History & Purpose
About the Centre
In 2014, then-Head of School Dr. William Jones established the Centre for Teaching Excellence. His premise was straightforward—when teachers grow, students benefit.
The Centre was created to support that growth by addressing common barriers, including time, funding, and access to professional learning.
To ensure this work was coordinated across the school, a Professional Learning Team was formed. This cross-divisional group of faculty leaders met regularly to address teaching challenges and share effective practices. Teachers who attended external workshops brought their learning back to their departments. Professional growth became embedded in the culture.
Students benefit directly, learning from teachers who are engaged, current, and committed to their practice.
What It's Become
That initial investment established a strong foundation.
The Centre has since evolved into the Centre for Excellence and Innovation, reflecting a broader scope. Its focus now extends beyond the classroom to include partnerships, outreach, and knowledge-sharing within the wider education community.
What It Looks Like in Practice
The Centre operates through a range of programs and initiatives.
STS hosts speakers and experts, including authors, researchers, athletes, and industry professionals, through events that range from large public presentations to smaller, focused sessions. Students, faculty, parents, and community members engage in ways that are relevant to them.
STS also contributes beyond the school. Faculty and staff are invited to speak, lead, and advise in broader educational settings, and the school hosts professional learning opportunities for educators from other institutions.
Where It's Heading
The Centre continues to develop through new programs and partnerships. Current priorities include strengthening communities of practice, advancing evidence-based teaching, supporting youth leadership and sustainability, and expanding STS’s role as a regional resource for educational innovation.
Featured Reading
Go deeper into what makes our OE program unique.
Tomorrow Begins with Empowered Teachers
What do we do well? What can we do better? How do we ensure academic excellence, rigour, and deep learning remain at the core of what we do? And how do we gauge how STS is meeting its mission and value-driven goal of continuous improvement across multiple fields?
It Starts Here
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Alberta’s Only Independent K-12, IB Continuum Co-ed Day School,
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