her career began in Montreal, Quebec, where she cultivated a love for guiding young learners. She later continued her journey in Fort McMurray, where she successfully taught French Immersion, served as a divisional APPLE Schools Facilitator, and worked as a Classroom Support Teacher in an administrative capacity.
Now serving as Vice Principal of a French Immersion school, Aurelie is eager to explore new and meaningful ways to promote inclusion and strengthen a sense of belonging for all students and families. She is enthusiastic and passionate about education—devoted to teaching, leading, and lifelong learning.
Aurelie’s compassion and dedication are evident in her unwavering commitment to supporting families and empowering teachers. She fosters growth through differentiated instruction, collaboration, and a shared belief that every learner can succeed.
An active participant in the Council for Inclusive Education (CIE) conferences, Aurelie continuously seeks opportunities to expand her knowledge and share innovative practices that benefit the Fort McMurray community.
Having completed her Master of Educational Leadership, Aurelie strives to inspire and equip others to become confident, compassionate leaders. Her deep passion for inclusion and education continues to drive her work as she leads with heart, purpose, and vision toward equitable and joyful learning for all.
Communications
Kelsey Bagnall
Kelsey Bagnall presently serves as the Learning Supports Specialist at Rocky View Schools. With a rich 16-year history of teaching experience spanning from Kindergarten to Grade 12, she holds a Master of Education degree in Special Education from the University of Alberta. Her areas of expertise and deep-seated interests encompass Inclusive Education, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Assistive Technology, Social Emotional Learning, Play-Based Learning and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports.
ATA District Representative
Jay Procktor
Jay Procktor has been a Division One teacher for the majority of his seventeen-year career with Edmonton Public Schools. He is currently working with four elementary schools to develop an elementary to junior high transition program to enhance the support and success of vulnerable students. Jay is one of the Alberta Teachers’ Association District Representative for Edmonton McMurray and he’s very pleased to be working with the Council for Inclusive Education.
Conference Director
Cathy Wiederick
Cathy is currently the Conference Director for the Council. She has retired from a fulfilling and diverse teaching career spanning nearly 30 years, most recently as a full-time educator with the Calgary Board of Education. Throughout her career, Cathy has been a teacher in both inclusive and Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) settings, a science and GATE learning leader, a school-wide instructional coach, and system specialist for gifted learners. Cathy believes deeply in the power of removing barriers to meet learners where they are. She feels privileged and excited to continue supporting teachers as an executive member of the CIE.
Past President
Arlene Foley
Arlene has been an active member of the Council for Inclusive Education for many years serving as the regional president for the Northwest, the President of the council for two years, and is currently the past president. Arlene has always been a passionate advocate for inclusive education and is committed to supporting teachers to embody an inclusive mindset.
Arlene has earned her graduate degree in Inclusive Education with a specialty in Universal Design for Learning and has worked for many years as a Learning Support Teacher. She has obtained a Graduate Certificate in School Leadership and is currently working as a vice principal for the Grande Prairie Public School Division.
Arlene’s educational beliefs are highly influenced by her conviction that all members of a school community are unique, capable, and valuable. She believes that presuming competence creates a mindset that promotes equity and inclusion for everyone to reach their full potential. Arlene believes that providing a safe and caring environment where diversity is celebrated and valued, allows individuals to feel comfortable to take risks, share ideas, and bring their unique experiences to the school community.
Arlene remains committed to the council’s mission to provide educators with increased knowledge and understanding of students with diverse needs through professional development, communication, and policy.
Journal Editor
Stephen Hart
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With over two decades of teaching and leadership experience, Stephen brings a deep commitment to inclusivity and a strong editorial skillset to the Council for Inclusive Education. In the diverse Canadian and international jurisdictions Stephen has worked as an educator, he has consistently focused his efforts on advancing equitable practices. As an employee of the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), he has served as a teacher and school leader across multiple divisions and has gained valuable experience in numerous specialized settings and community contexts. Stephen is currently seconded to the Siksika Board of Education (SBE) where he has the privilege of serving as a System Principal. In this role, he actively engages in knowledge exchange and relationship building initiatives in support of reconciliation and equity. As a scholar with a particular interest in inclusive education policy discourse, Stephen regularly contributes to journals and conferences as an author, presenter, and peer reviewer. Such work has helped Stephen maintain strong connections with various organizations and individuals committed to promoting social justice in education. An active member of the Association both provincially and locally, Stephen currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the ATA’s Educational Trust. He is also a past member of the Calgary Local 38 Communications Committee.
Webmaster
Hannah Jenkins
After nearly 8 years immersed in the junior high life, Hannah brings a special passion for the middle grades to our team. As a grade 8 Generalist and LST teacher with the Grande Prairie Public School Division and a proud alum of the University of Alberta with a degree in Secondary Ed, she's truly an enthusiastic Jane of all trades!
Hannah's dedication to education goes beyond the classroom. She speaks about Universal Design for Learning with unmatched fervor, coaches basketball with skill and heart, and is always eager to share her wealth of knowledge.
When she's not shaping young minds or hitting the court, you can catch Hannah putting her Art Major to use through mesmerizing oil paintings of landscapes. She also finds solace in the pages of rich fantasy novels and enjoys the thrill of video games, often shared with friends.
ATA Staff Officer
Tiff Pino
Tiff Pino (she/her) is an Executive Staff Officer of Professional Development for the Alberta Teachers' Association. With 20 years of experience as an educator in Edmonton Catholic Schools, she has taught a variety of subjects from grades 7-12 in traditional and outreach settings and held leadership roles as a Learning Coach and Graduation Coach.
A passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, Tiff has made significant contributions in her community and within educational spaces and she is currently serving as Staff Officer for the ATA Council for Inclusive Education. She has presented to numerous groups, including the Greater Edmonton Teacher Convention Association (GETCA), the Educational Society of Edmonton, and the Egale “Identity” Conference in Toronto, sharing her experiences as a queer person and educator, and her commitment to creating safer spaces.
Tiff has also represented Alberta teachers as a member of the Canadian Teachers' Advisory Circle (CTAC) for the Canadian Museum of Human Rights supporting the creation of educational resources for teachers nationwide. Beyond her professional life, Tiff takes immense pride in being the partner of her amazing wife, who is a teacher in Edmonton Public Schools, and Momma to their awesome 10-year-old twins. She is also a talented home cook who appeared in episode 3 of Netflix’s “Cook at All Costs.” Tiff’s ultimate hope is to leave every space she enters a safer one for others.
University Liaison
Joy Chadwick
Joy has extensive K-12 school experience as a teacher, resource teacher, curriculum leader, system specialist, and school leader. As a faculty member in the Department of Education, her instruction focuses on exceptional learners, inclusive teaching practices, field and practicum supervision, curriculum foundations, and assessment. Her present research interests include the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning focused on threshold concepts in teaching, inclusive pedagogy, and preservice teacher wellness.
Areas of Instruction
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Language Development and Literacy
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Practicum Supervision
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Field and Practicum Coordination
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Inclusive Teacher Practices
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Exceptional Learners
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Curriculum Foundations
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Assessment
Areas of Scholarship
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Threshold Concepts in Teaching
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Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
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Preservice Teacher Wellness
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Teaching Reading and Literacy Tutoring
Selected Publications
Chadwick, J. (2022) When students become our teachers. In K. Badley & M. Hughes. (Ed.), Joyful Resilience as Educational Practice. Transforming Teaching Challenges into Opportunities. Routledge.
Nickel, J., & Chadwick, J. (2022). Tutoring to build teacher candidates' competence as reading teachers. Mentoring and Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 30(3), 312-332. https://doi.org/10.1080/13611267.2022.2070990