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Dealing with Difficult People and Difficult Issues
Description: Hostile conversations with adults in school settings are becoming more commonplace and more intense, and are deemed to be extremely stressful for educators. What can schools do to safeguard the school and effectively communicate with those individuals who have a propensity toward volatility? This presentation gives an overview of the rights and responsibilities of students, parents, teachers and school leaders with an emphasis on the knowledge and skills for effective conflict management and conflict resolution. This session also provides a brief introduction to the Healthy Interactions Program.
1.5–3 hours. Can be modified to fit the time available.
Language: English
Dealing with Harassment
Description: This presentation examines issues of harassment (personal, sexual and general) related to schools. The session discusses how to avoid allegations of harassment and the necessary components of an effective harassment policy. The session also talks about what teachers can do when facing unreasonable actions by students and parents either at the school or through cyberbullying.
1.5–3 hours. Can be modified to fit the time available.
Language: English or French
Mettre fin au harcèlement
Cette présentation examine les questions de harcèlement (personnel, sexuel et général) dans les écoles. C’est également l’occasion de discuter sur la façon d’éviter les allégations de harcèlement et sur les éléments nécessaires à l’élaboration d’une politique efficace en matière de harcèlement. La discussion portera aussi sur ce que les enseignants peuvent faire lorsqu’ils sont confrontés à des actions déraisonnables de la part des élèves et des parents, que ce soit à l’école ou par le biais de la cyberintimidation.
Durée de 1,5 à 3 heures qui peut être modifiée suivant le temps disponible.
Dealing with Volatile Situations
Description: Teachers have hundreds of interactions with parents, students and colleagues every day. Sometimes, those interactions involve conflict in dynamic and delicate circumstances. This session will explore common types of conflict, causes of conflict, legal rights and obligations of individuals in school-related conflict, and strategies for managing and resolving conflict effectively. A discussion of sample scenarios will help tie learnings to common conflict situations in the school context.
Language: English
E-Liability
Description: Increasingly teachers are facing employment discipline resulting from their use of school computers, laptops, internet connections and cellphones. Also, teachers' posting on their own computers on such social networking sites as Facebook, Twitter or blogs are increasingly facing employer disciplinary action. Integration and use of electronic media and communication in classrooms can present some unique opportunities together with some employment risks. How do teachers use these technologies without jeopardizing their career? This session will also look at cyberharassment or cyberlibel directed at teachers by students or parents and the steps to take in these circumstances.
1.5–3 hours. Can be modified to fit the time available.
Language: English
Occupational Health and Safety: Back to a Safe and Healthy Future
Description: This session provides an overview of Occupational Health and Safety legislation in Alberta and reviews the responsibilities work site parties, including teachers and school leaders, have under that legislation. The workshop will review the important rights of teachers and school leaders, including the right to know, the right to participate and the right to refuse unsafe work and will review the steps that should be followed when there are concerns that working conditions are unsafe.
1.5 hours
Language: English
Parents and the School
Description: This presentation examines parents' rights and responsibilities and their involvement in decision making in the school. The session will also examine the rights of schools and teachers relative to student achievement, deportment and program. Where disagreements between parents and the school occur, whose perspective prevails? Topics include handling concerns effectively and what to do when facing overly aggressive parents engaging in harassment-like behaviour.
1.5–3 hours. Can be modified to fit the time available.
Language: English
Potential Liabilities of Dealing with Students with Medical Needs
Description: This presentation focuses on the potential liabilities facing teachers when they are required to deal with medical situations involving students in their classrooms. Among the topics addressed are the standard of care expected of teachers (including expectations regarding the administration of medication), the steps that teachers should take to protect the students and themselves, and the kinds of policies that should be in place at the school and jurisdiction levels. The presentation will also examine the Association’s policy on the responsibilities of teachers related to students with medical needs.
1.5–3 hours. Can be modified to fit the time available.
Language: English
Staying Employed—Professional Boundaries: What New Teachers Need to Know (for teacher induction/orientation program only)
Description: Intended for beginning teachers, this presentation focuses on such topics as employment issues, legal and procedural concerns, understanding legal liability, dealing with parents, acting professionally (with respect to such issues as dress, language and e-mails) and working with others. This presentation, which will be tailored to meet the specific needs of the audience, follows an interactive format.
1.5–3 hours. Can be modified to fit the time available.
Language: English
Garder son emploi—Limites professionnelles : Ce que les nouveaux enseignants doivent savoir
(pour l’insertion professionnelle des enseignants/programme d’orientation uniquement)
Destinée aux enseignants débutants, cette présentation accorde une attention particulière aux questions relatives à l’emploi, répond aux préoccupations juridiques ou relatives aux procédures, et couvre des sujets tels : comprendre les obligations légales; les relations avec les parents; faire preuve de professionnalisme (quant à la tenue vestimentaire, au langage et aux courriels); et travailler en collaboration avec les autres. Cette présentation, qui sera adaptée aux besoins particuliers du groupe, est une présentation interactive.
Durée de 1,5 à 3 heures qui peut être modifiée suivant le temps disponible.
Substitute Teachers: Roles and Responsibilities
Description: This presentation draws from the components of other Teacher Employment Services presentations with a focus on substitute teachers. Key components of the presentation may include employment issues, legal and procedural concerns, liability risks and protection, dealing with parents, acting professionally and working with others. We explore some of the unique issues faced by substitute teachers and discuss how to help these members feel welcome in your school and how they can be used most effectively. This presentation is designed to be tailored to meet the specific needs of the audience and follows an interactive format.
1.5–3 hours. Can be modified to fit the time available.
Language: English
Supervision and Evaluation: What Teachers Need to Know about the New Standards and Evaluation Policy
Description: My school leader is supervising or evaluating my teaching. What can I expect and what are my rights? Supervision and evaluation of teachers must be consistent with Alberta Education Policy Teacher Growth, Supervision and Evaluation, and it must be based on the Teaching Quality Standard. This presentation provides an overview of the critical components of supervision and evaluation, which must be followed in the Alberta context and the role of Association staff in advising members in these matters.
There are two options for this presentation:
1.5 hours–A general overview of supervision and evaluation policies and procedures.
Half day workshop–General overview with additional scenario questions to review as a group for best practice
Language: English
Teachers and Educational Assistants
Description: This presentation will review the legislative provisions governing the respective duties of teachers and educational assistants; examine the rights, responsibilities and duties of each group; look at ways of enhancing the relationship between teachers and educational assistants; discuss the proper reporting channels between teachers and educational assistants; and suggest policies that schools and school boards can adopt to ensure that teachers and educational assistants adhere to standards and are held accountable for what they do.
1.5–3 hours. Can be modified to fit the time available.
Language: English
Enseignants et assistants en éducation
Cette présentation s’intéressera aux dispositions législatives régissant les fonctions respectives des enseignants et assistants en éducation; examinera les droits, responsabilités et devoirs de chaque groupe; envisagera les moyens d’améliorer la relation entre enseignants et assistants en éducation; ouvrira un débat sur la meilleure façon de communiquer entre eux; et suggèrera aux écoles et conseils scolaires des politiques leur permettant de veiller à ce que les enseignants et assistants en éducation respectent les normes et assument l’entière responsabilité de leurs actes.
Durée de 1,5 à 3 heures qui peut être modifiée suivant le temps disponible.
Teachers and the Law—Contracts
Teachers practise within a complex set of employment, professional and social parameters set out in various laws, regulations and policies. This presentation addresses, among other topics, employment contracts, litigation, negligence and liability.
The presentation can be structured as a general overview or tailored to the needs of the group requesting it. Current issues such as field trip liability, safe grads and assignable duties can be included.
Teachers and the Law–Teacher Liability Inside and Outside the Classroom
Description: As society become more litigious, teachers are becoming increasingly concerned about their liability with respect to the safety of the students in their care. This presentation will review the underlying principles of teacher liability, examine some actual situations in which teachers were found liable and explain the steps that teachers can take to avoid being found negligent. The liability of teachers in such circumstances as accompanying students on field trips, organizing school sports, administering medication and assisting students with medical needs will be discussed.
1.5–3 hours. Can be modified to fit the time available.
Language: English or French
Responsabilités légales de l’enseignant à l’école et en dehors de l’école
À mesure que la société devient de plus en plus procédurière, les enseignants s’inquiètent d’autant plus de leur responsabilité concernant la sécurité des élèves dont ils ont la charge. Cette présentation s’attardera sur les principes sous-jacents de la responsabilité des enseignants, examinera certaines situations réelles dans lesquelles ils ont été jugés responsables et expliquera les mesures qu’ils peuvent prendre pour éviter d’être jugés négligents. Les discussions porteront sur la responsabilité des enseignants dans des circonstances telles que l’accompagnement des élèves lors de sorties scolaires, l’organisation d’activités sportives à l’école, l’administration de médicaments et l’aide aux élèves ayant besoin de soins médicaux
Durée de 1,5 à 3 heures qui peut être modifiée suivant le temps disponible
Teachers and the Law—Transfers, Suspensions and Termination
Teachers practise within a complex set of employment, professional and social parameters set out in various laws, regulations and policies. This presentation addresses, among other topics, professional conduct, teacher competence and professional relations. The presentation can be structured as a general overview or tailored to the needs of the group requesting it.
The ATA and Professional Conduct: Serving the Interests of the Public and the Profession
Description: This session is geared for a general public audience and outlines the Association’s professional conduct process. The session touches on the legislation that guides the process, and highlights the steps involved, from the initial request for an investigation, through the investigation process and onto the possible outcomes of an investigation.
Language: English and French
L’ATA et la conduite professionnelle : Servir les intérêts du public et de la profession
Le processus concernant la conduite professionnelle de l’ATA est clairement décrit dans cette présentation qui débute par un aperçu de la législation sur laquelle repose le processus puis met en évidence les différentes étapes à suivre, de la demande initiale d’enquête au processus d’enquête, en passant par les résultats possibles d’une enquête.
Cette session s’adresse au grand public.
What Is the ATA?
Description: Why do I belong to the ATA and pay dues? What does the ATA do for me? The answers to these questions and many more will be provided in this presentation. The session will give a brief history of the ATA and then cover the major roles the ATA plays in education in Alberta. Topics include a review of the different program areas, the roles of each area, what some of the accomplishments of the ATA have been and what is the ATA working toward for the future.
1 hour. Can be combined with other presentations
Language: English or French
Que fait l’ATA?
Pourquoi suis-je membre de l’ATA et ai-je à payer des cotisations syndicales? Que m’apporte-t-elle en échange? Vous obtiendrez les réponses à ces questions et à bien d’autres en assistant à cette présentation qui débutera par un bref historique de l’ATA. La session couvrira les principaux rôles que joue l’ATA dans l’éducation en Alberta, les différents secteurs qui la composent ainsi que le rôle principal de chacun. Il y sera aussi question d’évoquer certaines réalisations importantes de l’ATA et de vous informer des enjeux sur lesquels elle travaille actuellement.
Présentation d’une heure qui peut se combiner à d’autres présentations.
What Does Teacher Employment Services Do for You?
Description: This presentation describes how the ATA, through its Teacher Employment Services (TES) program area, helps teachers, both individually and collectively, to solve professional problems and organizational issues. In addition to outlining the services available from TES, the presentations will give participants an opportunity to ask questions about such issues such as transfers, terminations, legal liabilities, contracts of employment and professional misconduct.
1.5–3 hours. Can be modified to fit the time available.
Language: English
You Did What? When Teachers Get in Trouble
Description: This presentation examines a number of topics related to the areas where teachers call for employment advice or representation. The presentation will examine protocols to protect teacher privacy and autonomy when seeking advice, interpersonal professional conflicts, contract and certification issues, employment risks related to the role-modelling obligations, problems related to technology and liabilities associated with providing service for medically fragile students.
Language: English
