The Alberta Teachers’ Association

This past March, I handed in my letter of resignation, indicating my intention to retire. It wasn’t a difficult decision. Our children are almost launched, our home is for sale, our plans have been made and we’re moving to the Island.

As my husband and I plow through 27 years’ worth of accumulated possessions, I often pause to examine the files passing through my hands. Born and raised in Edmonton, I count among my treasures a Grade 1 report card from Beacon Heights Elementary School, my Lawton yearbooks, a photo of Pierre Elliott Trudeau and a very young me at Eastglen High School.

My teaching file contains a letter of reference, a thank-you note from a student, an observation report from an administrator, a Grade 6 assignment that made me proud, and special copies of ATA newspapers and letters. Although I decide it’s time to toss some of this memorabilia, I find it difficult to part with the ATA papers.

Although I’m excited about retiring, I’m sorry to leave behind my involvement with the Alberta Teachers’ Association. It was on my first day of employment (way back in September of 1979) that I volunteered to be the ATA representative for my school. That same week, I attended an emergency ATA meeting where we discussed a proposed salary increase. I was hooked.

Over the 20 or so years of my active teaching career, I served on many local and provincial committees. I attended 11 ­Annual Representative Assemblies and Summer Conference as well. I worked with university staff, substitute teachers and members of Provincial Executive Council. I organized social events and distributed teachers’ donations to charities. I served on the ­Edmonton Public Local executive and ran for school trustee after my own MLA tried to take that right away from teachers. The ATA News published a few of my photos and some of my submissions to Moot Points. I presented at the Greater Edmonton Teachers’ Convention Association and at provincial substitute teachers’ conferences. I applied to participate with the Canadian Teachers’ Federation’s Project Overseas.

I met many wonderful, committed and passionate teachers who inspired me and mentored me. These people believed that we, as professionals, must stand up for our public education system and ourselves, and we must demand the best for our students, our parent communities and our schools.

As I prepare to retire and end my connection with the ATA, I’d like to leave you with one thought. My involvement in the Alberta Teachers’ Association is one of the highlights of my teaching career. If you have not yet taken the plunge, do so now—­attend a meeting, join a committee or run for office. ­Consider it part of your professional development. Believe me, you won’t regret it.