The High Performing Educator Podcast

Sam Demma
  • 5.0 (28)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

The High Performing Educator Podcast is hosted by keynote speaker Sam Demma. By tuning in, you will hear the journeys, beliefs and strategies of heart-centred and ambitious educators. You can expect interviews with Principals, Teachers, Guidance Counsellors and National Student Association Directors, and anyone who influences youth. Each episode will remind you why you got into education and provide you with cutting-edge ideas you can implement now. Would you like to recommend our next guest? Email us: sam@samdemma.com

  1. JAN 31

    Creativity, Culture, and Leadership with Dr. Patrick Leroux

    Louis Patrick Leroux is the 7th Rector of Saint Paul University in Ottawa. Originally from Eastern Ontario, he is a playwright, theatre director, and scholar whose work bridges art and academia. Before joining Saint Paul, Dr. Leroux spent two decades at Concordia University as a professor of English and French studies, researching theatre, contemporary circus, and creative collaboration. A prolific, award-winning author, he has published more than a hundred scholarly works and a dozen plays translated into several languages. His research has attracted over six million dollars in funding and earned national recognition, including induction into the Royal Society of Canada. Today, as rector, Dr. Leroux continues to champion creativity, community, and the power of interdisciplinary education.

    50 min

  2. 2025-10-25 · VIDEO

    John McGowan — HUB Senior Account Executive, Education Specialty Practice

    John McGowan has joined HUB as Senior Account Executive, Education Specialty Practice. John's 20 years of campus leadership experience will enhance HUB's industry-leading Education Specialty Practice to meet the evolving needs of campuses across Canada. As the General Manager of the McMaster Students' Union, John played an integral role in four capital projects with a cumulative budget in excess of $95 million to support student life. In addition, he oversaw an annual budget of $13 million, was responsible for over 150 staff, supported 250+ Clubs and delivered 30+ services to the McMaster community in Hamilton, Ontario. His stewardship and ability to collaborate was invaluable in shaping the campus experience at McMaster University for decades. This unique experience has equipped him with invaluable insights into the needs of post-secondary institutions, student associations, staff and students. This includes, but is not limited to, risk management, strong governance, benefits, and insurance.

    20 min

  3. 2025-09-26

    Michael Lobuzzetta — Principal at Cleveland Hill High School

    Michael Lobuzzetta has been a dedicated leader and educator within the Cleveland Hill community for over thirteen years. He currently serves as Principal of Cleveland Hill High School, where he is committed to fostering academic excellence, personal growth, and social responsibility in students, while building a collaborative and engaging school culture for staff, families, and the wider community. Before becoming Principal, Michael served as Assistant Principal for four years and as a Special Education Teacher at the high school level. Throughout his career, he has contributed to numerous teams, committees, and initiatives that have advanced student achievement and strengthened the school's supportive environment. His leadership is rooted in collaboration, transparency, and shared decision-making, with a strong belief that meaningful change happens when people work together. Michael earned his bachelor's degree in Sociology from Buffalo State College and began his career in the Human Services field. He later completed his Master's degree in Special Education at D'Youville College and worked at Gateway-Longview before joining Cleveland Hill in 2012. With humility and pride, Michael continues to serve the Cleveland Hill High School community, embracing the school's tradition of excellence and working alongside students, parents, and educators to shape a bright future together.

    31 min

  4. 2025-09-24

    Danny Viotto — Director of Senior School at The Country Day School

    Joining us this year, Danny Viotto brings a wealth of experience to the CDS community as the new Director of Senior School. Having led the Huron Superior Catholic District School Board as the Director of Education for the past several years, Danny also served as an Academic Superintendent, an Elementary Principal and a Senior School Principal with HSCDSB for almost 15 years. He believes strongly that as educators we are called to develop the full potential of every child. In between his roles at HSCDSB, Danny spent two years as School Principal at De La Salle College, an independent school in Toronto, where he worked closely alongside the school's President, staff, students and parents - listening to the voices of all constituents so to best prioritize De La Salle's needs and create intentional, strategic directions. Danny holds a B.A. in English and a B.Ed. from Lakehead University and an M.Ed. from Nipissing University and has a history of working with school teams to nurture a community of belonging that supports self-expression and fulfilment. He believes strongly that music, drama, art and athletics help develop well-rounded citizens and future leaders. Danny relocated to York Region from Sault Ste. Marie last summer and has fully immersed himself into the awesome community at the Country Day School.

    34 min

  5. 2025-09-22

    Peter Cowan — Vice Principal at Ursuline College in Chatham

    With a strong background in mathematics education, Peter Cowan has dedicated his career to fostering confidence and perseverance in students. As the former Head of the Math Department at Ursuline College Chatham, he played a pivotal role in improving the school's EQAO scores by 24% over five years. However, beyond the numbers, Peter takes pride in the transformation within the classroom—witnessing students develop resilience and belief in their ability to tackle challenging problems. Now serving as Vice Principal, Peter continues to focus on supporting students who have struggled academically, helping them navigate their paths toward success. His commitment to education extends beyond the classroom, having taught a wide range of essential courses. An active coach, Peter helps with the school's track and cross-country teams, fostering discipline and teamwork among student-athletes. In the winter, he dedicates his time to coaching his son's hockey team, embracing the importance of mentorship both in academics and athletics. Peter is a strong believer that students involved in sports or extracurricular activities gain valuable skills that translate into real-life qualities—time management, work ethic, teamwork, and becoming a productive member of their community. His passion lies in empowering students, building a positive learning environment, and ensuring that every learner finds their place in the school community.

    33 min

  6. 2025-09-20

    Zoran Stojković — Mental Performance Specialist with Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services

    Zoran Stojković is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) and has extensive experience helping athletes and high-performance professionals develop the psychological skills necessary to perform under pressure. He currently works as a Mental Performance Specialist with Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services as a Mental Performance Specialist supporting pilots in optimizing focus, confidence, and resilience in high-stakes environments. With over 15 years of experience coaching tennis and more than eight years as a Mental Performance Consultant with his company Kizo Performance, Zoran has worked with over 2,000 athletes across various sports, guiding them in mental preparation for major competitions and sustainable personal growth. He played a role in Pacific Football Club's gold-medal-winning season in the Canadian Premier League in 2021 and has helped Olympic and national team athletes reach the podium on the world stage. His expertise includes breathing techniques for composure under pressure, recovery strategies for energy management, goal-setting, performance routines, and self-talk for confidence. Zoran holds dual master's degrees in Sport and Exercise Psychology (MSc, MSSc) and is a professional member of the Canadian Sport Psychology Association (CSPA).

    30 min

  7. 2025-09-18

    Jeevan Dhami — Vice Principal of Queen Elizabeth Secondary School

    Jeevan Dhami is a the vice principal Queen Elizabeth Secondary School in British Columbia. He originally began his career as an Outreach Worker in 2014 at the same secondary school he would return to as a continuing teacher in 2019. With an extensive background in community work through various organizations, Jeevan consistently pursued academics while attending Simon Fraser University to further his education. He completed his Bachelor of Arts with a focus in History and Criminology, then a Bachelors of Education with a focus on Environmental Education and is currently working on completing his Masters in Educational Practices. Outside of the school building, Jeevan can be found keeping up with his other passion of sport, by coaching Senior Boys Basketball. As a former student-athlete, he understands the importance of transferable skills through sport, which he hopes to pass on to his players and his community. His philosophy on life and teaching is based on the power of connection as he works to create a sense of belonging for people within his community.

    44 min

  8. 2025-09-16

    Frank Cappadocia — Dean of Continuous Professional Learning at Humber Polytechnic

    A leader 'of firsts' Frank Cappadocia enjoys the thrill and challenges of new ventures. In his current position as Dean of Humber College's Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) operations. Tasked with building Humber's CPL activities, Frank works with all of Humber's Senior Deans, Associate-Deans, and dozens of external partners to deliver the 400+ professional courses CPL offers each term. Known to be a solutions-focused, mission-driven leader, Frank's spent the last 30 years trying to improve the quality of full-time, part-time, and continuing education student, staff, and faculty life. Having held more than 12 executive positions at TMU (formerly Ryerson), York University, Lakehead University and now Humber, Frank has one of the widest sets of professional lenses in Ontario's postsecondary sector. Known for his quick wit, humour and approachability, Frank continues to maximize opportunities wherever he can find them. He is absorbed and obsessed with everything leadership which is both his personal and professional passion. Frank is the recipient of several provincial and three national level awards recognizing his educational program design successes and is routinely sought out as a leadership consultant and presenter with over 400 workshops to 20,000+ participants. Frank holds a Master of Arts in Community Leadership from Regis University. As a lifelong learner Frank can also completed all but his dissertation in Educational Leadership with the University of Cumbria. Bridge-builder, co-creator and occasional troublemaker, Frank is proud of his humble beginnings and remains strongly committed to several community-based organizations like Victim Services, World Vision, and the Terry Fox Foundation. You can reach Frank here: frank.cappadocia@humber.ca

    43 min
See All (379)

5
out of 5
28 Ratings

About

The High Performing Educator Podcast is hosted by keynote speaker Sam Demma. By tuning in, you will hear the journeys, beliefs and strategies of heart-centred and ambitious educators. You can expect interviews with Principals, Teachers, Guidance Counsellors and National Student Association Directors, and anyone who influences youth. Each episode will remind you why you got into education and provide you with cutting-edge ideas you can implement now. Would you like to recommend our next guest? Email us: sam@samdemma.com

Information