Our Team

Julia Drefs is a strong advocate for student-centered assessment, believing that high expectations, curiosity with relevant & engaging learning, community partnerships, and intentional student growth with increasing learner confidence makes education joyful for all. Ultimately, Julia advocates for collaborations and common understandings among Alberta educators to foster student success.

 Drawing from over three decades of diverse experience in education, Julia is an avid reader of pedagogical research. She has degrees from Western University (UWO), McGill University, and a Master of Education in 21st Century Teaching and Learning with the University of PEI. She has taught grades 5-9, served as a principal, mentored teachers, and supported teachers in the areas of curriculum and assessment. Her lifelong commitment to language education is evidenced by her academic pursuits in French, German, and Russian across various universities, including international studies in Nice, France; her support for student exchanges; and as an examiner for le Diplôme d'études en langue française (DELF). 

Areas Of Expertise

Curriculum

• Concept Based Learning, Instruction, and Assessment
• Support for Implementation

Language Arts

• Reading and Writing - the entwined literacies
• Anchor and Mentor texts
• Literature Circles
• Vocabulary Best Practices

Leadership

• Coaching (Cognitive Coaching, Jim Knight, Erickson)
• Mentoring new teachers

Pedagogy

• Conceptual Understanding and Transfer of Learning
• Assessment Practices (Transfer, DoK, student goals)
• Student Engagement
• Socratic Circles
• Flexible Groupings

"Wisdom begins in wonder." Socrates