This winter, the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) will host a new conference that merges two existing events for school leaders. Taking place on January 19–20, 2026 in Edmonton, this event blends Leadership Essentials for early-career leaders and Educational Leadership Academy for seasoned administrators.
“The ATA recently decided to reimagine its approach to these two popular leadership development opportunities to ensure we are continuing to meet the needs of our members in school leadership,” said ATA associate executive secretary Elissa Corsi.
The inspiration to merge the two conferences came directly from member feedback. Experienced leaders were asking for access to the inexpensive professional development offered to newcomers through Leadership Essentials, while newer leaders expressed a desire for mentorship opportunities with veteran administrators. The ATA recognized an opportunity to address both asks while creating something greater than the sum of its parts.
“The solution wasn’t to create something entirely new. It was to bring together what already worked.”
The resulting hybrid model maintains separate, specialized learning tracks while creating intentional touchpoints for collaboration. New leaders will have access to diverse breakout sessions tailored to their professional learning needs, while experienced leaders will engage in cohort-based deep dives into advanced leadership concepts. Networking opportunities will also create space for leaders to learn from each other.
The combined model also serves a broader strategic goal: enabling entire school leadership teams from across the province to attend together, regardless of experience level. This approach recognizes that effective schools require strong leadership at every level, from new administrators learning the basics to veteran leaders refining advanced skills.
Notably, both conference streams will be offered at no registration cost to delegates and with expenses partially covered. While Leadership Essentials has always been free to attend, this marks the first time the Educational Leadership Academy will have no registration fee, reflecting the ATA’s commitment to professional growth for school leaders.
“It’s a strategic investment in building stronger leadership networks and ensuring professional growth remains accessible to all school and division leaders who are members of the ATA,” said Corsi.
If the conference proves successful, the ATA plans to make this combined model a regular offering, potentially reshaping how the ATA supports school leaders across different career stages.
