Workshop on resolving disputes and managing difficult conversations in education

This 4-day workshop has been designed to focus on enhancing the necessary skills to deal with all types of disputes that arise in the education sector.

Why Choose the Stitt Feld Handy Group

Whether dealing with an upset or angry parent, managing a conflict between a student and teacher, ensuring health and safety standards are met in your school, resolving issues between students or staff, dealing with concerns from community members, or any other type of issue you need to resolve, working in education has always required the ability to reach agreements with others, resolve conflicts, and engage in productive difficult conversations. Regrettably, our clients in education are telling us that things have become even more difficult as a result of cellphones in the classroom, greater expectations that schools will handle issues that plague our communities, and the impact of the pandemic.

During the last 30 years, the Stitt Feld Handy Group has empowered more than 60,000 participants to manage conflict more effectively and with less stress by equipping them with practical skills.  In addition to the hundreds of educators who have participated in our public workshops, we have designed and delivered close to 100 customized workshops specifically for people in the educator sector including teachers, principals, vice-principals, special education teachers, early childhood educators, superintendents, trustees, and union representatives.  As a result, we have a keen understanding of the increasing challenges being faced by people in education and the skills that might help them to meet the challenges with greater success and less stress.

Course Features

  • Practical negotiation and conflict resolution frameworks that can be applied immediately
  • Small class sizes that allow for meaningful interaction with instructors, coaches, and other participants from the education sector
  • Exercises, discussions and role plays based on realistic education-sector conflicts
  • Live coaching and objective feedback to help participants improve quickly
  • A supportive, high-engagement learning environment focused on real-world application
  • Earn a Certificate of Completion from the Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University

 

Why Participate In Alternative Dispute Resolution Training

  • Address conflict earlier before it hardens into grievances, complaints, disengagement, or public controversy
  • Improve conversations with parents, staff, students, colleagues, trustees, and union representatives
  • Reduce the cost of avoidance, escalation, positional bargaining, and fractured relationships
  • Strengthen school culture by modelling fair, constructive conflict resolution
  • Build practical skills that support leadership effectiveness across schools, departments, and boards

Register for our Workshop on Conflict Resolution for People in Education to transform conflict into opportunities for growth, collaboration, and stronger school communities.

Upcoming Sessions

Graduates will receive a certificate of completion from the Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University.

 

The sessions will run from 8:30 – 4:30 (Eastern Time) daily.

Workshop on resolving disputes and managing difficult conversations in education
August 11 – 14, 2026

Live Online

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The virtual instructor-led workshop was one of the best ones that I have ever participated in (and believe me I have gone to many all over the world). During the virtual workshop we were able to replicate going into breakout rooms, asking questions, connecting with our instructors and peers, etc. I feel it is also a good way to connect with participants from other countries that we would not have had an opportunity to engage with except for this virtual training.
Monica Francis | Supply Principal | Toronto District School Board | Toronto, ON, Canada
“Great material – great sequencing – great presenters. Intensive support/feedback from the coaches.”
Paul Sloan | Superintendent of Education | Simcoe County District School Board | Midhurst, ON, Canada
“The content was really good and very worthwhile.”
Denese Belchetz | Coordinating Superintendent | York Region District School Board | Aurora, ON, Canada
“Having used and developed the skills within the context of the course, it is much easier to transfer the practices into my daily work.”
Karen Shannon | Superintendent of Education | Algonquin & Lakeshore Catholic District School Board | Napanee, ON, Canada
“Excellent flow, very engaging. Roleplays and Exercises: Very effective; best way to learn. Coaches were excellent.”
Gary Fenn | Administration | Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation
“I found this training among the most valuable and practical I have received. I found the seven principles of negotiation and the conflict resolution frameworks excellent, along with the application of the framework elements to role play situations. I also appreciated and valued the feedback sessions. I found the instructors open, approachable and very skilled in their facilitation. They truly shaped the content and activities to our needs as a group contextually, which was very beneficial.”
Paula Mann | Ontario Catholic Supervisory Officers’ Association | Waterloo, ON, Canada
“Layered, progressive, well-paced and well-facilitated learning opportunity. I can apply my new knowledge and skills immediately.”
Kathryn Brillinger | Director | Conestoga College | Kitchener, ON, Canada
“The skills learned are very practical. If used enough, the interest-based problem solving will become second nature.”
Paula Antaya | Human Resources | Greater Essex County District School Board | Windsor, ON, Canada

Synopsis


Conflict in education is complex. People in education are often asked to respond quickly, communicate carefully, all while balancing relationships, Board policy, public expectations, and student well-being. Whether it is a parent escalation, a staffroom dispute, a grievance, or a community controversy, the ability to navigate conflict constructively is a core skill.

This immersive four-day workshop equips education professionals with a practical framework for negotiation and conflict resolution. Participants learn how to move beyond positions, uncover underlying interests, manage strong emotions, and guide conversations toward workable outcomes.

Through structured role plays, live coaching and realistic education-specific scenarios,, participants build skills they can use in parent meetings, grievance settlement discussions, to resolve issues between staff and admin, student conflicts, and issues in the community. The goal is simple: help people in education resolve conflict more effectively while preserving the trust and working relationships their roles depend on.

Further information about this workshop can be found on our FAQ page.

Syllabus


Understanding Conflict in Education

  • Understand what drives conflict in education settings
  • Recognise how assumptions, identity, role pressure, and communication breakdowns escalate disputes
  • Build trust and improve communication in difficult conversations
  • Identify your own negotiation tendencies
  • Avoid common mistakes that make conflict worse

Principled Negotiation in Practice

  • Learn the 7 elements of  principled negotiation
  • Explore how to balance the goal of a good result with maintaining the relationship
  • Generate creative options when policy, resources, or competing interests create constraints
  • Learn when to persist, when to pause, when to change course, and when to walk away
  • Practise moving conversations from blame to problem solving
  • Work with difficult behaviours without becoming reactive or positional

Resolving Conflicts Using Principled Negotiation

  • Learn how to prepare in a structured way to resolve a conflict
  • Manage strong emotions in meetings
  • Become more persuasive without becoming adversarial
  • Frame issues in ways that reduce defensiveness and increase engagement
  • Observe a live mediation demonstration to see the techniques in action
  • Keep difficult meetings focused, respectful, and under control

Mediation in Education Settings

  • Learn the stages of mediation and how to guide people through them
  • Identify and work with underlying interests, concerns, and motivations
  • Practise mediating disputes between others in workplace and school contexts
  • Create realistic next steps that support implementation and preserve relationships
  • Receive feedback from experienced mediators during conflict resolution role plays

Lead Instructors


Elinor F. Whitmore
Vice President, B.A., LL.B., LL.M., C. Med
Brian Grant
LL.B.

Online vs. In Person Learning


Learn your way. Whether online or in person learning, each option offers unique benefits. In-person provides a dynamic environment where you can interact directly with facilitators and fellow participants, while online ADR training offers a highly engaging course from the convenience of your home.

Both our Online and In-person ADR training offer:

  • Smaller class sizes for more interaction with facilitators
  • Breakout sessions for collaborative learning with peers
  • Access to videos and handouts for continued growth beyond the course
  • Live, coached feedback during role plays to refine your skills
  • Engaging, interactive sessions with real-world negotiation scenarios

Who Should Attend


This workshop is designed for professionals in the education sector who regularly manage conflict, lead difficult conversations, or influence stakeholder relationships, including:

  • Directors of education
  • Trustees
  • Superintendents
  • Principals and vice-principals
  • Teacher leaders and union representatives
  • Human resources and labour relations professionals
  • Student services, equity, and special education leaders
  • Anyone responsible for resolving conflict in schools, departments, or board offices

Course Accreditations


This course has been pre-approved by the following organizations, among others.

Human Resource Professionals Association (HRPA)

This program has been approved for CPD hours under Section A of the CPD Log of the HRPA. Visit our accreditations page for details.

SHRM Recertification Provider

This program is valid for PDCs for the SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®. Visit our accreditations page for details.


A complete list can be found on our Accreditations page.

 

In-person learning

 

Mediation role plays

 

Live Online Learning

 

Receiving the certificate

 

Resolving disputes in the workplace

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