Jacqueline Butler — Deputy Head of Student Life and Wellbeing at Holy Trinity School
The High Performing Educator Podcast
Release Date: 05/01/2025
Peter Cowan — Vice Principal at Ursuline College in Chatham
The High Performing Educator Podcast
With a strong background in mathematics education, Peter Cowan has dedicated his career to fostering confidence and perseverance in students. As the former Head of the Math Department at Ursuline College Chatham, he played a pivotal role in improving the school's EQAO scores by 24% over five years. However, beyond the numbers, Peter takes pride in the transformation within the classroom—witnessing students develop resilience and belief in their ability to tackle challenging problems. Now serving as Vice Principal, Peter continues to focus on supporting students who have struggled...
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Zoran Stojković — Mental Performance Specialist with Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services
The High Performing Educator Podcast
Zoran Stojković is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) and has extensive experience helping athletes and high-performance professionals develop the psychological skills necessary to perform under pressure. He currently works as a Mental Performance Specialist with Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services as a Mental Performance Specialist supporting pilots in optimizing focus, confidence, and resilience in high-stakes environments. With over 15 years of experience coaching tennis and more than eight years as a Mental Performance Consultant with his company Kizo Performance,...
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Jeevan Dhami — Vice Principal of Queen Elizabeth Secondary School
The High Performing Educator Podcast
Jeevan Dhami is a the vice principal Queen Elizabeth Secondary School in British Columbia. He originally began his career as an Outreach Worker in 2014 at the same secondary school he would return to as a continuing teacher in 2019. With an extensive background in community work through various organizations, Jeevan consistently pursued academics while attending to further his education. He completed his Bachelor of Arts with a focus in History and Criminology, then a Bachelors of Education with a focus on Environmental Education and is currently working on completing his Masters in...
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Frank Cappadocia — Dean of Continuous Professional Learning at Humber Polytechnic
The High Performing Educator Podcast
A leader ‘of firsts’ Frank Cappadocia enjoys the thrill and challenges of new ventures. In his current position as Dean of Humber College’s Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) operations. Tasked with building Humber’s CPL activities, Frank works with all of Humber’s Senior Deans, Associate-Deans, and dozens of external partners to deliver the 400+ professional courses CPL offers each term. Known to be a solutions-focused, mission-driven leader, Frank’s spent the last 30 years trying to improve the quality of full-time, part-time, and continuing education student, staff, and...
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Cherie Sawaryn — Executive Director of the Students’ Association of NorQuest College and Founder of BeeKind Hive
The High Performing Educator Podcast
Cherie Sawaryn (@BeeKindHive) is the Founder of BeeKind Hive, and the Executive Director of the Students’ Association of NorQuest College. With over 20 years of experience in leadership, coaching, and the student community, Cherie has designed and delivered workshops across Canada, led large-scale events and conferences, and supported teams through transformative change. BeeKind Hive began as a spark of an idea: that leaders could do more, and lead better, by leaning into community and leading with heart—even in a culture that celebrates constant hustle. It has grown into a community...
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Mark Klaisner — Executive Director of West40 ISC #2
The High Performing Educator Podcast
Mark believes that every child’s success is a shared responsibility, and this conviction has guided his career as an educator and leader. Working at both local and statewide levels, he has consistently sought out innovative, outside-the-box solutions to help students grow, thrive, and ultimately become impactful members of their communities. His efforts have ranged from strengthening advocacy for legislative support, such as evidence-based funding, to building a remote school that served 38 districts during the height of the pandemic. Through these initiatives, Mark has helped open doors and...
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Adam Seaney — Director of the Galesburg Area Vocational Center
The High Performing Educator Podcast
Adam Seaney has spent the past 20 years in K-12 education serving students across multiple districts across the state of Illinois. He received his Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Physical Education and Health from Olivet Nazarene University in 2005 and began a career in education as a paraprofessional in the Mascoutah Community School District. After 2 years as a paraprofessional, he was hired for his first teaching job at Palestine High School in Palestine, Illinois. Mr. Seaney taught physical education & health, and also served as the head football coach and head boys track coach. In...
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Garry Tink — Education Director with the Calgary Board of Education
The High Performing Educator Podcast
Garry Tink currently works as an Education Director with the Calgary Board of Education. He began his career in the Foothills School Division, where he gained valuable experience as a teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal. In 2009, he joined the CBE, taking on roles as a Principal and Teacher Staffing Consultant. One of his most notable achievements was the honor of opening Joane Cardinal-Schubert High School. Today, Garry continues his dedication to education and leadership in his role as Education Director. Throughout his career, Garry has consistently demonstrated a...
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Norma Saad — Superintendant of education at Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord
The High Performing Educator Podcast
Norma Saad is the superintendent of education at Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord. She has a rich experience in French language education, having served as principal of secondary and elementary schools, vice-principal, mathematics lead, and teacher. Norma is deeply committed to placing students at the heart of every decision. With a passion for fostering meaningful connections, she believes that these connections not only encourage self-discovery but also inspire collaborative work among different teams. A strong advocate for promoting the French language and culture, Norma strives to create an...
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Ian "Chiz" Chisholm — Founder and Partner of Roy Group, a Leadership Development firm founded in 2004
The High Performing Educator Podcast
Ian Chisholm is a founder and partner of Roy Group, a ‘small giant’ leadership development firm founded in 2004 using research, experiential learning and integrative team practice to work with organizations in developing their next generation of leaders…by developing their senior leaders as our next generation of mentors. Originally from Saskatchewan, Chisholm began his career with the American Management Association International’s Operation Enterprise division, working closely with the US Postal Service and inner city high schools to bring young talent from tough socio-economic...
info_outlineMeet Jacqueline Butler—an educator, leader, and lifelong learner who’s passionate about redefining what school can be. As the Deputy Head of Student Life and Wellbeing at Holy Trinity School in Richmond Hill, Canada, Jacqueline has spent the past 22 years fostering a learning environment that connects students with their passions, their well-being, and the world around them.
Her journey has taken her from the science lab to the gymnasium, always with a focus on creating meaningful, human-centred learning experiences. Right now, she’s working on integrating student life with academics, helping students develop the skills and mindsets they need to be changemakers in an ever-evolving world. She believes that in a world where humans are increasingly falling out of relationship with each other and the natural world, school needs to be a place that is based in community, where students discover, connect, grow, and take risks—without fear of judgment.
When she’s not thinking about the future of education, you can find Jacqueline hiking, skiing, or taking in a peaceful waterfront view with her husband, son and daughter. A former Queen’s University basketball player, she still finds joy in coaching, with a focus on teamwork, and inspiring young athletes to commit to something bigger than themselves.
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Sam Demma is a best-selling author and one of the most in-demand keynote speakers in the Education and Association sectors. He co-founded the volunteer organization PickWaste, delivered two TEDx talks, and—as a result of his exceptional contributions to Canada—was awarded the prestigious Queens Platinum Jubilee Award.
His work is often featured on national news shows like Marilyn Dennis, Breakfast Television, and most notably, his mom’s Facebook profile. Sam delivers hundreds of programs across North America annually, and his entertaining presentations address the topics of Mental Health, Leadership and Kindness. www.samdemma.com
Want to join the High Performing Educator Network: www.highperformingeducator.com