Back-to-School Summit
Prepare for the upcoming school year with this complimentary virtual event on August 20th, featuring six sessions aimed at optimizing teaching practices.
In these sessions, you'll:
- Learn strategies for using technology in assessment and storytelling, tips for launching your first SpacesEDU class, and creative methods to empower primary educators.
- Explore competency-based assessment and student-centered portfolio development with experienced educators maximizing SpacesEDU's tools.
- Contribute to SpacesEDU's future by providing input on our product roadmap.
Register Now
Our Keynote
Natalie Vardabasso
Educator, Coach, Speaker, and Passionate Learner
Natalie is a seasoned educator specializing in equitable assessment and grading practices, with experience as a teacher, instructional coach, and assessment lead. She led her community through the transition to outcomes-based grading by equipping teachers with the tools to use assessment as a catalyst for learning. Currently, Natalie works as an associate with the Solution Tree Assessment Center, founder of The Empowerment Ecosystem, and host of the #EduCrush podcast.
Educator, Coach, Speaker, and Passionate Learner
Natalie is a seasoned educator specializing in equitable assessment and grading practices, with experience as a teacher, instructional coach, and assessment lead. She led her community through the transition to outcomes-based grading by equipping teachers with the tools to use assessment as a catalyst for learning. Currently, Natalie works as an associate with the Solution Tree Assessment Center, founder of The Empowerment Ecosystem, and host of the #EduCrush podcast.
Our Guests
Caryn Swark
Associate Principal at Holy Spirit Catholic School Division
Caryn is the Associate Principal at Holy Spirit Catholic School Division, a teacher, a published author, and a community leader. She finds joy in learning and discovering new ways to expand her professional horizons, deriving purpose from her work and eagerly sharing it with others.
Mike Lang
Chief Innovation Officer at ed.Xtraordinary
Mike, Chief Innovation Program Officer at ed.Xtraordinary, brings 18 years of educational expertise, including leading a 1:1 iPad initiative at Dearing Elementary School (CCSD) and integrating technology for K-5 students. Honored as an Apple Distinguished Educator, PBS Digital Innovator, and recipient of multiple awards, Mike is dedicated to integrating innovative ideas into instruction.
Stephanie Carpenter
Elementary Teacher at SD91 Nechako Lakes
Stephanie is an elementary teacher at SD91 Nechako Lakes. She specializes in leveraging data-driven insights to enhance student learning and track progress effectively, empowering herself and her fellow educators to make informed instructional decisions with tech tools.
Joy MacDonald
Education Services Manager at SpacesEDU
Joy is the Manager of the Education Services department at SpacesEDU. She leads a team dedicated to creating resources and conducting training sessions. Her team supports students and educators across Canada by developing lesson plans, guides, and videos, as well as facilitating professional development workshops and training sessions.
Tatiana Ng
Education Training and Engagement Specialist at SpacesEDU
Tatiana, an Education Training and Engagement Specialist at SpacesEDU, has over eight years of experience enhancing educational initiatives and building partnerships. Fluent in English and French, she excels in creating tailored training resources, streamlining processes, and providing exceptional bilingual customer enablement services.
Lisa Stephens
Partner Success Specialist at SpacesEDU
Lisa, Partner Success Specialist at SpacesEDU, specializes in onboarding independent schools and school districts, leading comprehensive training sessions, and developing custom resources to enhance customer success. She provides innovative solutions and actively contributes to platform improvements based on customer feedback.
Bryan Carvalho
Director of Product at SpacesEDU
Bryan is SpacesEDU’s Director of Product. He leverages over a decade of user experience design expertise to create user-centered products that meet both consumer and business needs. His commitment to producing compelling experiences drives brand loyalty and customer satisfaction. Bryan's dedication to lifelong learning ensures he stays updated with market trends and software updates, continually enhancing SpacesEDU's offerings.
Natalie Priest
Manager, Customer Success & Strategy at SpacesEDU
As SpacesEDU's Manager of Customer Success & Strategy, Natalie oversees the Customer Success Team while strategically refining internal and external processes and resources. In addition to managing a diverse portfolio of enterprise and SMB accounts, she plays a pivotal role as a valued contributor to the Product Team, ensuring alignment with customer needs and market trends.
Schedule at a Glance
Reimagining Assessment to Tell the Story of Learning
Time: 11:50 AM - 1:00 PM EDT
Keynote Speaker: Natalie Vardabasso, Educator
For too long, the story of learning in school has been told through test scores and letter grades. Now, it's time that we leverage the technology of our time to tell the rest of the story. Join Natalie as she helps us understand the modern assessment paradigm and learn practical ways to tell the story of what students are learning (standards and outcomes), as well as how they are learning (reflecting on themselves as a learner).
Time: 11:50 AM - 1:00 PM EDT
Keynote Speaker: Natalie Vardabasso, Educator
For too long, the story of learning in school has been told through test scores and letter grades. Now, it's time that we leverage the technology of our time to tell the rest of the story. Join Natalie as she helps us understand the modern assessment paradigm and learn practical ways to tell the story of what students are learning (standards and outcomes), as well as how they are learning (reflecting on themselves as a learner).
Launching Your First SpacesEDU Class: Essential Tips
Time: 1:05 PM - 1:50 PM EDT
Presenter: Joy MacDonald, SpacesEDU
New to SpacesEDU or need a refresher? Let Joy walk you through essential features, setting up your first class, and tips for creating an inviting classroom. Walk away ready to launch your first SpacesEDU class with confidence and enhance assessment with digital documentation.
Time: 1:05 PM - 1:50 PM EDT
Presenter: Joy MacDonald, SpacesEDU
New to SpacesEDU or need a refresher? Let Joy walk you through essential features, setting up your first class, and tips for creating an inviting classroom. Walk away ready to launch your first SpacesEDU class with confidence and enhance assessment with digital documentation.
SpacesEDU in Primary Classrooms
Time: 1:55 PM - 2:40 PM EDT
Presenters: Caryn Swark, Holy Spirit Catholic School Division & Tatiana Ng, SpacesEDU
Join Caryn and Tatiana to discover how SpacesEDU empowers primary classroom educators. Learn creative ways to capture and celebrate learning while saving time on paperwork, efficiently managing evidence of learning, and communicating students' growth with families—all in one platform.
Time: 1:55 PM - 2:40 PM EDT
Presenters: Caryn Swark, Holy Spirit Catholic School Division & Tatiana Ng, SpacesEDU
Join Caryn and Tatiana to discover how SpacesEDU empowers primary classroom educators. Learn creative ways to capture and celebrate learning while saving time on paperwork, efficiently managing evidence of learning, and communicating students' growth with families—all in one platform.
Competency-Based Assessment with SpacesEDU
Time: 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM EDT
Presenters: Stephanie Carpenter, SD91 Nechako Lakes & Lisa Stephens, SpacesEDU
Stephanie and Lisa will explore Assessment and Reporting with SpacesEDU, focusing on data-driven insights so you can enhance students’ learning and track their progress effectively. Discover how SpacesEDU's robust tools help empower your informed instructional decisions.
Time: 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM EDT
Presenters: Stephanie Carpenter, SD91 Nechako Lakes & Lisa Stephens, SpacesEDU
Stephanie and Lisa will explore Assessment and Reporting with SpacesEDU, focusing on data-driven insights so you can enhance students’ learning and track their progress effectively. Discover how SpacesEDU's robust tools help empower your informed instructional decisions.
Developing Student-Centered Portfolios
Time: 3:35 PM - 4:35 PM EDT
Presenters: Mike Lang, ed.Xtraordinary & Tatiana Ng, SpacesEDU
In this interactive session led by Mike and Tatiana, you’ll learn how to empower students as creators in their educational journey. Explore the process of creating and documenting artifacts to develop student-centered portfolios for competency development and reflection.
Time: 3:35 PM - 4:35 PM EDT
Presenters: Mike Lang, ed.Xtraordinary & Tatiana Ng, SpacesEDU
In this interactive session led by Mike and Tatiana, you’ll learn how to empower students as creators in their educational journey. Explore the process of creating and documenting artifacts to develop student-centered portfolios for competency development and reflection.
Shaping SpacesEDU's Future
Time: 4:40 PM - 5:40 PM EDT
Presenters: Bryan Carvalho, SpacesEDU & Natalie Priest, SpacesEDU
Celebrate a major milestone with us and shape the future of SpacesEDU! Join Bryan and Natalie as they reflect on the platform's evolution and invite you to share insights and ideas to guide our product roadmap and planned features. Your input is invaluable as we continue to innovate in education technology.
Time: 4:40 PM - 5:40 PM EDT
Presenters: Bryan Carvalho, SpacesEDU & Natalie Priest, SpacesEDU
Celebrate a major milestone with us and shape the future of SpacesEDU! Join Bryan and Natalie as they reflect on the platform's evolution and invite you to share insights and ideas to guide our product roadmap and planned features. Your input is invaluable as we continue to innovate in education technology.
