Workshops and One-on-One Consulting Services:
Lowell has over 34 years of experience working in the Public School System in Alberta. During that time he has served as a Junior High classroom Science teacher, a Principal, a Deputy Superintendent and Superintendent of Schools. Prior to his retirement in 2008, Lowell worked with the Prairie Rose School Division for 21 years.
Lowell is available to work with individual School Jurisdictions for half-day, full day or multi-day commitments. All presentations are customized for your specific needs of topic and length of program. The following areas of expertise are those that Lowell is most passionate about:
New Teacher Induction
Helping new teachers make a smooth transition from University to the classroom is critically important for both the teacher and school system. While new teachers are generally well-schooled regarding various philosophies and trends in education, there is a disconnect between the theory and practical elements faced on their first day with their new class. School systems that provide an on-going program of support and induction, not only realize higher teacher retention rates, but also benefit from accelerated skill development of their new teachers. While this process is effective in changing individual teacher behavior, the most astonishing effects are seen in the way that the culture of the entire school system is positively affected.
Teacher Supervision and Evaluation
The research clearly shows that the single most important factor in determining the success of student achievement is the teacher. If we are to ensure the success of all students, it is critical that every student has a competent and caring teacher supporting them. Alberta Education has identified a number of KSAs (Knowledge, Skills and Attributes) that all teachers must show competence in. Lowell has supervised hundreds of teachers and during that time has helped transform and improve the learning process as a result.
Hutterite Colony Education
Lowell has over 17 years of experience working in this unique and interesting culture. Living in a communal environment and speaking German, as a first language, the Hutterites are continually faced with the challenge of preserving their roots while living in an ever changing society. Lowell has been responsible for working with 15 Hutterite Colonies, including both Dariusleut and Lehrerleut. During that time, he was able to develop a trust and positive relationship with both the English teachers and the Colony personnel. As a result, significant increases in student achievement have been realized, as identified through the Provincial testing program.
Educating Diverse Cultures
There are several unique cultures that Lowell has had the privilege of working with in his career. These include the Hutterites, German speaking Mennonites and British students. In all cases, students are faced with learning a new curriculum as well as a new culture. Lowell has been heavily involved with the implementation of strategies to make this transition as smooth as possible.
School Reviews and Improvement Plans
Lowell has extensive experience in working with schools to ensure
excellence and continuous improvement. For the past 8 years, Lowell
has been involved with a Central Office team that reviews all of the
Division Schools on a cyclical basis. Through the use of surveys and
interviews, input is obtained from all stakeholders and a school plan is
developed that highlights the strengths of the school and identifies
areas of growth that the school can focus on.
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