Education Week 2026’s theme is Fostering Empathy: Learning and Leading with Kindness.

This year, we celebrate teachers, school staff, and community partners who show how kindness can make a big difference in learning. When schools focus on fostering empathy, they create safe and welcoming spaces where everyone feels included. Empathy helps students build strong friendships, work well together, and grow into leaders who care about others. By learning and leading with kindness, we prepare students not just for success in school, but for making their communities better places.

Le thème de la Semaine de l’éducation 2026, c’est Pour favoriser l’empathie – Apprendre et diriger avec gentilesse.

Cette année, nous mettons à l’honneur le personnel des CRE et du CSAP ainsi que les partenaires d’éducation publique qui démontrent l’impact favorable de la gentillesse sur l’apprentissage. Quand les écoles se concentrent sur le développement de l’empathie, elles créent des milieux accueillants et sécuritaires où l’inclusion devient une réalité pour tout le monde. Grâce à l’empathie, les élèves nouent des amitiés plus robustes, travaillent bien ensemble et développent un style de leadeurship qui se soucie des autres. Apprendre et diriger avec gentillesse nous aide à préparer les élèves non seulement à réussir à l’école, mais à s'investir dans l'amélioration de leurs communautés.

Education Week provides a special opportunity to acknowledge educators, school support staff and partners for their outstanding work relative to the Education Week theme. Categories of award recipients include NSTU members, PSAANS members, early childhood educators and student school support staff, Mi’kmaq and African Nova Scotian educators and student support staff, APSEA teachers and staff, along with public education partners.

An awards’ ceremony recognizing the work of teachers, specialists, support staff, administrators and pre-primary Early Childhood Educators and public education partners is scheduled to take place on Monday, May 11, 2026 at École secondaire Mosaïque in Dartmouth.

Education Week is a collaborative effort among public education stakeholders in Nova Scotia. Representatives from the NSTU, PSAANS, EECD, APSEA, the Fédération des parents acadiens de la Nouvelle-Écosse, Council on African Canadian Education, and Council of Mi’kmaq Education comprise the committee. The chair of the committee rotates between the partners. Amy Hunt, PSAANS and Nellie van Klei, APSEA are co-chairing the 2026 committee. Teachers Plus Credit Union is continuing its sponsorship of Education Week 2026.