The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Sharon Vogrinetz

You’ve completed university, you’re full of energy and optimism about the future, and you’ve landed your first teaching job. Now what? The information featured here will help to ensure that your first year as a teacher goes as smoothly as possible.

Education

Teachers are paid based on years of university education completed and years of teaching experience. The Teacher Qualifications Service (TQS), operated by the Alberta Teachers’ Association, evaluates your university degree(s) and provides you with a statement. This statement must be presented to your employer as soon as possible, as most boards require it within 30–45 days of starting employment. If you haven’t applied for your TQS evaluation, do so at once. When you get your statement, forward it to your board. If you haven’t received your statement by the middle of October, send a copy of your TQS receipt to the board—usually this will ensure that you still get paid retroactively to September if your final statement takes longer. Only full years of education count for your salary—if your evaluation says 5 and 9/10 years of education, you are paid at Step 5 until you finish the last 1/10 of a year.

Certificate

Every teacher needs a teaching certificate issued by Alberta Education. This is your licence to teach. The first certificate, an Interim Professional, is valid for three years. A teacher needs two full years (or 400 days) of teaching experience to be eligible for a Permanent Certificate. If you haven’t already received your certificate, contact Alberta Education.

Collective Agreement

A collective agreement is negotiated between the teachers in a district and their employing school board. The agreement outlines salary and other employment issues. Ensure that you have a copy of your board’s most recent agreement. Collective agreements differ from board to board.

Salary

Your collective agreement will feature a salary grid with the years of education across the top and years of experience down the left side. Find the number representing your education/experience to determine your annual salary. Divide this number by 12 to calculate your monthly salary (multiplied by your full-time equivalency (FTE) if you are part-time). Check this number on your pay stub each month—computers do make errors!

Benefits

As a teacher, you have health plan benefits available to you and your dependents. These plans provide coverage for medical expenses, including prescription drugs, dental expenses and, in many districts, eyeglasses. Consult your collective agreement to determine what is covered by your health plan.

Contract

A contract is a teacher’s individual agreement to work for a school board. The contract should consist of items such as the type of contract and the dates the contract takes effect and expires. Please note: If your contract features unexpected clauses (for example, the requirement that you obtain your Class 4 bus driver’s licence), please contact the Association.

A first-year teacher is usually offered a probationary contract, which means that a position is available and the board will consider offering a continuous (or permanent) contract the next year. First-year teachers may also be given a temporary contract, which means that the teacher is replacing a teacher on a leave of absence. The position will probably not be vacant next year. A temporary contract expires on either the date stated or June 30, whichever is later. A probationary contract expires June 30. When the contract expires, there is no obligation for the board to offer you another contract. Therefore, if you haven’t been offered another contract in writing, you do not have a job next year. Keep job-hunting until you have a signed contract. Even if the principal assures you that you have a job next year, keep looking. The principal may be well-meaning, but principals do not hire teachers—superintendents do. The offer is only good if it is in writing, so even if the superintendent verbally offers you a position, you don’t have it until the paperwork is signed.

Evaluations

Ensure that you ask for at least one formal written evaluation from your principal or supervisor this year—two is even better. Why? You need evaluations to facilitate your recommendation for your permanent certificate and for a continuous contract. If any concerns about your teaching are recorded, make sure a follow-up evaluation shows that you’ve corrected them. If you are worried about your evaluation, contact your Association for assistance.

Finally, it is important to remember that your Association is here to help you. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Alberta Teachers’ Association. Telephone: (780) 447-9400 (Edmonton and area), 1-800-232-7208 (from elsewhere in Alberta); e-mail: postmaster@ata.ab.ca.