Mary-Anne Neal’s interests and accomplishments are wide-ranging, focused primarily on communication and education. Neal works closely with remote Indigenous communities in the Sahtu region of the Northwest Territories to build leadership capacity, increase pride in Dene identity and improve learning outcomes. International assignments have taken her to China, Vietnam, Turkey, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Kenya and Tanzania. She is a frequent keynote speaker, presenter, panel member and workshop facilitator at conferences. Neal’s passion is to re-imagine education practices as experiential, project-based learning. Visit Neal’s website.
Experience
Neal is the project director of the Dene Hero Publication Project which won the Arctic Inspiration Prize in 2018 for innovation and excellence in the North. With Global Affairs Canada and the Mongolian National Academy of Governance, she recently developed and implemented a training program that will be delivered to 20,000 civil servants in Mongolia in 2021. Neal is the Sahtu regional lead for the National Centre for Collaboration in Indigenous Education at First Nations University. In her role as an educational leader with the BC Ministry of Education, she directed provincewide projects and consultations for nine years. As a scholar-practitioner, she develops and facilitates courses for various organizations.
During a teaching career that spanned almost 20 years, she taught students from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
Education
1996
Master of Education (specializing in curriculum and technology)
University of Victoria
1976
Bachelor of Education (with distinction)
University of Alberta
Awards
2018
Arctic Inspiration Prize
-
n.d.
Excellence in Teaching Award
From Austin O'Brien High School
n.d.
Rutherford Award
For Excellence in Written Communication
n.d.
Public speaking
From IX and XV Commonwealth Games
n.d.
Southam Paragon Award
For outstanding achievement
Publications
Under the Midnight Sun (2021)
Dene Heroes of the Sahtu, Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4 (Editor) 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Trained Dene researchers for First Nations University, National Centre for Collaboration in Indigenous Education: https://youtu.be/YnFvFwj_FTk
Youtube promo for Dene Hero celebrations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCD9fgjL7O0
“Voice of Experience: Love Letters” for Education Canada (published June, 2013)
"Appreciative Assessment: Inquire!” for Education Canada (published June, 2012) http://www.cea-ace.ca/education-canada/article/appreciative-assessment-inquire
Engage Me or Enrage Me – Battle Cry of Adolescent Learners (professional development textbook for K – 12 teachers, in progress)
http://www.cea-ace.ca/education-canada/article/engaging-students-through-effective-questions
“Career Pathways for Aboriginal Youth” for the Society for the Advancement of Excellence in Education (winter 2010 publication)
“Make Your Peace” project and handbook for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games
“Leading Sustainable Change in an Education System” for the Australian Association for Research in Education (published online by AARE and Royal Roads University, 2009) http://www.aare.edu.au/data/publications/2008/nea08785.pdf
Educational publications for BC Ministry of Education: Grad Planners, Parent Guides, policy documents, reports, pamphlets, brochures
Educational media: 52 hour-long radio broadcasts for ACCESS CKUA, various television and radio scripts for ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists)
Tree Tales publication to accompany software for Grades 4 – 8 Science teachers
Monthly columns for Edmonton Magazine; Feature articles for Edmonton Sun, Foresight, Island Parent; Articles for U VIC Centre for Youth and Society newsletter and many other publications
Youtube presentation at RRU on “Education Beyond Borders,” facilitating professional development workshops for teachers in Kenya http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_OD_3YItTM&sns=em
For a list of publications and short bio, see: http://camosun.ca.libguides.com/c.php?g=92384&p=597846
