2025-2026 DSBN Professional Development Dates and Topics
All school and school board staff have an important role to play in supporting student success, safety, resilience as well as the mental health and well-being of all students. The DSBN recognizes and values the importance of professional learning that enhances educators’ knowledge and skills for the effective support of all students and staff. It is important to equip staff with the knowledge, skills and tools to provide relevant learning that supports curriculum differentiation based on specific needs of students and meets the diverse learning needs of all students. Staff at the DSBN engage in professional development in a variety of different ways. These include, but are not limited to, learning components of monthly staff meetings, job embedded learning with colleagues and instructional coaches during the school day, DSBN facilitated workshops after hours, additional qualification courses facilitated by DSBN staff in partnership with post-secondary institutions.
Professional Development Days (PD Days) are another valuable learning opportunity for school staff. For the 2025-2026 school year, professional development days are scheduled for the following dates:
September 19th, October 10th, November 28th, January 16th (Elementary only), January 29th (Secondary only), February 13th, June 5th (Elementary only), June 25th (Secondary only) and June 26th.
Summary of PD Activities for Elementary Schools
Date: Friday, September 19, 2025
Location: All Elementary Schools
Time: Morning
Focus: Tackling Racism
Activities: Staff will focus on getting to know each learner intentionally getting to know their student identities to work on building strength-based classroom profiles.
Time: Afternoon
Focus: Special Education
Activities: Staff will learn about the new IEP process and learn how to implement that with existing IEP's and for new ones.
Summary of PD Activities for Secondary Schools
Date: Friday September 19, 2025
Participants: All Secondary School teachers
Time: Morning
Focus: Artificial Intelligence
Activities: Administrators will work with their teaching staff to develop their capacity to understand the use of AI in the classrooms.
Time: Afternoon
Focus: Student Achievement Plan and School Improvement Planning
Activities: Staff will review school data to guide school improvement plans.