The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Highlights of the Provincial Executive Council meeting held Dec. 2–3, 2021, via virtual platform.

1. Authorized staff to investigate award practices of comparable organizations and return for Provincial Executive Council’s consideration proposals for the creation of new awards to recognize meritorious service to the Association and/or teaching profession.

2. Authorized staff to prepare, for consideration by Provincial Executive Council, a revised appeal process for members whose grievances staff has decided not to pursue that would be suitable for registering with the Labour Relations Board.

3. Approved that the competition for the position of co-ordinator, Teacher Employment Services, be restricted to current members of executive staff; set the proposed timelines for recruitment of the position; and appointed three members of Council to serve on the staff selection committee to fill the position.

4. Authorized up to $181,000, allocated from the Beginning Teachers’ Conference budget line, to create four additional videos for beginning teachers and other members and to provide funding for translation and re-animation to create a French version of all videos.

5. Authorized the Association to initiate a review of the Professional Code of Conduct.

6. In accordance with section 31(2) of the Teaching Profession Act, extended the deadline for the commencement of three hearings of the Professional Conduct Committee.

7. Received the report of a hearing committee that found a teacher guilty of one charge of unprofessional conduct for engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a student. The hearing committee imposed the penalty of a declaration that the teacher is ineligible for membership in the Alberta Teachers’ Association for a period of two years and a recommendation to the minister of education to suspend the teacher’s teaching certificate for a period of two years.

8. Received the report of a hearing committee that found a teacher guilty of one charge of unprofessional conduct for having an inappropriate relationship with a student. Subsequently, the teacher was charged with a summary offense under the Criminal Code of Canada. The committee imposed a penalty of permanent ineligibility as a member of the Alberta Teachers’ Association and a recommendation to the minister of education that the teacher be permanently ineligible for a teaching certificate because the teacher currently does not hold a teaching certificate.

9. Received the report of a hearing committee that found a teacher guilty of one charge of unprofessional conduct for writing a letter to the teacher’s principal that was inappropriate and made disparaging allegations against the principal and an educational assistant. The hearing committee imposed a penalty of a letter of reprimand and a fine of $400.

10. Received the report of a hearing committee that found a teacher guilty of one charge of unprofessional conduct for falsifying benefit claims. The committee ordered a penalty of a letter of severe reprimand and $500 fine.

11. Received the report of a hearing committee that found a teacher guilty of two charges of unprofessional conduct for sharing private information in an email about a student and the student’s family with no entitlement to that information and for failing to be considerate of the circumstances of a student when the teacher, in an email, was supportive of another person assisting the student. The hearing committee imposed the penalty of a letter of reprimand and a fine of $250.

12. Authorized one additional member of Council, one local president and one local political engagement officer to be added to the Political Engagement Committee in anticipation of a spring 2023 provincial election, with the new members’ terms commencing as soon as possible and ending on June 30, 2023.

13. In lieu of sending Christmas cards, approved a $2,000 Christmas charity donation to the Alberta division of the Canadian Mental Health Association.

14. Amended Administrative Guidelines related to the number of staff entitled to attend Canadian Teachers’ Federation conferences and seminars. ❚