Annual Independent School Summit 2024
Enhance your knowledge as a leader in independent education with OFIS’s annual Independent School Summit, held this year on November 7th and 8th, 2024. This autumn we want to ask how we as independent schools stay true to our unique values while adapting to approaching changes. Our key touch points will examine agency, autonomy, hope and influence.
Enjoy thought-provoking talks from a variety of world-renowned speakers, as well as workshops, round-table conversations, and expert panel discussions, all of which will serve to prepare you and affirm your already existing skills for challenges that lay ahead within the independent school environment.
This conference is open to leaders in independent education, including educators and board members, as well as anyone who has a vested interest in the future of independent schools in Ontario.
Date: November 7th and 8th, 2024
Time: 8 am - 4 pm
Location: Centennial College Event Centre, 937 Progress Ave, Toronto, ON, M1G 3T8
The Centennial College Event Centre is located at the new School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts. Parking is available and included with registration.
Refreshments: Light breakfast, lunch, and snacks included
Fees and Registration: OFIS is proud to offer a high-calibre, valuable event for all Ontario independent school leaders and educators. OFIS members enjoy greater value with preferred fees.
Registrants may be eligible for financial assistance through the OFIS Charitable Trust.
Spaces are limited, so please do not delay your registration. See fee schedule and details.
Accommodations: Guests requiring accommodation can enjoy preferred rates at the Best Western Plus Executive Inn. Rates are guaranteed until September 3rd, and availability is limited, so please book as soon as possible. See accommodation details.
Conference Agenda and Details - Coming Soon
Topics will include:
Futures Thinking with Peter Bishop, founder and Executive Director of Teach the Future, a global organization introducing futures thinking into various school curricula around the world.
The naturally diverse landscape of the independent school system and what that means for its leaders, with Joanna DeJong VanHof, a researcher at Cardus, and co-author of ground-breaking 2022 study, Naturally Diverse - The Landscape of Independent Schools in Ontario
Responsible use of AI in the independent education space with Lesley Wilton of York University and Ebrahim Bagheri of Toronto Metropolitan University, both of whom are experts in issues and practices of integrating technology into teaching.
Indigenous Perspectives in Education with Kelly Brownbill, a Barrie-based member of the Flat Bay community of the Mi’kmaq Nation in Newfoundland, and an active member of the Indigenous community for 30 years.
Social Emotional Needs of Students with Julia Swaigen, Founder and Director of Attuned Families, a Toronto-based family therapy, child therapy and consulting practice.
Ontario Ministry Updates with Tony and Mara DiLena, founders of Di Lena Educational Consulting Inc., which helps independent education in an advisory capacity, grounded in their 10 years working with the Ontario Ministry of Education.
Take a moment to get to know some of our keynote speakers:
Dr. Peter Bishop
Dr. Peter Bishop is the founder and executive director of Teach the Future, a global organisation introducing futures thinking into various school curricula around the world. Prior to founding Teach the Future, Dr. Bishop was Associate Professor of Strategic Foresight and Director of the graduate program in Foresight at the University of Houston until 2013, and he specialized in techniques for long term forecasting and planning, in government, business, not-for-profit organizations, and in education. Dr. Bishop co-published (with Andy Hines) Thinking about the Future (2007) and Teaching about the Future (2012), addressing why 'teaching futures' is critical to the success of young people. Dr. Bishop's clients have included IBM, the NASA Johnson Space Center, the Shell Pipeline Corporation, the Defense and Central Intelligence Agencies, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and many more.
Dr. Lesley Wilton
Dr. Lesley Wilton is Assistant Professor (CLT), Teaching Stream in the Faculty of Education at York University where she also serves on the Tenure Stream Appointment Committee (TSAC).
She is an expert in issues and practices of integrating technology into teaching, and artificial intelligence in education. Dr. Wilton studied social practices and new literacies in online learning and completed her PhD research at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)/University of Toronto. She recently contributed to and co-edited the Handbook of Research on Online Discussion-Based Teaching Methods (2020) and has authored a number of peer-reviewed papers. Dr. Wilton is a member of the International Artificial Intelligence in Education Society and is supportive of the need for more educators to publish research on issues of AIED.
Kelly Brownbill
Kelly Brownbill, of the Marten Clan, is a member of the Flat Bay community of the Mi’kmaq Nation in Newfoundland, and of the Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge. She has lived and worked in Simcoe County for 30 years, and has conducted many cultural awareness sessions across a broad range of service sectors including sessions for key staff from both the provincial and federal governments.
Joanna DeJong VanHof
Joanna Dejong Vanhof is a researcher at Cardus and co-author of the ground-breaking 2022 study, Naturally Diverse - The Landscape of Independent Schools in Ontario. Her vast experience includes educational leadership and governance in the independent education sector in Ontario. Joanna is a PhD student in educational leadership and policy at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, from which she holds a master’s degree in education. She received her undergraduate degree in biology from McMaster University. Her previous experience lies in educational leadership and governance in the independent education sector in Ontario.
Julia Swaigen
Julia Swaigen is the founder and director of Attuned Families, a Toronto-based family therapy, child therapy and consulting practice. Attuned Families was created out of Julia’s commitment to and passion for “helping parents move from feeling overwhelmed and uncertain to feeling empowered, connected and confident.” Julia is a registered social worker (MSW, RSW) based in Toronto, who incorporates her own lived experience as a busy mom into assisting families to reach their potential for a happiness.
Ebrahim Bagheri
Ebrahim Bagheri is a Professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University. He leads an inter-university research program on the responsible development of AI. he holds a Canada Research Chair in Social Information Retrieval and an NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Social Media Analytics. He is the Director of the NSERC CREATE program on the Responsible Development of AI (RAI)—a 6-year, multi- sector, multi-institutional, collaborative training program that draws co-applicants from TMU, Waterloo, Western, UQAM, and McGill.