President: Christelle Waldie

What is AMDI?

A.M.D.I,  l’Association manitobaine des directrices et directeurs d’écoles d’immersion, is a professional organization of administrators working in French Immersion schools.   AMDI began in the late 1980’s and works  collaboratively with several partners such as les Éducatrices et éducateurs francophones du Manitoba (ÉFM) of  Manitoba Teachers Society (MTS), Le Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface, Canadian Parents for French (CPF) and Le Bureau de l’éducation française (BEF). 

The goal of AMDI is to support French Immersion administrators through networking, organizing professional development activities and raising the awareness of our members about issues relevant to French Immersion. It is our mandate to maintain a strong liaison with educational organizations in order to heighten the profile and needs of the French Immersion Program. AMDI is involved in the planning of several conferences such as La conférence d’automne des ÉFM, the French Immersion Symposium, the French Immersion in Manitoba Conference and the Council of School Leaders Conference. AMDI is also involved in the national ACPI Congrès de Saskatoon on October 26, 27 and 28 2006.

The executive committee of AMDI is a volunteer  group of  at least 6 elected members. The elections take place during the Annual General Assembly according to the association’s statutes. The executive committee meets monthly to work on the long-term and short-term goals described in our Action Plan (Plan d’action). AMDI is working in close collaboration with its partners to support and promote the following activities during the 2006-2007 school year:

v     The Leadership Program is offered in partnership with Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface. It offers training sessions in French to AMDI members, as well as teachers interested in a career in administration in French Immersion schools.

v     AMDI’s Colloque  (organized in partnership with ÉFM) will take place on Friday May 4, 2007 .  The themes for the professional development activities are all related to issues pertaining to leadership in the French immersion context. All members are invited to participate in the Annual General Assembly.

v     French Immersion in Manitoba: Strengthening our Community is a conference for all stakeholders, parents, school personel, trustees, administrators, etc. It will take place on November 3 and 4, 2006. This conference is organized in partnership with the Bureau de l’éducation française. The purpose of the conference is to share information about recent research on second language acquisition in a French immersion setting.

v     L’Institut d’été  takes place at Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface in August. It is a week long professional development opportunity for teachers and administrators working in the French language.

Long term Projects

v     French for Life is a project led by CPF in partnership with AMDI and Manitoba Association of Teachers of French (MATF) and financed by the Action Plan for Official Languages. This project has been launched  at Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface.  In its first year, a web site containing research articles has been setup and a promotional campaign sharing the benefits of French Second Language education has been started . Interactive information sessions with powerpoint presentations are available to schools who request them.

v     Handbook for French Immersion Administrators. This handbook, made in Manitoba, is written in English by French immersion administrators in collaboration with the Bureau de l’éducation française, as a tool for French Immersion Administrators who are not bilingual but who wish to support the French immersion program.