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Dean Shareski interviews leaders from coast to coast to coast discussing innovation, change and the role leaders play in providing Canadian students with a world class education
Episodes & Posts
Episodes
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9 JUN 2026 · Dean interviews high school philosophy teacher Marcus Blair about how discovering a student had used ChatGPT shifted his initial curiosity into fear and urgency, prompting questions about AI’s impact on classrooms, education, and society. Blair explains how his philosophy background helps him ground AI decisions in critical thinking and ethics, drawing on thinkers like Descartes and approaches like utilitarianism and virtue ethics to move beyond policing toward student integrity. He describes practical classroom systems—AI integration “stamps,” a signed student AI agreement, and QR-code disclosure forms—plus strategic cognitive offloading so students can focus on intended learning outcomes. Blair shares examples including AI-supported reporting followed by in-class ethical judgment, emphasizing standards-based assessment, process-focused writing instruction, reduced homework, and district leadership supporting capacity-building and dialogue.
00:00 Caught Using ChatGPT
01:06 Meet Marcus Blair
03:25 First Encounter Fear
05:30 Existential Classroom Shift
07:23 Why Philosophy Matters
10:53 Integrity Over Policing
12:53 Student Win With AI
14:31 Classroom AI Guardrails
19:20 Cognitive Offloading Example
22:46 Standards Based Assessment
24:51 Process Over Product
27:17 Rethinking Homework
29:43 District Leadership Pride
32:35 Finding Common Ground
35:13 Gratitude And Rapid Fire
37:03 Books Shows Hidden Gems
40:59 Closing Thanks
26 MAY 2026 · Ryan Strang on the Evolution of School Communications: Strategy, Storytelling, Crisis, and Trust Dean interviews Ryan Strang, Senior Manager of Communications and Community Relations for Ontario’s Grand Erie District School Board and president/executive director of CASE, about how school communications has evolved beyond “just tweeting” into strategic advising, storytelling, brand ambassadorship, customer service, and crisis management. Ryan describes how social media shifted communications from one-way to fast, two-way engagement, increasing pressure for rapid response and amplifying challenges like polarization and misinformation. They discuss choosing channels based on metrics and audience (including stepping back from X, focusing on Facebook/Instagram, and monitoring/responding on Reddit), balancing playful brand voice with professionalism, and the emerging opportunities and risks of AI—especially around privacy and student images. Ryan shares a career highlight: quickly organizing a maple-syrup outdoor education experience for Syrian newcomer families in Peel, showing communications’ impact through relationship-building and storytelling.
00:00 Comms Role Defined
00:50 Why Comms Emerged
01:28 Meet Ryan Strang
04:28 Beyond Social Media
10:45 CASE Growth Post Pandemic
14:11 Storytelling Versus Risk
19:58 Finding Brand Voice
23:30 Playful Comms Examples
25:50 Snow Day Trust Building
28:40 Big District Complexity
30:06 Strategic Comms Value
30:52 Digital Customer Service
31:54 Choosing Social Channels
33:39 Metrics Over Hype
35:20 Facebook Instagram Reddit
38:44 New Platforms Playbook
40:37 AI Opportunities Risks
44:07 Authenticity Versus Automation
45:28 Career Success Story
47:10 Syrian Families Maple Trip
53:22 Hidden Gems Hamilton Brantford
55:13 Closing Reflections
19 MAY 2026 · Dean interviews Kate Arthur about what it means for a skill to become a “literacy” and why AI literacy must build on foundational reading, writing, and numeracy alongside access to networks, tools, and skills. Arthur shares her nontraditional education path, 25 years at the intersection of tech, communications, and education, and how classroom moments like students using Siri pushed her to connect literacy with AI’s growing presence. They discuss integrating AI learning across subjects rather than isolating it, the risk of focusing on tools over outcomes like critical thinking, and concerns about widening divides when basic literacy gaps persist. Arthur describes a shift from an attention economy to an attachment economy in generative AI, the ethics of human–machine relationships, and the need to democratize AI knowledge currently concentrated among a few leaders. She also recounts lobbying that secured $6M for youth skills education and emphasizes community-driven change.
00:00 What Makes Literacy
01:06 Meet Kate Arthur
03:06 Kate’s Education Journey
04:57 Stumbling Into AI
07:09 Defining AI Literacy
11:17 Frameworks And Gaps
14:35 Teaching Across Subjects
16:52 Tools Versus Skills
19:17 Best Case AI Future
22:25 Screens Bans And Balance
26:37 From Attention To Attachment
30:33 AI Relationship Guilt
31:39 Depth Versus Shallow
33:11 Humans Versus Chatbots
38:50 Innovation At Risk
40:41 Proudest Career Moments
42:00 Lobbying For Education
45:35 How Lobbying Works
48:45 Leadership And Mentors
54:37 Montreal Hidden Gem
12 MAY 2026 · Dean records an on-the-road podcast in Moose Jaw with his friend Alan Levine.. They discuss what’s still good about the internet in 2026, emphasizing curiosity, surprises, creativity, and niche communities that share knowledge, alongside the shift of social media from creation to consumption and parasocial influence. Alan describes teaching curiosity through hands-on activities and the value of low-stakes connection and storytelling. He explains his work at Open Education Global, the roots of open education and OpenCourseWare, its worldwide reach, and how openness supports quality through adaptation, educator involvement, and open pedagogy with students co-creating resources. They also cover Alan’s storytelling tools (Five Card Flickr Stories and PechaFlickr), mixed feelings about AI, and brief personal topics including his Canadian citizenship, reading about AI and photography, favorite shows, and Moose Jaw highlights.
00:00 Internet Still Surprises
01:27Why This Interview Exists
03:47 Coffee Shop Setup
04:19 Family Archives and Voices
05:11 What’s Good Online
07:09 Teaching Internet Curiosity
08:31 Social Media Then Now
11:11 Micro Communities and Fixes
13:23 Becoming Canadian
16:14 Open Education Explained
21:00 Quality and Open Pedagogy
23:36 Digital Storytelling Today
26:55 Beyond Video Storytelling
28:02 Five Card Flickr Stories
30:10 PechaFlickr Improv Talks
33:41 Why These Tools Work
34:41 AI Thoughts and Tradeoffs
37:39 Practical AI Use Cases
42:32 Reading on AI Photography
47:50 Binge Watch Favorites
48:55 Moose Jaw Hidden Gems
50:46 Wrap Up and Thanks
5 MAY 2026 · Dean interviews Tim Cavey, an elementary vice principal at an independent school in Vancouver and host of the Teachers on Fire podcast, discussing how growth mindset helped Tim persist in podcasting and why he committed to publishing at least 100 episodes—now reaching about 325. Tim shares his path into education (25 years), explains how BC independent schools receive about 50% per-student funding, and describes how his master’s program at Vancouver Island University and a thesis on podcasting’s influence on professional practice fueled his work. They explore podcasting as an accessible, underrated form of professional learning, the shift to video on YouTube, guest-driven impacts on Tim’s health and school practices, limited but meaningful listener feedback via metrics and LinkedIn, and a leadership misstep during COVID pushing Seesaw too soon without building trust. Tim offers advice to lead through service before title and start a master’s earlier, recommends The Digital Delusion, mentions Love is Blind, and shares the Lift Bar and Grill as a Vancouver hidden gem.
00:00 Growth Mindset to 100 Episodes
01:07 Why Podcasting Matters for Teachers
03:18 Meet Tim Cavey
03:57 Tim’s VP Role and Career
04:45 How BC Independent Schools Work
07:23 Why Tim Started Teachers on Fire
11:37 From Audio to Video Podcasting
13:57 Memorable Guests and Personal Impact
16:08 Feedback, Metrics, and LinkedIn
19:29 Master’s Thesis on Podcasting
20:38 Podcasting as Professional Learning
25:16 Lessons for School Leadership
27:47 Students Discover the Channel
28:57 Leadership Misstep During Covid
30:10 Trust Before Change
32:06 Advice for Aspiring Admins
35:38 Growth Mindset Breakthrough
38:35 Applying Mindset to AI
39:22 Gratitude Shoutout Mentor
40:30 Book Pick Digital Delusion
43:08 Guilty Pleasure TV Binge
44:10 Hidden Gem Coal Harbour
45:24 Closing Thanks and Wrap
28 APR 2026 · Dean introduces a conversation on why online/virtual learning remains a vital, legitimate option in Canadian education, shaped by his early online teaching experience and accelerated by COVID. Guests Jennifer Bertsch, principal of Golden Hills Learning Academy (Alberta), and Robyn Percival, an online science teacher at Ontario’s Virtual Learning Center, compare asynchronous and synchronous models, tools like Moodle, Canvas, and Zoom, and deliberate efforts to build relationship, belonging, and integrity beyond transactional correspondence-style learning. They describe enrollment pathways, hybrid flexibility, rapid growth in participation, and student success stories tied to mental health support and inclusive participation. The discussion also addresses academic integrity in the AI era through transparent expectations, process-focused assessment, and follow-up conversations, and concludes with “queen for a day” changes emphasizing equity of access to resources and mandatory unplugged/physical-activity time for online students.
00:00 Grad Day Breakthroughs
01:10 Early Online Teaching Lessons
02:21 Why Online Learning Matters
03:49 Meet Jennifer and Robyn
05:30 Tech Shifts After COVID
07:54 Who Online School Serves
09:32 Enrollment and Hybrid Pathways
11:30 Synchronous Community Building
14:46 Belonging in Asynchronous Learning
18:53 Success Stories and Impact
24:35 Growth Numbers and Demand
26:15 Hybrid Enrollment Reality
27:38 Ontario Virtual School Growth
29:20 What Makes Online Teachers Thrive
33:38 Autonomy and Course Creation
36:08 AI Assessment in Virtual Classes
40:35 Academic Integrity Over Policing
45:13 Queen for a Day Fixes
46:07 Equity and Screen Breaks
50:08 Closing Thanks and Takeaways
21 APR 2026 · Dean welcomes educator and author and friend, George Couros to discuss using technology only when it improves learning and opens doors for students, emphasizing authenticity, agency, and “going first” as educators. Couros shares how he accidentally entered tech-focused roles, grew through blogging and reflection, and learned to avoid shallow tech use that replaces thinking. They explore examples like student-created documentaries and digital portfolios to deepen understanding, literacy, and audience beyond the teacher, while resisting polarizing “all in/all out” arguments around tech, phones, and AI. Couros introduces his book, “Forward Together,” inspired by a community-building school video and focused on principles and perspectives for moving from conflict to community with humility, challenge, and shared goals. He closes with advice for young educators to consistently blog to find their voice.
00:00 Tech With Purpose
00:46 Meet George Couros
02:20 How We First Met
03:45 Accidental Tech Teacher
06:37 Going First With Social Media
09:15 Student Work That Sticks
12:59 Deep Learning Over Memorizing
14:20 Why Tech Still Matters
16:03 Portfolios And Literacy
19:50 Nuance Agency And Access
25:23 Stress Testing AI Tools
26:29 New Book Forward Together
29:15 Principles Perspectives And Conflict
31:06 A Blogging Blowup Story
31:44 Tone And Self Critique
32:47 Defusing AI Pushback
34:47 Diversity Toward Shared Goals
36:33 Invite Challenge In Room
37:26 Rusty And Tech Wisdom
40:28 Identity And Credibility
45:13 Advice Start A Blog
51:35 Consistency And Health Habits
53:11 Gratitude And Quickfire
57:36 Hidden Gem Windermere
59:49 Closing Thanks And Farewell
14 APR 2026 · Dean interviews Dr. Tim Cusack, Dean of Education at Concordia University of Edmonton and a longtime Naval Reserve officer, about how “deck plate leadership” and naval frameworks (including the firefighting fire triangle) can help educators navigate difficult conversations and lead by being present with people. Cusack shares his 2006 Don Cherry impersonation that led to an appearance on Hockey Night in Canada and reflects on how military experiences shaped his views on trust, respect, distributive leadership, and “people first” mission. He discusses teacher retention, preparing early career teachers to thrive, and strengthening mentorship through research and books, including work on assistant principals’ professional identity and readiness for principalship. The conversation also compares education governance in Alberta and the Maritimes.
00:00 Deck Plate Leadership
01:19 Meet Dr Tim Cusack
03:52 Don Cherry Origin Story
07:56 Navy Service Beginnings
12:08 Military Purpose Pathways
16:19 Dean of Education Role
22:07 Mission Creep in Schools
23:58 Autonomy Versus Isolation
25:46 Governance Across Provinces
28:40 Trades Pathways Spotlight
32:33 Teaching As Adventure
34:15 Assistant Principal Shift
37:52 Research Into Leadership
43:01 Mentorship Toolkit Books
45:38 Gratitude For John Hattie
48:23 Quickfire Favorites
51:34 Edmonton Riverboat Gem
54:11 Closing Thanks
7 APR 2026 · Saskatchewan Teachers Federation
In this episode,I reconnect with Meredith Rhinas, a senior administrator at the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation, to discuss her journey from classroom teaching to union advocacy and leadership. Meredith shares how she built a large social media following as a content creator after her third child, how her platform evolved during COVID into advocacy—especially for women’s heart health after her 2018 open-heart surgery—and how viral videos explaining Saskatchewan bargaining helped put her on STF’s radar. She explains her current role supporting teachers with employment and labour issues, serving on committees and the bargaining team, and describes the emotional weight of absorbing others’ difficult experiences. Meredith reflects on teaching overseas, navigating leadership as a young woman, the importance of difficult conversations, professionalism amid deprofessionalization, and credits her father, Milton Block, as a key influence.
00:00 Embracing Hard Conversations
01:01 Meet Meredith Rhinas
03:02 From Baby to Colleague
04:09 Content Creator Origins
07:05 COVID Shift and Advocacy
10:13 Teachers and Social Media Risks
15:28 Professionalism and Values Online
17:53 Inside the Teachers Federation Role
21:37 The Emotional Weight of Advocacy
24:30 Career Journey Begins Overseas
28:11 Finding the Right Path
29:32 Funding Shifts and Classroom Complexity
33:43 Supporting Teachers Through Process
35:40 Overseas Leadership Trial
40:34 Leading Through Listening
42:30 Advice for Emerging Leaders
46:01 Gratitude for a Mentor
47:02 Studying Deprofessionalization
50:10 Reality TV Reset
51:02 Local Hidden Gem
52:06 Closing Reflections
31 MAR 2026 · Dean interviews Dr. Christopher Fuzessy, superintendent of Foothills School Division in High River, Alberta, about making “flourishing” a central system focus and why it is ongoing, mutual work rooted in interconnected community rather than a checklist. Fuzessy draws on research including Martin Seligman, Robin Wall Kimmerer’s idea that “flourishing is mutual,” and Michael Ungar’s reframing of resilience as “stepping back” supported by redundant systems. They discuss reflective practice, workplace wellness as a system responsibility, and Fuzessy’s self-reflective book Emanate and related partnership with the University of Calgary on leadership support frameworks. The conversation also covers Foothills’ AI journey, including in-house tools to reduce administrative burden and increase time for relationships, student and parent perspectives, and creating flexible AI guardrails, plus Fuzessy’s move from Quebec to Alberta and examples of community-based flourishing in schools.
00:00 Defining Flourishing
00:47 Why Education Changed
02:52 Foothills F Word
05:49 Flourishing Research Roots
06:31 Resilience and Community Support
10:24 Reflective Practice Habits
12:47 Book Emanate Overview
16:31 Flourishing in Schools
21:50 Local Agency Against Anxiety
25:47 AI and Human Flourishing
26:54 Building In House AI Tools
31:40 Early Feedback and Concerns
31:54 Student Driven AI Skills
33:08 Building Division AI Vision
34:14 Parents as AI Partners
36:38 Guardrails and Flourishing
38:52 From Quebec to Alberta
43:22 Government and CAS Support
48:55 Gratitude for a Mentor
50:34 Reading for Systems Change
53:16 Unwinding and Building
54:54 Hidden Gems and Farewell
Dean Shareski interviews leaders from coast to coast to coast discussing innovation, change and the role leaders play in providing Canadian students with a world class education
Information
| Author | Advanced Learning Partnerships |
| Organization | voicEd Radio Canada |
| Categories | Education |
| Website | alplearn.com |
| dean@alplearn.com |
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