EDGE 25

Cale Birk is a former Head of Innovation from British Columbia, Canada and Imagineer and author of Navigating Leadership Drift with Dr. Michael McDowell, PLC 2.0 - Collaborating for Impact in Today's Schools, The PLC 2.0 Toolkit, Changing Change Using Learner-Centered Design and now his latest work, “Words on the Wall - Culturize Your Classroom for Observable Impact” (July, 2024) with Jimmy Casas.

An educator and high school principal in the public school system for more than 25 years, Cale’s school was named one of the first model PLC schools in Canada after increasing student success rates across all grades and subject areas for five consecutive years. Through his learning as Head of Innovation, Cale then developed the Observable Impact Model that districts and schools across North America now use to answer the question, "What is our observable impact?" – the observable changes in practice that make the difference for all learners. Using the lens of “impact” rather than “action”, Cale has helped district leaders, school leaders and teachers reimagine and implement strategic plans, school plans and collaborative team plans that have ‘line of sight’ to where it matters the most– classrooms with students and teachers. 

In addition to his work as an author and facilitator, Cale is a TED talker and has been the keynote/featured speaker at conferences and workshops in Canada, the United States, Asia, New Zealand and Australia.