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Sandra Anderson, the recipient of the 2012 Public Education Award
Lawyer Sandra Anderson presented with Public Education Award
Teachers inspired Sandra Anderson to pursue her career as a lawyer. Not a groundbreaking revelation, until you discover they did so when Anderson was chair of the Calgary Board of Education (CBE).
At its Annual Representative Assembly, the Alberta Teachers’ Association presented Anderson with its Public Education Award. Anderson retired from Field Law, the ATA’s legal counsel, last December after more than 20 years of service. In her heartfelt acceptance speech, Anderson described how teachers have inspired her throughout her life and career. Her tale of teachers inspiring her to become a lawyer illustrated the extent to which she values teachers and their contributions to society.
“I planned to be a teacher, but the Association pulled me in a different direction,” recalled Anderson. “I was inspired to go into law by bargaining as a trustee across the table from the likes of a young Earl Hjelter [former ATA associate executive secretary], then a junior member of the [negotiating subcommittee], and by negotiating with Dr. Charles Hyman [former ATA executive secretary], then [regional bargaining agent] for Local 38.”
Anderson aspired to practise labour and employment law, with teachers as her clients. She counted herself fortunate to join Field Law, and the ATA felt fortunate as well. No doubt ATA staff recall that, as CBE chair in the 1980s, Anderson made a case for raising the mill rate in order to hire the 277 teachers needed to achieve an acceptable teacher–pupil ratio and garnered full public support. Her passion for supporting teachers was more than evident. In introducing Anderson, ATA Vice-President Sharon Armstrong recounted her numerous and valuable contributions to public education, including her more than 20 years representing the ATA, her two terms as a CBE trustee (one term as chair) and her involvement as a board member with Augustana University College, in Camrose. Armstrong also cited Anderson’s ongoing championing of human rights and the role she played in the landmark provincial case of Leilani Muir, the first person to file a successful lawsuit against the province for wrongful sterilization under the Sexual Sterilization Act of Alberta.
“Sandra has always supported public education, in her practice, in her volunteerism and in her private life. And through all of that, she has been an advocate, exemplar and inspiration,” Armstrong told the Assembly.
Anderson’s passion for teachers was never so strongly conveyed, however, than when she herself, through tears, described the joy she experienced accompanying her grandson to his introduction to kindergarten and meeting “the most wonderful kindergarten teacher.” And now that Anderson is part of her grandson’s educational experience, she commented: “I’m looking forward to another way of being with teachers. I look forward to that very much and I thank you all for this marvellous award.”
