The Alberta Teachers’ Association

For more than 100 years, teachers have attended teachers’ conventions in Alberta. Originally organized by the Department of Education, teachers’ conventions provided opportunities for school inspectors to meet with teachers in each community. Over the years the role played by the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) in the annual teachers’ conventions gradually increased.

In 1942, the Department of Education agreed to grant the ATA the responsibility for organizing conventions. The agreement requires the Association to improve the teaching profession by organizing and supporting groups that advance the knowledge and skill of teachers. The School Act (1988) specifically identifies as “teaching days” the two days on which a teachers’ convention, authorized by the Association, is held. Attendance is mandated in the School Act as comprising part of teachers’ employment contracts with their boards.

The 10 convention associations are agencies of the provincial Association. As ATA subgroups, they plan, conduct, fund, evaluate and govern the teachers’ conventions held across the province. In conjunction with other activities at the school, local and school board level, conventions are an important professional development opportunity for teachers to enhance their professional growth and, thereby, foster student learning.

Teachers’ conventions are an annual tradition in Alberta. Teachers from across the province attend one of ten conventions for two days each February or March. Conventions give teachers an opportunity to reflect on and learn about new and innovative pedagogical practices and theories. Conventions are a core component of teacher professionalism, which in turn enhances student learning.

FAQs about teachers’ conventions

Featured here is a selection of frequently asked questions about attending teachers’ conventions. More FAQs are available on the ATA website (www.teachers.ab.ca), under Professional Development.

Can I attend a convention other than the one assigned?

Question: I live a long way from the convention to which I am assigned and very near to another convention. Can I attend the nearer convention?

Answer: If distance is the only consideration, no, you must attend your regular convention. Many teachers travel several hours to attend their convention. However, if there are urgent, compelling or compassionate circumstances that prevent you from attending your regular convention, you may, at the discretion of your convention association, be allowed to attend a convention that is closer to you.

Does supervising a field trip qualify as having attended convention?

Question: My school has arranged a field trip for students and I am assigned to take them to Mexico. Does supervising this field trip qualify as an alternate PD activity?

Answer: No, field trips, although worthy enterprises, are not considered alternate PD activities. The Convention Attendance Protocol stipulates that teachers are to avoid scheduling activities that conflict with their convention dates. Furthermore, schools and school jurisdictions are not to direct teachers to carry out activities that prevent them from attending their assigned conventions.

Can I miss convention to attend a sports event?

Question: The school team that I coach has an Alberta School Athletic Association (ASAA) tournament starting on the Friday of convention. Can I miss convention to go with my team?

Answer:Yes. As soon as you learn that your team has qualified for the ASAA event, you should fill out a form seeking approval to travel to the tournament with your team. An Absence Request Form can be downloaded from the ATA website (www.teachers.ab.ca). Completed forms should be faxed to the ATA, to the ASAA and to your convention ­association.

Question: I coach a community team and want to go to a tournament or participate in the Winter Games instead of attending my convention. Does coaching a community team qualify as an alternate PD activity?

Answer: No. Coaching a community team is not a professional development activity and does not meet the criteria for an alternate PD activity. However, your collective agreement may provide personal leave, which you may be able to access for this time.

Do I have to attend convention if I have an illness or family emergency?

Question: If I am sick, going for surgery, have a medial appointment with a specialist, have a family emergency, have had a death in the family or can’t travel because of bad roads, do I have to go to my convention?

Answer: No.

Question: Will I be subject to discipline if I go for a medical appointment, stay home sick or attend a funeral instead of going to my teachers’ convention?

Answer: No. Your collective agreement covers your absence from convention in the same way that it covers these sorts of ­absences for regular work days.

Are other professional obligations grounds for not attending convention?

Question: Nothing in the convention program interests me. Can I stay at home or work at school instead?

Answer: No. Your employer provides you with salary, benefits and pensionable service for the two days of the annual ATA teachers’ convention. As a result, you have a legal obligation to attend your convention. Furthermore, under the Teaching Profession Act and the Code of Professional Conduct, you have a professional obligation to attend your assigned convention. If you fail to attend, you may be subject to discipline by the profession and/or by your employer.

Question: I am really behind at school. Can I work at school and catch up instead of attending my convention?

Answer: No. If you fail to attend, you may be subject to discipline by the profession and/or by your employer.

Can part-time teachers attend convention?

Question: What portion of my teachers’ convention am I required to attend?

Answer: You are required to attend the same portion of your convention as the portion of a full time position that you work for your school board. For example, if your contract stipulates that you are employed at 0.5 FTE (full-time equivalent), then you must attend half the convention (one day). Similarly, if you are employed at 0.75 FTE, then you are expected to attend 1.5 days of the convention.

Question: Does it matter what parts of the convention I attend?

Answer: No. You can attend whatever parts of the convention you wish as long as you make up the proportion required. For example, if your contract requires you to attend for one day, you could attend on Thursday rather than Friday (or vice versa) or you could attend Thursday and Friday mornings. In some cases, your contract may specify that convention attendance on both days is included in your FTE. Check your contract.

Question: If I work part-time, can I attend the full convention if I wish?

Answer: Yes, you are welcome to attend both days.

Question: Do I have to attend convention if I don’t teach on Thursday or Friday?

Answer: Check your contract to ensure that you meet your employment obligations. From an employment point of view, if you don’t usually work on those days, you do not need to attend convention. However, from a professional point of view, you are encouraged to attend at least as much of the convention as corresponds to the portion of a full-time position that you teach.

Can substitute teachers attend convention?

Question: I am a substitute teacher. Can I attend a teachers’ convention?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Will I get paid for the time I spend at the convention?

Answer: No, not as a teacher on a daily contract. However, your ATA local may subsidize your convention attendance. Check with your local office.

Can teachers who have retired attend convention?

Question: I am a retired teacher who would enjoy attending a convention to visit with some of my colleagues. Am I eligible to attend?

Answer: You may be eligible but you will need to check with the convention association organizing the convention that you would like to attend. Keep in mind that many conventions are crowded and that first priority must be given to active members who have paid their convention fees. Some conventions offer social activities outside of program hours for retired teachers. If you have substitute taught for one day, you are an active member of the ATA for that year and, as a result, are eligible to attend a teachers’ convention.