HighlightED

Join Dawn as she highlights Woodstock High teacher Lisa Porter and two of her students who are members of the school’s paddling club and are competing in dragon boat racing. It’s a powerful story of inclusive sport, leadership, community impact, and students making a difference both on and off the water.

Join Dawn as she highlights the inspiring work of national award-winning art teacher Sara Griffin. They discuss the projects that led to her recognition and explore what’s next as Sara continues to push creativity, art appreciation, and innovation in the classroom.

Join Dawn as she chats with Laura Perry and Amy Barrieau, two middle-level teachers who highlight their school’s journey to redesign the traditional daily schedule. The efforts of all staff at Max Aitkin School have created a personalized learning activity block, student collaborative project time, and dedicated PLC time for teachers. At the end of each project, learning is celebrated through a community expo.

Join Dawn as she highlights a remarkable experience competing in Envirothon NB and advancing to the national stage. Teacher Rebecca Boone and students Kennedy Green and Guideon Chamberlain share how teamwork, environmental science, and real-world challenges shaped their learning as well as ignited a passion for lifelong stewardship.

Join Dawn as she highlights the New Brunswick Teen Apprenticeship Program with teacher Kirby Gordon and his student Austin LeBlanc who share their firsthand experience with NBTAP. From discovering career interests to developing real-world skills, they explore how early apprenticeship opportunities can spark confidence, purpose, and future success.

Join Dawn as she sits with Meaghan Wilbur who highlights her experiential learning approach where students build, explore, taste, and create. Hear how activities like stick forts, culinary kindness, and adventure-filled field trips help students learn by doing.

Join Dawn as she sits with Syrus Daver, a teacher who took an unconventional path to the classroom after exploring several different careers. Together, they reflect on how each lesson learned outside of education shaped the passionate educator he’s become today.

Join Dawn in conversation with Liza Muise and Katherine Ross at CONTACT 2025 – “Voices of the World: Navigating Diverse Classrooms Together”, an Atlantic Canadian conference hosted by NBTA this August. Together, they highlight the value of using the summer to pause, learn, and reconnect. Beyond the scheduled sessions, they share insights sparked by informal conversations with colleagues—moments that offered fresh perspectives and lasting inspiration for supporting today’s diverse classrooms.

In this episode, Dawn sits down with Heidi Ryder and Peter Lagacy, the incoming and outgoing presidents of the New Brunswick Teachers’ Association to reflect on the unique journey of teacher leadership. Together, they discuss the challenges and rewards of stepping away from the classroom to serve the profession, what it means to represent the voices of educators across the province, and how returning to the classroom after their mandate brings fresh insights and renewed perspective.

Join Dawn as she talks with Rick Cuming and Michael Butler from the NBTA to unpack the complexities of the NB Teachers' Pension Plan. Whether you're just starting your career or nearing retirement, this conversation offers practical insights into navigating your pension with confidence. Learn how the NBTA supports members through every stage of their pension journey.

Join Dawn as she highlights an entrepreneurship class that not only teaches students the skills to start a business, but also inspires them to make a meaningful impact in their community. Teachers Bonnie Evans and Brendan Landine of Leo Hayes High School share how their school’s Market Day has already raised over $2,000 for the Greener Village Foodbank—combining business learning with humanitarian action.

Join Dawn as she explores the world of E-Sports with teacher and vice-principal Bryan Ouellette and two of his students from Maplehurst Middle School. It's more than flashy goals and epic saves. Listen as they explain how Rocket League, through the realm of scholastic understanding, is teaching critical thinking, communication skills, sense of belonging and perseverance.

Join Dawn as she explores Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB), an innovative student-centered approach to art education. Sue Moore from Millidgeville North School shares her journey from traditional, teacher-directed art lessons to a thriving, multi-studio art space that nurtures imagination, exploration, and self-expression where students take ownership of their creativity and artistic process.

Join Dawn as she chats with Brandon LeBlanc from Stanley Consolidated School, a teacher who builds authentic connections by embracing student passions. From engaging lessons to afterschool arts and writing clubs, Brandon brings heart and purpose to education.

Join Dawn as she talks with Ashley Hallihan, Crystal Roberts and Joey Savoy who were members of a team that organized a fabulous learning day for students in ASD-North. This episode highlights the collaboration between the three levels of education that led to a rich learning experience for students. What better way to learn about outdoor careers than to take students to the actual job sites.

Join Dawn as she explores what motivates teachers to dedicate their Saturday to professional learning. Sheridan Mawhinney gives an overview of what NBTA Councils are and the purpose of the learning institutes, while Nancy Hodnett and Olivia Kyle share their experience as participants of Building Thinking Classrooms, an expert-led session that shares teaching practices to optimize conditions for students to think.

Join Dawn as she learns from Benjamin Kelly about metaverse - the interaction with technology to solve global issues. In 2020 Benjamin's innovative teaching style led Caledonia Regional School to being recognized as the best high School STEM program in North America! His resume is very impressive. His incorporation of the world's most popular video games into his lessons has unleashed student creativity and developed empathy in his students. Listen in to be inspired.

Join Dawn as she chats with Brianne Durant from Harbour View High School. Brianne's school was named a GAIA Project Champion School for their work on climate action. She shares her experience with GAIA and Eco-Schools as well as her involvement with STUzapalooza, a student-led climate change and sustainability event that brought over two hundred K-2 students together for an unforgettable learning experience.

Join Dawn as she sits with Bethany Toner from Saint Mary's Academy in Edmundston to discuss the dramatic changes her school experienced in recent years due to the influx of newcomers from around the world. Bethany shares her journey of adapting to a more diverse student body, the collaborative efforts of her team to create an inclusive and welcoming environment, and some advice for teachers in supporting students who speak multiple languages.

Join Dawn as she highlights the benefits of outdoor learning with Chantal Daley, a K-1 teacher at Janeville School. The learning opportunities are endless, and Chantal explains how not only it benefits students, but also has improved her own wellbeing.

Join Dawn as she highlights two ASD-W Science Leads who are working to help teachers bring scientific inquiry to their classrooms. Peter Trusiak and Jeremy Smith attended and presented at the National Science Teachers' Association Conference in Denver and have ideas and resources to share with our listeners.

Join Dawn as she and teacher Stefan Martin from Port Elgin Regional School discuss how archery during their PBL block has proven to be a valuable pathway to achieving district and school improvement goals.

Join Dawn as she does a conference debrief with Danielle Larlee & Kendra VanLeeuwen from Nashwaaksis Middle School. These two teachers attended the Association Canadienne de Professionnels de l'Immersion conference and brought Manie Musicale to their school. Listen in on how music and competition motivated their French Language Learners to want more. 

Join Dawn as she talks with teacher Rob Lehnert from the ASD-N ICE Centre, along with grade 12 students Mallory Stewart and Lucas Olesinski. This episode highlights how this career education centre offers direct pathways for students in ASD-N. Rob also touches of how this initiative is spreading around New Brunswick.

Join Dawn in a conversation with Kim Plum-Marr, Neil Hocking and Peter Bouma, three members of the Riverview Middle School Positive Behaviour Interventions Supports Team, where they describe how PBIS strategies have become the way they do business in their school. Listen in to see how they address students' unique behavioural, academic, social, emotional and mental health needs.

Join Dawn as she highlights a high-level grade 9-10 science project led by Kim Giddens at Belleisle Regional High School. Kim enlightens us on how she and her dedicated group of students embarked on the three-year journey of scientific inquiry and environmental advocacy. It’s not just a study, it’s a project that will have a lasting impact on these students and the community. Listen in to not only be informed but to be inspired!

Join Dawn as she explores the roles of the three executive directors of the teachers' organizations of New Brunswick. Listen to Ardith Shirley (NBTA), Alain Boisvert (AEFNB), and Kerry Leopkey (NBTF) discuss their similarities and their uniquenesses. They cover everything from solidarity, branches structures, stakeholders, recruitment and retention, and the positives within the NB education system that often go unmentioned.

Join Dawn as she chats with Melanie Veno from Forest Glen School in Moncton about how she changed her practices during her Read Aloud time to meet the needs of all her kindergarten students. Based on Trauma-Informed School training from Lori Brown, Psy.D., Melanie highlights the progress that was made in her students’ ability to self-regulate when she implemented small changes in her classroom.

Join Dawn in a conversation with Ronna Gauthier and Michael LeBlanc, two NBTA Teacher Counsellors, as they highlight the importance of teacher well-being. They explain the New Brunswick Teacher Counselling and Wellness Program, explore the ins and outs of staying well, and emphasize that if teachers are well, schools are well.

Join Dawn as she chats with Jennifer Talbot-Lavigne from Dalhousie Regional High School about the impact of the Essential Skills program at the high school level. This graduation pathway has brought hands-on learning to new heights and has opened career opportunities to many who would have otherwise not thrived in the public school system. Jennifer highlights the skills and competencies the students are learning and the invaluable connections they are making with the community.

Join Dawn as she chats with Marc Merhebi about the grassroots project of hydroponics in Anglophone East School District. The conversation highlights global competencies, cross-curricular connections, and the impact of community involvement. 

Join Dawn in this heartfelt story as she chats with Shelley Hunter, a retiring teacher from Carleton North High School, and her daughter Jaime Hunter, a beginning teacher from Birchmount School in Moncton. The conversation highlights the importance of getting involved in professional learning and reveals how this duo have inspired each other.

Join Dawn as she chats with NBTA past president Connie Keating and current NBTA president Peter Lagacy as they highlight the most recent work of the association, the period of transition from past to new president, and the vision of the association moving forward.