The English Catholic Council of Ontario Directors of Education (ECCODE) meet for their Annual General Meeting and Conference in Toronto. The conference brings together the Directors of Education to reflect on their common mission to Lead and to Serve in the field of Catholic Education and recognizes recently retired Directors of Education.

2026 PROGRAM and AGENDA

November 26, 2026 Keynote Speakers:

Linda Lacroix & Ken Pettigrew

ECCODE AGM & Conference Presentation

 The Refreshed Professional Standards: Implications for System Leadership

The refreshed Professional Standards provide a shared framework for professional practice for all those who hold an Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT) designation. This session will explore the standards from a system leadership perspective, highlighting their role in supporting professional learning, strengthening organizational culture, guiding ethical and informed decision-making, and fostering a shared understanding of effective practice. Through discussion and a leadership-focused case study, participants will consider how the standards can be leveraged to support professional identity, collaborative professional relationships, and the conditions that enable educators and students to thrive.

November 27, 2026 Keynote Speakers:

Gillian Tuck Kutarna & Nadya Tymochenko

Gillian Tuck Kutarna advises education and not-for-profit organizations on a wide range of complex matters. Her work covers governance, employee and student discipline, privacy, investigations, special education and regulatory requirements. Her background includes practice in small and remote communities, family law and work as a staff lawyer at a community legal aid clinic. Gillian has represented clients in court, before human rights and other administrative tribunals, and in arbitration and mediation. She also spent six years as a school board trustee, including two years as board chair. Gillian has written numerous articles, offered webinars, co-authored a book on Education Law, and is a frequent presenter at education sector events.

Nadya Tymochenko acts as Senior Counsel at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP within the Labour and Employment Law Department. She advises employers in all aspects of labour and employment law but specializes in education law. Nadya acts on behalf of publicly funded school boards and private schools before courts of law, grievance boards of arbitration and statutory bodies, including the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and the Ontario Human Rights Commission. She provides strategic advice regarding governance, student matters, human rights, grievance arbitrations, and judicial review applications.

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