George Couros' CV

Stony Plain, ABCanada

w:h:

780-963-4010780-267-5375

George CourosDIVISION PRINCIPAL

Innovative Teaching and LearningParkland School Division

[email protected]

My Website: http://georgecouros.caMy Website: http://connectedprincipals.comMy Website: http://gcouros.com

Stony Plain, AB, Canada Jul 2011 - Present

VisionAs we move forward in education, we must ensure that we give students the opportunity to be creative,collaborative, and critical thinkers, while also being able to pursue their passions and interests. As aleader in education, it is essential that I collaborate with all stakeholders to create innovative learningenvironments that are flexible and give all students and staff opportunities to achieve excellence. Wemust create an environment where students are proud of their community and culture, valuing thedifference of others, while still creating opportunities to partake and succeed in a global environment.As a leader, I must role model and help to build a culture of learning, collaboration, and innovation.Believing that all stakeholders can possess these same qualities, I want to create an environmentwhere we are all learners and leaders.

PresentationsAs a sought after speaker, I have worked with groups all over North America, as well as doneextensive work in Australia. These groups include Senior Executives, school administrators, educators,parents, as well as students. I have facilitated workshops as well as been a keynote for largeconferences. Below are some of the presentations that I have done which can all be foundat: http://georgecouros.ca/blog/presentations.

• The Myths of Technology and Learning• The Networked Educator/Leader• Focusing on your "why"; Leading Your School in a Digital Age• Parent 2.0: Bringing Parents in on the Process of Learning

You are also more than welcome to see any of my presentations that I have listed publicly on thefollowing site: slideshare.net/gcouros

Please feel free to look at a sample video of my speaking at the #140cuse Conference in Syracuse,New York: bit.ly/gcspeaking

Work History

Parkland School Division

Division Principal of Innovative Teaching and Learning• Work with all levels of leadership to help creative innovative learning environments within

schools. This includes, but is not limited to, working with Senior Executive, SchoolBased Leadership, Educational staff, and students.

• Developed the "Leadership 2.0" series as a way to further innovative leadership withinour own school division, as well as give opportunities to others nationally andinternationally.

• Work closely with the Information Technology Department which provides services for allof Parkland School Division (approximately 10,000 students) to incorporate our vision forlearning.

Tim Monds

Kelly Wilkins

Cheryl Johnson

Mary Lynne Campbell

References(Superior)

SuperintendentParkland School Division(780)[email protected]

(Superior)

Associate SuperintendentParkland School Division(780)[email protected]

(Peer)

Assistant PrincipalParkland School Division(780)[email protected]

(Peer)Executive Director/CEOPublic School Boards’ Association(780)[email protected]

View My VisualCV Online: http://www.visualcv.com/j2hqd09

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http://georgecouros.ca

http://connectedprincipals.com

http://gcouros.com

http://www.visualcv.com/j2hqd09

Stony Plain, AB, Canada Aug 2009 - Present

• Creator and leader of the "Learning Leader" project, that has empowered over 100educators in Parkland School Division on using cloud computing, personal learningnetworks, and mobile devices to bring innovation to their classroom while also leveragingsocial media. These 100+ educators are also empowered to lead their own staff in thisinitiatives.

• Facilitating initiatives such as the 184 project, and division portfolio and blogging project.• Administrator of Google Apps for Education for the division.• Co-facilitator of the “Great Leaders, Great Teams, Great Results” leadership training for

Parkland School Division, based on the work of Stephen Covey. This is an ongoing rolewith the school division.

• Facilitated professional learning opportunities for PSD teachers in the area of technologyintegration, with an emphasis on effective use of social media to help build professionallearning networks.

Forest Green School/Connections for Learning (K-12)

Principal• Worked to develop strong relationships with students, staff, and parents through a belief

in, and focus on, open communication. Created the Forest Green School Website, ForestGreen Blog, along with editing and creating both the Forest Green and Connections forLearning Newsletters.

• Fostered partnerships with the School Council and helped them communicate theirschool involvement through the use of the school website, along withpresenting Cyberbullying and Web 2.0 Technologies, as a way of informing them ofemerging trends in education.

• Shared information with parents and staff regarding school initiatives that are based oncurrent and future school community needs through open communication.Communication included monthly newsletters and conversational media through theForest Green School Blog.

• Collaborated with staff to create extended learning experiences in the area of sports (teamand intramurals) and the fine arts. It is essential that students have an opportunity tosucceed in areas outside of the core curriculum.

• Authored a blog/portfolio site to understand the benefits and implications of this type oflearning for our students and staff. Through this transition, several of our staff havestarted their own personal blog sites, while every teacher hosts a classroom blog.

• Designed a Professional Development program that builds upon the strengths of ourstaff. This program has been highly successful within our school and has our staff veryengaged in their learning. The time for guided conversation has been extremely valuableto ensure that our practice has become transformational for students.

• Developed in collobaration with the Forest Green School community, a school councilafter several years of not having one within the school. This has been an importantelement of creating a positive and collaborative school culture.

• Partnered with parents and staff to help create the 2010-2011 Education Plan. This wasa fantastic opportunity for our school to build upon the vision together.

• Focused on the priority that “Every child is a leader”, as defined by Stephen Covey’s,“The Leader in Me” book and developed ample opportunities for our students to be schoolleaders.

• Administered division programs such as the Early Years Alternative Program (EYALT) aswell as Balanced Literacy. These are programs that are used by all of Parkland SchoolDivision, yet are run from Forest Green School.

• Used our school budget to ensure a safe environment and support learning initiativeswithin our school.

• Worked with all schools to ensure successful placements for several students with theConnections for Learning program.

• Facilitated the successful transition of Parkland School Division’s Stony Creek Programfrom Muir Lake to Forest Green School. This work with the parent and staff community,along with a transition team led by an outside facilitator, ensure the program continued toprosper.

• Teamed with the Paul Band First Nation community to ensure students from the areahave continued success at Forest Green School. We have also ensured that we havecontinuously infused FNMI culture into our school sites through our work with Paul Bandand our FNMI Liaison.


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http://www.psd70.ab.ca/forestgreen/

http://forestgreenschool.edublogs.org/

http://forestgreenschool.edublogs.org/

http://forestgreenschool.ca/

http://drop.io/bqcgusy

http://www.psd70.ab.ca/forestgreen/newsletter.html


http://georgecouros.ca/

http://www.google.ca/reader/bundle/user%2F10302864050936809118%2Fbundle%2FForest%20Green%20Blogs

http://www.google.ca/reader/bundle/user%2F10302864050936809118%2Fbundle%2FForest%20Green%20Blogs

http://www.google.ca/reader/bundle/user%2F10302864050936809118%2Fbundle%2FForestGreenSchool.Ca%20Sites

http://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/679

http://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/810

http://www.theleaderinme.org/


Stony Plain, AB, Canada Aug 2007 - Jun 2009

Spruce Grove, AB, Canada Aug 2006 - Jun 2007

Muir Lake Community School (K-9)

Assistant Principal• Worked with all staff at MLCS and promoted an open dialogue to continuously improve

our school tobest serve students.

• Modeled and encouraged hard work, risk taking, and commitment to division and schoolgoals.

• Worked diligently with the staff and principal to implement and promote a model ofshared leadershipwithin the school.

• Lead administrator for the Stony Creek Program and worked intensively to facilitate amove to anew building within Parkland School Division. Led a transition team to help build andmaintainthe best program for the students of the Stony Creek program.

• Facilitated the MLCS Student Council which has a main focus on building relationshipswithin theschool community through its activities.

• Organized a grade 7-9 fine arts trip to New York that included parents, staff, andstudents traveling together.

• Worked with all school stakeholders to help develop the MLCS Education plan for2009-2011.

• Lead facilitator and AISI coordinator in the area of technology integration. This led to thedevelopment of an in-school professional development plan that was very successful inthe area of technology integration.

• Implemented an effective model of teacher supervision for MLCS.• Trained and supported teachers as technology leads in both the early years and middle

years settings.• Developed and coordinated scheduling for all teachers from K-9, ensuring that course

delivery was aligned with the Alberta Education framework.• Collaborated with all stakeholders to develop an Options program that best meets the

needs of students, while educating them on emerging trends in the future.• Developed with the School Council chair a proposal to successfully secure funds for

emerging technologies at Muir Lake School.

Greystone Centennial Middle School (5-9)

Technology Integration Coordinator• Collaborated with teachers to successfully integrate technology into core curriculum

while developing their own learning in the area of using technology to enhance learning.• Worked with students from grade levels 5-9 to successfully implement an advisement

program that looked at various societal needs and how they intersect with fostering apositive school environment.

• Created a technology integration schedule to ensure all students had an opportunity tomeet ICT outcomes.

• Worked successfully in a team teaching environment teaching all core grade 7 subjects.• Developed and delivered complementary courses based on student needs and Web 2.0

technologies.• Worked with the GCMS School Council to share information with all stakeholders.• Instituted several short in-services for staff development dealing with different aspects of

technology integration.• Delivered an informational session to parents on how to teach students to connect safely

with others using the Internet.


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Rimbey, AB, Canada Sep 2001 - Jun 2006

Maple Creek, SK, Canada Sep 1999 - Jun 2001

Saskatoon, SK, Canada Sep 2005 - Apr 2007



Rimbey Junior/Senior High School

Teacher/Technology Integration Coordinator• Technology Integration Coordinator for the school. Worked with teachers to successfully

implement technology in all courses from grade 7-12.• AISI Lead from 2004-2006 in the area of technology integration.• Team member of the Telus2Learn team for Wolf Creek Schools. Provided many

workshops for staff from all schools within Wolf Creek.• Information Processing teacher.• Taught courses from grade 7-9 in Mathematics and CTS.

Sidney Street School

Teacher/Technology Lead• Taught grade 4 and 7 for my two years at Sidney Street School.• Technology Lead for the school, working with staff and students to successfully integrate

technology into the classroom.• Provided inservicing on the use of technology for educators in Maple Creek and the

surrounding region.

Education

University of Phoenix

Master of Education, Curriculum and Instruction

University of Saskatchewan

Bachelor of Science, History/English

University of Saskatchewan

Bachelor of Education, Elementary Education

Projects• Connected Principals (Creator/Contributor)• Connected Principals Quick Thoughts (Creator/Contributor)• Forest Green School WPMU Portfolio Site (Creator/Contributor)• Examples of Student Innovation (Creator/Contributor)• Bam Radio Network – Commentator

Skills and Attributes

• Recognized as a leader in the area of innovation both within my own school district as wellas internationally.


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http://connectedprincipals.com/

http://cpchat.org/


http://studentinnovation.wikispaces.com/

http://www.bamradionetwork.com/


• Have worked in education for 14+ years with students and staff from K-12, as both ateacher and administrator.

• Presented and engaged groups that include senior executives, board trustees, principals,teachers, parents, and students.

• Hard worker and committed to achieving goals.• Proven skills in building relationships, leading others, and developing leadership capacity.• Tremendous knowledge in the area of technology integration. I have developed many

tutorials for schools and school districts i within education, and have enjoyed working withmany different teachers in helping them gain knowledge in implementing technology intotheir own classrooms.

• Leader in the area of effective assessment practices as well as the implementation ofeportfolios.

Quote from a parent advocate“...our school principal, George Couros, has such an amazing vision for our school, I am positive thatmy children will get far more out of their education than I did. They will be engaged in their education,and they will be free to express themselves... they will be creative and know how to collaborate andwork as a team. They are being taught to be critical thinkers that make great decisions. Isn’t that whatwe want for our children, who will one day be leaders in their communities? Let's ensure that they haveany tool necessary to help them succeed in life.”

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George Couros' CV

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