Summer Institute at Campus Saint-Jean : Education and Leadership
Are you ready to take on new challenges and advance your career in education?
All professionals working in French immersion and Francophone schools are invited to take part in the Summer Institute on administration and school leadership offered by the ¶®É«µÛ's Campus Saint-Jean in July 2026. This is a unique opportunity for professional development in school administration and leadership, supervision, and quality standards in education.
Training Objectives
The leadership courses offered at Campus Saint-Jean are master's degree level courses that support the professional development of teachers in line with the Alberta Education leadership quality standards.
Program Description
During the 2026 Summer Institute, the following courses will be offered in an intensive two-week format:
- MEDU 560/ CEDUL 501 : Administration and Leadership
- 3 credits
- Leads to LQS ( AB education Leadership Quality Standards)
- MEDU 561/ CEDUL 502 : Supervision and Leadership Skills Training
- 3 credits
- Leads to LQS ( AB education Leadership Quality Standards)
- A third additional course, to be confirmed at a later date, will also be offered in summer 2026.
Courses will be taught in person and online (synchronous) live from the Campus Saint-Jean premises in Calgary. Each course includes 15 hours of contact with the professor in class and 15 hours of personal work.
When you reach the registration stage, you will need to choose the section corresponding to your preferred method: either in person or online.
These courses may also be transferred to a Master of Education program, if required.
Summer Institute Dates
The exact dates will be announced shortly.
If you are interested in this training, please complete by November 30.
Instructor Profile
Dr. Robert Lessard brings over 25 years of experience in Francophone minority education, gained in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Over the years, he has held positions as a teacher, school principal, and deputy superintendent. Since 2016, he has been the superintendent of the Centre-Nord School Board in Alberta.
Dr. Lessard is passionate about education, as evidenced by his own academic background. He holds a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's degree in environmental studies, both from the University of Sherbrooke. He then completed a certificate in education at l’Université du Québec à Hull and a master's degree in education at the ¶®É«µÛ. He also obtained his doctoral degree in educational leadership from Simon Fraser University in 2019.
Among his professional experiences, Dr. Lessard taught science and mathematics from 1996 to 2002 at the École canadienne-française in Saskatoon, a school belonging to the Conseil des écoles fransaskoises (CÉF). He then served as assistant principal at the same school in 2002–2003. In 2003, he became principal and head of the distance learning unit, a position he held until 2007. He joined the CÉF administrative office in 2007 as deputy superintendent, a position he held for six years. In 2013, he became a management consultant before taking on the challenge of serving as superintendent of the Centre-Nord School Board from 2016 to the present. Robert Lessard has also contributed to leadership certification training programs in Alberta since 2018, including those offered at Campus Saint-Jean since 2020.
Dr. Lessard is committed to the success of all students and fully embraces the vision of inclusive French-language education. He is open to new challenges and has excellent leadership, management, and change management skills. He is known for his pragmatic approach and political skills.
Dr. Elissa Corsi is the Associate Executive Secretary (Depuy CEO) of the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA). She has worked as a teacher and administrator in Alberta schools, both in English and French Immersion settings. Elissa also worked as a second language consultant and in human resources before joining the ATA.
She is an adjunct professor at the ¶®É«µÛ, Campus St. Jean in Educational Leadership and School Administration. Her main research interests are in the areas of School Leadership, Leadership and Intersectionality and Second Language Learning, particularly in an immersion environment.