The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Joint meetings are being held September and October to advance the transformation of Alberta’s K–12 education system.

The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA), the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) and Alberta Education (AE) are participating in meetings as are three teachers and three board representatives from each public, separate and francophone school authority, as well as representatives of Alberta Education and officials of both the ATA and ASBA.

Association representatives were named by district representatives, with a goal of having a local president, school board administrator and professional development leader present from each jurisdiction.

The meetings are a follow up to Alberta Education’s Inspiring Education initiative, through which Albertans indicated a need for the education system to change to prepare students for the opportunities and challenges that await them in a constantly evolving and demanding global environment. To date, the ­impetus for leading the process of change has been, by and large, articulated by Alberta Education.

Stakeholders hope to foster collaboration, cohesion and commitment between all education partners at various levels of the system. It is hoped that these discussions will form the basis for establishing long-term, mutually supportive relationships with partners working together to identify areas of change.

Five transformation meetings have been planned for fall 2011. As of September 26, three meeting have been held. Still to come are meetings in Red Deer (September 27) and Lethbridge (October 6.)