Climate and environmental education in particular, Chesnut said, are not being funded adequately across provinces. The Alberta Teachers Association, the professional association for teachers and teacher administrators in the province, said in a statement that conventions put on hundreds of sessions, and organizers try to present a wide variety of topics, speakers and viewpoints teachers can learn from. If their speaking commitments do not conflict with their attendance at their own teachers convention, the teacher must simply arrange substitute release time through their employer as they would on any normal teaching day, in accordance with their collective agreement and division policy. You must, however, have submitted in advance the required form that is available from the ATA website. Conventions encourage teachers to explore, think critically and reflect on their professional practice to identify action strategies and solutions for issues of common concern. Visit our new website. In some cases, she said, the objective is to familiarize youth with fossil fuel industry branding and associate the companies with an ethos of environmentalism. Chief superintendents may attend convention as Guest Delegates provided they: If you are a chief superintendent (or deputy chief superintendent) and would like to attend convention as a Guest Delegate, please call 1-800-232-7208 and ask to speak to the Professional Development Duty Officer. As Association subgroups, the 10 convention associations plan, conduct, fund, evaluate and govern the teachers conventions held across the province. 60, Red Deer Catholic Local No. Do you want to be released from your convention attendance obligations to attend a workshop, conference, or other professional development event? Associate members are afforded virtually the same rights and privileges as active members, but they are not subject to the Associations disciplinary provisions. Pre-service teachers who attend Alberta universities or colleges that serve as convention venues and those who are registered in the final year of their Bachelor of Education program may attend convention free of charge provided they: For specific eligibility and application instructions or to register as a Student Guest Delegate if your university or college does not have an ATA student local,please call 1-800-232-7208 and ask to speak to the Professional Development Duty Officer. Certificated teachers employed by other Alberta school divisions are ineligible for active membership, but may become associate members of the Association. Although they are not required to meet their convention attendance obligations during a leave of absence, teachers on leave may attend convention at their discretion, provided they: If you would like to attend convention while you are on leave, call 1-800-232-7208 and ask to speak to Teacher Employment Services to discuss the conditions of your leave and to ascertain that you have no outstanding dues. All public, separate and francophone school boards and some private school . Purchase a membership in the ATA student local at their university or college (or directly through the Association); Register as a Student Guest Delegate with their ATA student local (or directly through the Association); and. If you are seconded, you may request to attend a convention other than the one to which you are assigned (based on your division and ATA local) if: Do you coach a school team that has advanced to provincial finals organized by the Alberta Schools Athletic Association (ASAA)? The 9 convention associations are agencies of the provincial Association. Attendance, var rightnow = new Date(); document.write(rightnow.getFullYear()); The Alberta Teachers Association. Certificated teachers employed by Charter, Private, First Nation, Provincial, and Federal school divisions in Alberta may attend convention as Guest Delegates, provided they: To attend convention as a Guest Delegate, please call 1-800-232-7208 and ask to speak to the Professional Development Duty Officer. For your convenience, a directory of convention websites and contacts can be accessed here. Kraatz, who is the volunteer co-lead for the Alberta chapter of For Our Kids, a national network of parents focused on climate action, said she didnt know the content of the session, only how it was being promoted. New Side-by-Side Locations in Grande Prairie! Our newsroom abides by the RTDNA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and follows the Canadian Press Stylebook. The act requires the ATA to improve the teaching profession by organizing and supporting groups that advance the knowledge and skill of teachers. ATA - Teachers' conventions - Alberta Teachers Association Section 205(1)(d) of the Education Act includes in its definition of teaching day the two days per year on which teachers attend the convention authorized by the Alberta Teachers Association. Teachers receive pay for their attendance at teachers convention if they normally work on those days and/or if their employer requires them to attend for a period that exceeds their normal work obligations. The workshops have been split up into four divisions depending on grade level. Contact the Mighty Peace Teachers' Convention Association -. The virtual event being held Feb. 24-25, covers the Central Alberta Districts of Red Deer City Local No. Answer: Because of limitedspace, generally only active members are permitted to attend teachers conventions. Please enable scripts and reload this page. For one, the panel found that corporate net-zero pledges must include targets to end the use of fossil fuels, a goal that scientists, through the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, have concluded is necessary to limit global warming. Visit our new website. Professional development by teachers for teachers is a goal of convention boards as there are significant benefits for both the members who present and those who attend their sessions. Teachers from outside of Alberta may attend convention as an Out-of-Province Delegate provided they: To attend convention as an Out-Of-Province Delegate, pleasecall 1-800-232-7208 and ask to speak to the Professional Development Duty Officer. Here you'll find resources and information that will help you as you begin teaching in Alberta. Alberta teachers have a professional and legal obligation to attend conventions. In conjunction with other activities at the school, local and school board level, conventions are a key professional development opportunity for teachers to enhance their professional growth and, thereby, foster student learning. Members may use this portal to request permission to: *All other types of attendance requests must be discussed with Association staff. Will you join the pod? Attend a convention other than the one they are assigned (application deadline two weeks before your assigned convention) because they either: Are distance/online education teachers or seconded/interchange teachers who live outside of the geographical area of their assigned convention; or. SWATCA 2023 - South Western Alberta Teachers' Convention: Schedule. Contact Us Events Calendar Site Map. Thanks again to Morgex Insurance for providing the Zoom licenses for all Alberta teachers' conventions. Lella Blumer, a national coordinator with For Our Kids, said the group is trying to call out attempts by the oil and gas industry to present the industry as on track to meet emissions reduction targets. Can provide the Alberta Teachers Association with proof of membership in their provincial, territorial, or state teachers' organization; and. Certificated teachers employed by Public, Separate, and Francophone school divisions in Alberta are compulsory active members of the Association in accordance with the Teaching Profession Act. On the two school days of your assigned teachers convention, you have a legal and professional responsibility to attend convention. Over the years, the role played by the Alberta Teachers Association (ATA) in the annual teachers conventions gradually increased. The annual convention held by the Central Alberta Teachers Convention Association, which represents five local Alberta Teachers Association groups, hosted a talk focused on the Pathways Alliance, a group of oilsands companies. Originally organized by the Department of Education, teachers' conventions provided opportunities for school inspectors to meet with teachers in each community. Ready, set, grow | Alberta Teachers' Association Chief superintendents are not eligible to be active members of the Alberta Teachers Association so associate membership is the highest level of membership they can possess. Check out the schedule for Southern Alberta Teachers' Convention 2021 Online - See the full schedule of events happening Feb 18 - 19, 2021 and explore the directory of Speakers, Hosts & Attendees. Do you coach a school team that is scheduled to participate in a competition or tournament other than the Alberta Schools Athletic Association (ASAA) provincial finals? Note: Requests must be made at least two months in advance of the convention dates. However, an out-of-district convention fee will be incurred. Please call 1-800-232-7208 and ask to speak to the Professional Development Duty Officer for more information. PDF TEACHERS' CONVENTION DATES 2023-27 - Alberta Teachers Association She said the oil and gas industry has been moving in to occupy a void left by provincial education ministries that are cutting funding for school boards. Question: Can I attend a convention in a different local or a conference hosted by another organization? by organizing and supporting groups which tend to improve the knowledge and skill of teachers, by meetings, publications, research and other activities designed to maintain and improve the competence of teachers.. Please call 1-800-232-7208 and ask to speak to the Professional Development Duty Officer for more information. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Barocas also pointed to Project 2050, which she said provides resources on climate change that kids can access through the Earth Rangers app, and which the group is adapting for educators, as well as The Big Melt, a podcast about global warming. They purchase an annual associate membership in the Association and pay the required quest registration fee to the convention they wish to attend. Earth Ranger Izzy & her family were looking to reduce their carbon footprint. Are you on a leave of absence but you would like to attend part or all of your assigned convention? 35.1K Followers. Question: Who can attend teachers convention? Teachers look forward to working with new Minister, Kurt Moench appointed new Associate Coordinator of Member Services, 2007Provincial Executive Council election information. Are you a therapist, clinician, social worker, or psychologist? MPTC2023 was a fantastic two full days with 113 speakers and 5 keynotes! 9, Wolf Creek Local . The Alberta Teachers' Association acknowledges Treaty 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10 territories within Alberta. Visit our new website. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Professional development takes many forms and is provided by many different people and organizations with the goal of enhancing learning for students. Do you work on a compressed full-time schedule (i.e. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. **. My concern is that theyre maybe hearing all the great things that the Pathways Alliance is doing, but theyre not getting the whole picture of, okay, what does the science say? Kraatz said. Question: Are retired teachers permitted to attend teachers conventions? Many certificated teachers employed as central office specialists, directors and consultants for retain active membership in the Alberta Teachers Association and are bound by the same convention attendance obligations as their school-based colleagues. About Us
Are you concerned that you will not be able to safely travel to convention due to inclement weather or winter road conditions? Central office staff who elected active membership. Start Date Conference Members Annual ATA Summer Conference August 14-18, 2023 Workshop Leading ChangeA Professional Development Workshop for School Leaders (Edmonton) August 17, 2023 Workshop Leading ChangeA Professional Development Workshop for School Leaders (Calgary) August 18, 2023 Workshop Teacher Growth, Supervision and Evaluation Workshop Certificated teachers who are seconded from their Public, Separate, or Francophone school board to work for government or community programs should refer to the section of this page pertaining to secondments. The annual two days scheduled for teachers conventions are mandated by law by Albertas School Act. Check out what Kamille Svrta will be attending at SEATCA / SWATCA 2022 - Southern Alberta Teachers' Convention Question: How much of teachers conventions do part-time teachers have to attend? Work in distance learning or online learning programs and live outside of the geographic boundary of their assigned convention; Are seconded from their school division, and either their duties make it difficult for them to attend their assigned convention or they are required to live outside of the geographic boundary of their assigned convention during their secondment; or, Find themselves in a convention attendance conflict that is beyond their ability to resolve. Retired teachers who volunteer may be able to attend some convention sessions and socials. Complete the annual post-convention survey - This survey closes on March 11 at 11:59 pm. 119 Except as otherwise approved by a convention association pursuant to Bylaw 121, all active members under contract to a school jurisdiction shall attend the annual teachers convention of the local association as planned, organized or authorized by its convention association. Our members make The Narwhals ad-free, independent journalism possible. Do you want to speak at a convention other than your own? Attend only the convention assigned to their practicum partner teacher(s) and those other conventions assigned to their university or college. To teach in an Alberta accredited school, you must hold valid Alberta teaching certification. The course material includes an overview of oilsands production techniques, as well as support and critiques of Oilsands Pathways to Net Zero initiative. Teachers' conventions are intended to raise awareness of and provide information about new approaches and instructional methods. Members legal and professional convention attendance obligations supersede their coaching commitments. However, because all active members have legal and professional requirements to attend their assigned conventions, teachers must attend at least half of their assigned convention; they can present up to one full day. As such, active members may, with few exceptions, access all the medical, bereavement, parental and other leave provisions in their collective agreements on their assigned convention days as they would on any regular teaching day. Instead, the ATRF will be conducting a Pre-retirement workshop on Feb. 26 for any central Alberta teachers that may be choosing to retire in the next few years. Please call 1-800-232-7208 or email conventions@ata.ab.ca and ask to speak to the Convention Lead.*. For over 100 years, teachers have attended teachers conventions in Alberta. Conferences - Teachers or a similar provincial junior high athletics body; Speak at their assigned convention, another convention, or at another Association event; or. Requests will be considered only from members who meet all eligibility criteria and application deadlines. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. However, if the member is scheduled to speak at a convention that is held at the same time as their own, they are bound by the same attendance requirements as if they were presenting at their own convention; they must attend their own convention for one full day and may travel to and present at the other convention during the second full day of convention. The Narwhal reached Knutson by telephone and asked about the session. The purpose of teachers conventions is to maintain the currency of active members of the Association who work as classroom teachers, school leaders, and central office positions. We have trust in the judgement and integrity of our members to look critically at the issues presented in any session, allowing them to make intelligent and informed decisions on the content and presenters. Dates: February 16-17, 2023 Location: Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, Hyatt Regency Calgary and offsite venues Contact: Lisa Fulton and Shae Frisby, Co-Presidents: cctcapresident@gmail.com Website: www.cctca.com Locals Assigned: Calgary Public Teachers Local No 38 and Calgary Separate School Local No 55 Central Alberta Teachers' Convention Teachers will also be keeping a close eye on the UCPs budget announcement on Feb. 24, to see how the Alberta government will spend money in the education sector. SEATCA 2023 - Southeastern Alberta Teachers' Convention: ATRF Steps to The Association, as a professional organization, strongly values teachers conventions and recognizes both the professional and legal obligations that teachers have regarding convention attendance. Conventions give teachers the opportunity to develop the competencies identified in the professional practice standards by learning about innovative pedagogical practices and new educational research. Are you a municipal, provincial, or federal politician? The agreement requires the Alberta Teachers Association to improve the teaching profession by organizing and supporting groups that advance the knowledge and skill of teachers. var rightnow = new Date(); document.write(rightnow.getFullYear()); The Alberta Teachers Association, *This is a legacy provincial website of the ATA. The Narwhal is ad-free, non-profit and supported by readers like you. Please be aware that using any of these types of leave may require you to pay substitute costs, forego a portion of your salary and benefits, or report to your school or another work location in your district. ** We will repeat Rod Willier's Session entitled "The Medicine Wheel and 7 Grandfather Teachings." at 9:00 AM Friday, Feb. 24 in the Crowfoot Room.