Campbell Lake School
Originally located on Range Road 61, north of Township Road 520
(now restored for use as a summer cabin). Photo by Dorothy Tovell, Edmonton

It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the pace of change in today’s world. Technological advancements, political shifts, economic pressures and social change are reshaping how we live, work and learn. In times of uncertainty, connection to community becomes more important than ever. Schools are central to this sense of stability—they are places where children learn, grow and develop a sense of belonging. 

Yet when change moves quickly, our attention naturally shifts forward. We focus on what comes next. In doing so, we can sometimes forget the lessons and successes of the past. 

In this edition of The Learning Team, we take a moment to look back, to reflect on earlier efforts to strengthen Alberta’s public education system. While education must continue to evolve, understanding past initiatives helps inform how we move forward and how public education can best serve students, parents and teachers. 

Over 25 years ago, the Government of Alberta launched two significant initiatives to support innovation and improvement in public education: the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI) and Inspiring Education. 

Established in 1999, AISI provided direct funding to schools to support teacher-led research and innovation aimed at improving student learning. Through AISI, teachers worked collaboratively to design, implement and evaluate new approaches tailored to their students and communities. This work positioned Alberta as an international leader in school-based educational innovation and demonstrated the powerful impact of trusting and supporting the professional expertise of teachers. 

A decade later, Inspiring Education, launched in 2009, engaged thousands of students, parents, educators and community members in a provincewide conversation about the future of learning. The initiative articulated a vision for an education system that would develop engaged thinkers, ethical citizens and entrepreneurial spirit. It emphasized creativity, well-being, adaptability and lifelong learning alongside academic achievement. Inspiring Education reflected a shared recognition that preparing students for the future requires more than content knowledge. It requires supporting the whole child. 

In 2012, the Alberta Teachers’ Association released A Great School for All, a research publication that built on many of these same ideas. The report highlighted the importance of professional expertise, collaboration and community partnership in creating learning environments where all students can flourish. It reinforced the idea that meaningful and sustainable improvement in education happens when teachers, families and communities work together. 

Over time, however, these initiatives concluded or shifted direction. AISI completed its four cycles in 2013, and Inspiring Education was later set aside as new approaches to curriculum and assessment were introduced. Today’s education landscape reflects different priorities and approaches, including increased attention to content in curriculum and assessment practices. 

As Alberta’s education system continues to evolve, it is worth remembering the lessons from these earlier efforts. They remind us that strong public education systems are built through collaboration, trust and a shared commitment to student success. 

Public education has long been one of Alberta’s greatest strengths. By learning from the past while continuing to work together in the present, we can ensure that Alberta’s schools remain places where every child can learn, grow and thrive.