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Part of Education supports

Aggression and Complexity in Schools Action Team

Members will develop recommendations to address classroom complexity and improve safety in schools.

Overview

As classroom environments grow increasingly complex, teachers and school leaders across Alberta have expressed concerns about the impact on safety, learning outcomes and overall well-being.

To address these concerns, we established an Aggression and Complexity in Schools Action Team to find ways to reduce disruptions and strengthen supports for both students and educators within their learning environments.

Mandate

The action team has developed recommendations for the Minister of Education and Childcare on both immediate and long-term actions to better support students and educators across the province.

Since July, the team has examined:

  • policies
  • teacher training
  • inclusive education supports
  • funding considerations
  • coordination across sectors

To inform this work, the action team has gathered insights from many stakeholders including frontline educators, disability organizations, community agencies, early learning experts, and social service professionals.

Members

The 25-member action team brought together education leaders, including representatives from school boards in Edmonton and Calgary, the Alberta Teachers’ Association and other key education partners. They have worked closely with teachers, education support workers, school resource officers, as well as student and family advocacy groups.

  • Chairs

    • Joanne Pitman, chief superintendent, Calgary Board of Education
    • Zoë Cooper, assistant deputy minister, Strategic Services and Governance, Alberta Education and Childcare

  • Members

    • Monique Baker, directrice générale/superintendent, Conseil scolaire FrancoSud
    • Nancy Ball, division coordinator, Fort McMurray Public School Division
    • Shali Baziuk, vice president, Alberta School Boards Association
    • Dave Bennell, director of specialized learning services, Edmonton Public School Board
    • Sherri Black, director of learning supports, Rocky View Schools
    • Patricia Bolger, board chair, Calgary Board of Education
    • Shannon Cook, board chair, Calgary Catholic School District
    • Marilyn Dennis, president, Alberta School Boards Association
    • Brooke Gibson, education assistant, Rocky View School Division
    • Angela Grammatikos, teacher, Calgary Board of Education
    • Ian Gray, superintendent, Aurora Academic Charter Schools
    • Lauren Keele, teacher, Calgary Board of Education
    • Kathy King, project manager, Expanding Capacity and Learner Supports, Association of Independent Schools and Colleges in Alberta
    • Julie Kusiek, board chair, Edmonton Public School Board
    • Mike McMann, president, College of Alberta School Superintendents
    • Scott Meunier, deputy superintendent, Northland School Division
    • Meg Miskolzie, associate superintendent, Student Supports and Services, Parkland School Division
    • Kim Nahirniak, teacher, Living Waters Catholic Separate School Division
    • Amber Nicholson, teacher and assistant principal, Edmonton Catholic School Division
    • Sandra Palazzo, board chair, Edmonton Catholic School Division
    • Terri Peterson, superintendent, Learning Services, Edmonton Catholic School Division
    • Bryan Szumlas, chief superintendent, Calgary Catholic School District
    • Leanne Watson, executive staff officer, Teacher Employment Services, Alberta Teachers’ Association

Outcomes

On November 21, 2025, Alberta’s government released the Aggression and Complexity in Schools Action Team Report, a report to the minister that identifies key challenge areas and provides seven recommendations to address classroom aggression and complexity. 

In October, Alberta’s government established the Class Size and Complexity Cabinet Committee, co-chaired by Premier Smith and Education and Childcare Minister, Demetrios Nicolaides. The cabinet committee will work with school boards, community leaders and academic experts, and use data collected to guide government decisions on the allocation of resources and support the implementation of actions.

Over the coming months, the cabinet committee will start rolling out solutions informed by the action team’s recommendations and will guide the creation of a new inclusive education policy framework.

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