Why Kids Still Need You: Finding Hope in Hard Times

This past October, Alberta teachers faced unprecedented stress and uncertainty. Many returned to the classroom feeling unheard, depleted, and disheartened, and for good reason. Choosing hope in the face of exhaustion and loss isn’t easy. It can feel impossible. Yet, the choice to keep showing up for students, even when things feel hopeless, is an act of quiet courage that matters more than ever. I’ll share personal stories from my own journey, growing up with ADHD in a single-parent household, navigating a traumatic childhood, often feeling like I didn’t fit in, and how the beacons of light in my life were caring adults who saw me, believed in me, and refused to give up. Those moments changed everything. My hope is that you’ll leave reminded of the same truth: that what you do matters deeply. Even on the hardest days, your compassion, your consistency, and your belief in your students create ripples that reach further than you’ll ever know. I hope this session will be both a reflection and a renewal, with a chance to remember why the work you do is powerful, why kids still need you, and why holding onto hope, even when it’s hard, might be the most radical thing you can do.