The Teaching Quality Standard : Quality teaching occurs when the teacher's ongoing analysis of the context, and the teacher's decisions about which pedagogical knowledge and abilities to apply, result in optimum learning for all students.

The Leadership Quality Standard : Quality leadership occurs when the leader's ongoing analysis of the context, and decisions about what leadership knowledge and abilities to apply, result in quality teaching and optimum learning for all students in the school.

Teaching Quality Standard Competencies

Adhere to professional responsibilitiesApply knowledge of First Nations, Métis, InuitDemonstrate professional knowledgeEngage in career-long learningEstablish inclusive learning environmentsFoster effective relationships

Adhere to professional responsibilities means that you understand and adhere to legal frameworks and policies. You adhere to professional responsibilities when you:

• Understand Alberta legislated, moral and ethical frameworks
•  Are aware of and respond to requirements authorized under the School Act, other relevant legislation and policies of the school authority
• Recognize that your professional practice is bound by standards of conduct

Search more specifically using keywords such as School Act, learning commons.

Apply knowledge of First Nations, Métis and Inuit means that you develop and apply foundational knowledge and support the process of reconciliation. You apply knowledge of First Nations, Métis and Inuit for the benefit of all students when you:

• Understand historical social, economic and political implications
• Use programs of study to provide opportunities for all students
• Use resources that accurately reflect and demonstrate the strength and diversity of First Nations, Métis and Inuit

Use Find to focus on First Nations, Métis, Inuit; inclusive education; understanding and valuing diversity; welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments.

Demonstrate professional knowledge means that you apply a current and comprehensive repertoire of teaching and learning strategies to meet the learning needs of every student. You plan and design learning activities that:

• Address programs of study
• Reflect short, medium and long range planning
• Consider and implement a range of instructional strategies
• Understand and apply student assessment and evaluation practices

Use Find to focus on assessment; literacy; numeracy; competencies; technology integration; curriculum; inclusive education. Search for specific curricular areas using subject area keywords. Search more specifically for pedagogical practices using keywords such as inquiry; citizenship; differentiated instruction; instructional practices.

Engage in career-long learning means that you commit to professional learning and continuous improvement. You identify areas for professional growth and build capacity and expertise when you:

• Critically reflect on your teaching practice
• Collaborate with other teachers
• Seek feedback
• Seek, understand and apply educational research
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies
• Enhance understanding of First Nations, Métis and Inuit worldviews, cultural beliefs, language, values
• Support student success in inclusive learning environments

Use Find to focus on communities of practice; inclusive education; technology integration; First Nations, Métis and Inuit. Search more specifically using keywords such as essential conditions; communities of practice.

Establish inclusive learning environments means that you embrace diversity and ensure every student feels welcome, safe, cared for and respected. You establish, promote and sustain inclusive learning environments when you:

• Promote equality and acceptance
• Implement universal, targeted and/or specialized strategies
• Respond to emotional and mental health needs
• Employ classroom management strategies
• Use supports to respond to students’ learning needs
• Incorporate students’ personal and cultural strengths
• Provide opportunities for student leadership

Use Find to focus on inclusive education; differentiated instruction; mental health; understanding and valuing diversity; welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments. Search more specifically using keywords such as classroom management; emotional learning; FASD; gender equity; learning community; learning supports; positive behaviour; project based learning; response to intervention.

Foster effective relationships means that you build and foster relationships to support students. You foster effective relationships when you:

• Demonstrate fairness, respect, integrity, empathy and caring
• Support student learning through positive relationships
• Recognize and practice appropriate local protocols to enhance relationships
• Honour cultural diversity and promote intercultural understanding
• Exercise shared commitment to the well-being of all students

Use Find to focus on collaborative practices; mental health; understanding and valuing diversity; welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments. Search more specifically using keywords such as coaches; learning community; safe and caring schools.

Leadership Quality Standard Competencies

Develop leadership capacityEmbody visionary leadershipFoster effective relationshipsLead learning communitiesManage school operations and resourcesModeling commitment to professional learningProvide instructional leadershipSupport knowledge of First Nations, Métis, InuitUnderstand and respond to societal contexts

Embody visionary leadership means that principals collaborate with the school community to create and implement the school’s shared vision for student success, engagement, learning and well-being. You embody visionary leadership when you:

• Communicate, enact and apply a student-centred philosophy of education
• Recognize the school community’s values and aspirations and demonstrate an appreciation for diversity
• Collaborate with other principals and superintendents
• Support school community members in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities
• Promote innovation, enable positive change and foster commitment to continuous improvement
• Access, share and use a range of date to determine the school community’s progress

Use Find to focus on leadership; assessment; inclusive education; collaborative practices; communities of practice; understanding and valuing diversity. Search more specifically using keywords such as improvement; essential conditions; learning community; partnerships; educational research; climate; school culture.

Foster effective relationships means that principals foster effective working relationships within the school community. You foster effective relationships when you:

• Demonstrate fairness, respect, integrity, empathy and concern for others
• Create a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment
• Establish positive relationships and opportunities for active participation
• Demonstrate a commitment to the health and well-being of all students
• Model and promote open, collaborative dialogue
• Communicate, facilitate and solve problems and deal with conflict
• Establish relationships based on mutual trust

Use Find to focus on collaborative practices; mental health; understanding and valuing diversity; welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments; First Nations, Métis and Inuit. Search more specifically using keywords such as coaches; partnerships; safe and caring schools; learning community.

Lead learning communities means that principals nurture and sustain a school culture that values and supports learning. You lead a learning community when you:

• Foster inclusive learning environments
• Develop shared responsibility for the success of all students
• Model life-long learning
• Cultivate a culture of high expectations
• Establish opportunities and expectations for positive involvement and collaborative learning
• Create an environment for the safe and ethical use of technology

Use Find to focus on inclusive education; collaborative practices; communities of practice; mental health; technology integration; welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments. Search more specifically using keywords such as coaches, FASD; counselling; gender equity; essential conditions; learning community; learning supports; partnerships; positive behaviour; school culture.

Provide instructional leadership means that principals ensure every student has access to quality teaching and optimum learning experiences. You provide instructional leadership when you:

• Build the capacity of teachers and facilitate access to resources, agencies and experts to respond to the learning needs of all students
• Implement professional growth, supervision and evaluation processes
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of effective pedagogy and curriculum
• Facilitate technology use to support learning for all students
• Ensure that student assessment and evaluation practices are fair, appropriate and balanced
• Use a wide range of data to inform school practice and enable success for all students

Use Find to focus on specific curricular areas, assessment and technology integration.

Support knowledge of First Nations, Métis, Inuit means that principals support the acquisition and application of foundational knowledge and the process of reconciliation. You support the school community for the benefit of all students when you:

• Understand historical social, economic and political implications
• Enable and support the development of knowledge and understanding of First Nations, Métis and Inuit histories, cultures, languages, contributions, perspectives, experiences and current contexts

Use Find to focus on First Nations, Métis, Inuit; inclusive education; understanding and valuing diversity; welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments.

Understand and respond to societal contexts means that principals understand and adhere to political, social, economic, legal and cultural contexts that impact the school. You understand and respond to societal contexts when you:

• Support the school community’s understanding of Alberta legislated, moral and ethical frameworks
• Advocate for needs and interests of all students
• Assess and respond to the local community context
• Facilitate understanding of issues and trends related to education

Use Find to focus on communities of practice; high school redesign; mental health; understanding and valuing diversity. Search more specifically using keywords such as citizenship; educational research; gender equity; learning community; School Act; learning commons.