Calgary Academy Learning & Development Lead Phil Grossi brings his passion for learning to work each day. From touring with his band to finding his calling in education, his path has been shaped by curiosity, personal growth, and the influence of dedicated teachers.
Today, he empowers Calgary Academy staff, helping them develop the skills they need to succeed. With his experience as an educator, he brings a balanced approach to professional learning at the school, finding relevant learning opportunities for all of our staff.
Mr. Grossi found his love of learning after graduating from high school. While he says he struggled throughout school, music class and passionate teachers helped him find joy in his daily life.
Eventually, Mr. Grossi joined a band (playing the drums) and spent several years touring Canada. In his 20s, with little to do on several-hour-long drives between cities, he decided to pick up reading as a hobby. Beginning with the Lord of the Rings series, he eventually moved on to nonfiction books focused on philosophy and psychology.
As Mr. Grossi grew older, he moved from behind the drums to a desk, working in a corporate environment. The company he worked for valued continuing education, which inspired him. When he found himself at a career crossroads, his girlfriend (now wife) recommended teaching.
Thinking back to his school days and remembering the teachers who impacted his life, Mr. Grossi decided he wanted to be that person for others.
“I remember the teachers that impacted me as I went through school… they were able to connect with me as an individual and connect to the curriculum and engage me with it. As I got into education, it really fuelled and guided me.” – Mr. Grossi
After upgrading some classes and several years of university, Mr. Grossi has earned a Bachelor of Arts in History, a Bachelor of Education, and a Master of Education degree.
Supporting Calgary Academy Staff
Mr. Grossi first started working at Calgary Academy as a teacher, but he is now the Learning & Development Lead for the school’s People & Culture department.
He’s not in front of the classroom anymore, but he’s still helping others grow and learn!
Mr. Grossi originally stepped out of the classroom because the job opportunity offered was a perfect mix of education and the professional learning he had been engaging with on his own time. His new role focuses on the concepts of instructional design—planning, designing, and organizing effective ways for people to learn new things.
“This opportunity just seemed to connect with my prior work experience and skills that I developed prior in combination with the literature and the work I was engaging in. I thought this could be a great opportunity to connect and apply them into an educational setting.” – Mr. Grossi
In his current role, Mr. Grossi supports teachers and other staff in their professional development. He knows that everyone at Calgary Academy, teachers, staff, and students, are lifelong learners.
Mr. Grossi understands that professional learning is essential for anyone’s career, supporting Calgary Academy by finding and connecting staff with relevant, beneficial learning opportunities.
Where possible, Mr. Grossi finds time to check in with his peers to see how he can better support their work.
“It’s important that I connect with as many teachers as possible, whether I stop in their classroom and talk to them, use surveys, or whichever way is best for them. I make sure to have conversations with the people I impact to know that our learning experiences or opportunities are relevant.”