Michael Ungar, Ph.D. is the founder and Director of the Resilience Research Centre at Dalhousie University. His ground-breaking work as a family therapist and resilience researcher is recognized around the world, with much of that work focused on the resilience of marginalized children and families, and adult populations experiencing mental health challenges at home and in the workplace. Dr. Ungar has provided consultation and training to Fortune 500 companies like Unilever and Cigna, NGOs such as Save The Children and the Red Cross, and educational institutions and government agencies on five continents.

He is routinely called upon by thought leaders such as the Boston Consulting Group and Canvas8. His work emphasizes how to use the theory of resilience to increase both individual and institutional agility during crises, with numerous organizations having adopted his concept of resilience as a negotiated process that enhances wellbeing and social responsibility.

Dr. Ungar is the author of 16 books for lay and professional audiences, and over 200 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters. These include Change Your World: The Science of Resilience and the True Path to Success, a book for adults experiencing stress at work and at home, and I Still Love You: Nine Things Troubled Teens Need from their Parents. His blog, Nurturing Resilience, can be read on Psychology

Wanda Dalla Costa, AIA, OAA, AAA, LEED A.P. is a member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation. She is also a mom, a practicing architect and a professor. Dalla Costa was honored in 2019 by the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, added to the YBCA 100, a list which celebrates people, organizations, and movements shifting culture through ideas, their art, and their activism.

At Arizona State University, she is the director and founder of the Indigenous Design Collaborative, a community-driven design and construction program, which brings together tribal community members, industry and a multidisciplinary team of ASU students and faculty to co-design and co-develop solutions for tribal communities. Her teaching and research is focused on Indigenous ways of knowing and being, co-design methodologies, sustainable design, and the resiliency of vernacular architectures.

In terms of her practice, Dalla Costa was the first, First Nation woman to become an architect in Canada. Her firm, Tawaw Architectural Collective (www.TawArc.com) is based in Phoenix, Arizona. Recent projects include the Indigenous embassy in Ottawa, an Indigenous urban early learning center in Saskatoon and a tribal college in Alberta. Dalla

Costa was also invited to the 2018 Venice Biennale, world festival in architecture, as part of Unceded, where she joined 18 Indigenous architects from across Turtle Island, to share an Indigenous vision of the future. Dalla Costa holds a Master of Design Research in City Design from SCI-Arc in Los Angeles, and a Master of Architecture from the University of Calgary.

Michelle Ranger’s homeland is St. Laurent, Manitoba. She is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta and is currently the System Principal of School Improvement – Indigenous Education at the Calgary Board of Education (CBE). Michelle has been described as an innovative, relational and compassionate leader who has devoted her career to Indigenous education in urban settings. Michelle was the first principal of Niitsitapi Learning Centre, an early-years Indigenous holistic and communal learning centre and is currently co-leading the Indigenous Education Strategy within the CBE. Over her 20-year career Michelle has supported Indigenous student success and well-being through her roles as teacher and leader through innovative and wise practices.

Casey Eagle Speaker, Sorrel Horse, is a respected Elder from the Kainai First Nation. He works with Hull Services, Alberta Health Services, St. Mary’s University, Alberta University of the Arts, Calgary Foundation, and numerous other organizations and corporations to weave in Indigenous ways of knowing, culture, and ceremony. The Spark Science Centre is humbled and honoured to have Casey as a member of their Advisory Circle, helping guide their journey towards reconciliaction by weaving in and highlighting the significance of Indigenous Science in all aspects of the Science Centre.

Kori Czuy, Cree/Métis/Polish, is the Indigenous Engagement Specialist at the Spark Science Centre. Casey and Kori have worked together on numerous occasions, including with her PhD, where Casey supported and guided the research of bringing value and depth mathematics within Indigenous stories and ways of knowing. Kori will support Casey in the "How Do You Know What You Know" session.

Erin Klein is an award-winning educator, national keynote speaker, author, and mother who has been twice selected to serve on the Scholastic, Inc. Top Teaching Team based in New York.

Her recent publication, Amazing Grades, was a collaboration with experts from 13 countries around the world. She travels the country speaking about the power of student voice, how meaningful technology integration can enhance learning experiences, and the impact classroom design has on today’s learner.

She is certified in Brain Gym, Educational Kinesiology, and has studied under consultants from The Center for Effective Learning to understand how design affects cognition and learning. Klein serves as a classroom design consultant and creative partner for the publishing company, Carson-Dellosa.

Jed Dearybury began his education career in 2001. During his 13-year early childhood classroom tenure, Jed received numerous awards. He was featured in GQ Magazine as Male Leader of the Year, met President Obama as the South Carolina honoree of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, and was named as a top 5 finalist for South Carolina Teacher of the Year because of his passion, love, and success in education.

Since leaving 2nd grade classroom in 2015, he has been leading professional development across the country, as well as training the next generation of educators through his work and teaching in Higher Ed, teaching children’s lit, creativity and play for Early Childhood, and Fine Arts in the Elementary Classroom. In August 2019, he started his own education consulting business, mrdearybury.com LLC, where he is the Director of Creativity and Innovation.

He published his first book,The Playful Classroom: The Power of Play for All Ages, co-written with Dr. Julie P. Jones, in June of 2020, thus adding author and illustrator to his list of educational credits. His next book,Courageous Classroom, is due out July 2021. His mission: Equip, Encourage, Empower the teaching profession using creativity, laughter, and hands-on fun!

Dr. Robert Dillon is an author, speaker, educator, and lifelong learner. His twenty plus years in education has seen him serve kids and families as a teacher, principal, technology director, and innovation leader. His primary focus is working to bring synergy to instructional design, technology infusion, and learning space design. He believes that in this synergy is the educational gold that students need to be successful citizens in a modern world. He works through an equity lens and looks to bring excellence to every classroom. For this work, he has been honored by Common Sense Media, The Center for Green Schools, the dSchool at Stanford University, the Buck Institute for Education, and Future Ready Schools.

Dr. Dillon has had the opportunity to work with teachers and leaders throughout the country, and he continues to speak at local, regional, and national conferences. Dr. Dillon is the co-founder of ConnectEDLearning, a Saint Louis non-profit dedicated to affordable, quality professional learning for teachers. He is the author of five books on intentional design in learning. He is supported in his work by his wife and two amazing daughters.

Dr. Yvonne Poitras Pratt is a tenured Associate Professor in the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary. She was promoted to Director, Indigenous Education, atWerklundin 2018. As a post-secondary educator, she is passionate about education and the possibilities it brings to learners across their lifetime. As a Metis scholar, she is especially committed to ensuring Indigenous truths and perspectives are brought into classrooms.

Due to the intellectual integrity of the guest speakers, not all sessions will be recorded. February 23, March 9, and March 23rd sessions will NOT be recorded. April 13, April 27, May 11 and May 25 will be recorded for all registrants.

Each session runs from 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (MST). There will be 1 hour dedicated to the talk, and 30 mins for questions and answers.

Any educator from across the globe! Educators are not limited to teachers. Anyone in informal education or working with youth will benefit from this professional development opportunity.

Absolutely! Members are the heart of Spark and can enjoy 20% off ticket sales. Register here.

All Spark Learning Lab sessions will be hosted on Zoom.