
LET'S TALK: 1-905.703.1873
astrachan1@cogeco.ca
AMS and Associates, in business for over 25 years, is a consulting organization with a focus on process management and quality decision making. Through accessing a network of colleagues, we have the capacity to complete both large scale and small projects on time and on budget. Under the Experience tab you will find examples of some past contracts demonstrating the depth and breadth of both knowledge and ability of AMS and Associates
Alice Strachan is a Consultant, Facilitator, Curriculum Designer and Trainer with extensive experience in the not-for-profit and private sector arenas complimented by practical experience in various public service settings. She is a Certified Professional Facilitator, has won various awards for facilitation and training expertise and most recently became certified as a Lego Serious Play Master Facilitator, one of the few in Canada.
Alice is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and is certified in Alternative Dispute Resolution. Areas of demonstrated success have included assessing and analyzing needs, stakeholder engagement, curriculum development, quality improvement, collaboration, community activity, planning customer service and education.
A strategic planner and visionary, Alice utilizes a systematic and comprehensive approach to problem solving, and is a creative and energetic leader who motivates people to achieve individual and organizational goals. She has proven skills in facilitation and presentation and collaborative approaches to quality improvement and learning, as well she is a process management expert and advocate for quality decision-making.
Alice has been involved with numerous community consultations and was the Chair of the Field of Dreams Committee in Halton Hills. Field of Dreams was a project to build an artificial playing surface on an existing grass field area and involved not only project design but also stakeholder collaboration, partnership development and community fundraising. The committee raised over $600,000 from the local community. Alice has also provided leadership to the development of an eleven field soccer facility and has been an integral leader of a sports organization in Georgetown. She has vast experience in community consultation and has conducted province wide scans for active living policies and was also a part of a team that did an international search for best and promising practices in health.
Alice is currently on the Board of Directors for Ontario Soccer and the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada.
Alice has an Honours Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo with a Speciality in Sports Medicine. She is also a Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF), CPF Assessor, Lean Six Sigma Black Belk, an Improvement Advisor with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Certified Lego Serious Play Master Facilitator and has completed the Dispute Resolution Certificate Course. Alice was inducted into University of Waterloo Hall of Fame, has received the Award of Excellence in Training from Parks and Recreation Ontario and is a dedicated community volunteer in sport, education and citizenship.
11 Eleanor Crescent
Halton Hills (Georgetown), ON
L7G 2T7
905.703.1873
@astrachan1

HDSB Board accomplishments 2010-14
Initiatives 2010-2014
E-learning
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Expanded from 10 courses and 16 classes in 2010 to 38 courses and 56 classes in 2014.
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1000+ teachers trained to access e-learning modules as an instructional strategy.
Mental Health
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Mental Health lead established and provincial leading Mental Health Strategy developed.
Boundary Reviews
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9 Boundary Reviews conducted to establish enrollments for new schools and to address overcrowding at others.
Math
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Applied Math Strategy developed improving the results by 9% in one year. Dreambox software purchased for implementation in grade 4 classes.
Early Literacy
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Early literacy provides special assistance to grade 1 students in 29 schools as an early intervention strategy.
Special Education
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Special education testing wait time reduced by 38% from2010 to 2014.
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Development and implementation of Employability Skills Certificate and Volunteer Skills Certificate;
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Standard alternate curriculum for all students taking alternate curriculum to be able to measure success;
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Review of Life Skills/Centre programs with recommendations to be fully implemented by Sept. 2015;
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Hiring of an Occupational Therapist to fill the gap in service for students from CCAC; provide early intervention and access to the curriculum;
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Increase in number of SLPs to support students;
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Moving special education classes in order to reduce the number of transitions for students with special education needs in these classes;
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Training of lunchtime supervisors;
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Trustee Representation on Accessibility;
Admin procedures
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90% of all Administrative procedures reviewed and revised.
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Concussion Protocol developed and initiated. Concussion added to the Grade 9 Health Curriculum
Policy
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New policy structure adapted creating two classes of policy (governance and framework).
Student Engagement
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Student engagement established as a key strategy for student achievement and well-being.
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TTFM is used to measure success in student engagement.
Centre For Skills / Gary Allen
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Report on the functions and future of Continuing Education received by the Board with a Hybrid Model of delivery approved for greater efficiencies and improved service to adult students.
Halton Learning Foundation
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HDSB established MOU with the HLF, to establish independence and reduce substantially the financial support of the Board for HLF operations while continuing its focus on the welfare of HDSB students.
HSTS Governance
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Trustee representation established on the HSTS Board of Directors. Joint Transportation Committee established. Walking distances reduced to 3.2 km for secondary students.
Labour Relations
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Harmonious labour relationships maintained throughout Labour difficulties.
New Schools
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3 new Secondary Schools and 9 new elementary schools opened with expansions and/or renovations to all schools offering FDK.
Communications
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Communication audit completed and first steps initiated.
Building Plaques
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Building Plaques donated by construction and architect companies recognizing the Board.
12/12+
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Students who had dropped out, or were dropping out, are re-enrolled or re-engaged in secondary schools. 495 students return and graduate over the first 4 years of this program.
Capital Projects Reporting
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Capital Reporting Procedure established for greater transparency. The report allows staff to better design new schools through an analysis of previous construction projects.
Non-qualified Audit Statements
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Financial Statements for the school year 2012-13 are unqualified.
Focus on Data
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Value added analysis produced to analyse progress students are making from grade 3 to 6 to 9.
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TTFM used to guide wellness strategies.
Multi-Year Plan
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Developed over 6 months, through a collaboration of staff and trustees
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12 Goals established for Students, Staff and System with specific measurable targets
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Board monitors Multi-Year plan through annual Operations Plans
Bring It
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9% or 252 HDSB homeroom classrooms were targeted to be Bring I.T Classrooms, which includes full WiFI coverage, a mounted data projector, a teacher device (laptop, macbook, chromebook), a trained teacher and a document camera. By the end of 2014-15, 23% or 597 of classrooms will be Bring I.T 25 000+ personal devices are linked to the HDSB network.
Innovation Funding
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Board established a $100 000 innovation fund to support creative instructional strategies.
Differentiated School Support
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Superintendents acquire funds to support schools in need. More than 100 000 alloc IT infusion plan has a factor for socio-economic school status.
Succession Management
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7 new Senior Admin Members hired, including a new Associate Director of Education.
Math Acceleration
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Opportunity provided for gifted students in grade 8 to take grade 9 math.
French Study
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Complex study with significant consultation produced substantial report.
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Recommendations include the introduction of primary core French.
Closing the Gap
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Following the payment of debt, surplus funds contribute to the closing the gap fund. Projects established for renewal to work towards instructional equity.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
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Score improvements over 4 years
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HDSB EQAO Assessment Results – Change Over 4 Years
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Percentage Standard Attainment
EQAO Assessment 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 4 Year Change
Primary Reading 71% 73% 75% 76% +5%
Primary Writing 77% 79% 81% 81% +4%
Primary Math 76% 75% 74% 74% -2%
Junior Reading 79% 82% 82% 85% +6%
Junior Writing 77% 80% 82% 82% +5%
Junior Math 64% 66% 63% 61% -3%
Gr. 9 Academic Math 89% 91% 92% 91% +2%
Gr. 9 Applied Math 53% 54% 47% 56% +3%
OSSLT* 88% 89% 89% 90% +2%