WTJ? Live: Education Administration

WTJ? Live: Career Stories Unplugged is an engaging series of live episode recordings of the What The Job? (WTJ?) podcast, produced by the U of A Alumni Association.

WTJ? offers an authentic and unfiltered look into the professional lives and experiences of U of A alumni.

Each event in the WTJ? Live series features a dynamic panel discussion on a unique topic, recorded in front of a live audience and later edited into an episode for the WTJ? podcast. Attendees also enjoy a networking reception following the panel discussion, where they can connect with the panelists and fellow guests.

This month's event features school principals discussing how they got into the profession and what you need to know if you are considering a career in Education Administration.

This event is open to all alumni and their guests.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Vanessa LeCaine 

I started teaching over 25 years ago and began my career in museum and science education.  I ran the Challenger Learning Centre for Space Science Education and received an educator fellowship from NASA to work on the Galileo Europa Mission to Jupiter. After that, I transitioned into the classroom teaching junior high science, art and french.  I accepted the role of Curriculum Coordinator shortly after I returned to the school system where I was in charge of special needs assessments, placements and programming.  I worked in a predominantly high socially vulnerable community for most of my teaching years.  I became Assistant Principal at Riverbend Junior High in Edmonton and from there was honoured to join the administrative team that opened a brand new K-9 school in the south east of Edmonton. I was seconded briefly to the Student Information team in our Central Office of EPSB and from there became Principal of Sweet Grass Elementary School.  In the past 5 years, I have presented to Education students at the University of Alberta on Indigenous Education as well as Ethics and Law.

Clair Sprake

Clair Sprake was born in Vietnam and arrived at Turtle Island as a refugee, a stateless citizen, and a Boat Person before the age of 2. After graduating from the University of Alberta, she joined Edmonton Public Schools in 2006. She has worked as a teacher, literacy coach, curriculum coordinator, an assistant principal, and is currently a consultant. She has experience teaching all grade levels K-12 and has facilitated professional development sessions for other educators. Clair has presented at conferences locally, provincially, and internationally, and is committed to life-long learning. As a strong advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion, she has served on the Greater Edmonton Teachers Convention Association committee for 16 years helping to organize the annual convention for over 9000+ teachers. In 2023, she published a vignette about her Vietnamese name and the barriers to success in the book Weaving Hope Through Our Education System (Peter Lang), an anthology of 38 female-identifying or non-gender conforming authors. Clair recently appeared on Episode 219 of the AP & New Principals Academy - “Unique Challenges of Being a Woman in School Leadership”. In her free time, Clair enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.

Cathy Allen

Cathy Allen is a proud graduate of the University of Alberta and grateful for the opportunities that her studies have provided her. She holds a BSc – General Science (1976), BEd – Secondary Biology (1977) and an MEd - Education Policy Studies (1999) from the University of Alberta. Cathy started her teaching career in Wetaskiwin, Alberta and then joined the County of Strathcona/Elk Island Public Schools.  She was a secondary science, biology and chemistry educator for several years before she entered into school leadership. Cathy served as an assistant principal and principal in elementary, junior and senior high schools. Cathy is currently serving as a trustee on the Elk Island Public Schools Board of Trustees. She is passionate about all things connected to teaching and learning. Cathy believes in public education and advocates for excellence in education. All students should have the opportunity to achieve their greatest potential.