The Alberta Teachers’ Association

President of Foothills local makes move to Barnett House

At its October meeting, Provincial Executive Council appointed Dave Matson to the position of executive staff officer in Member Services.

After earning a bachelor of education at the University of Regina, Matson acquired teaching experience in Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and the United Arab Emirates. In 2007, he came to Alberta and settled in as a math and physics teacher at Highwood High School in the Foothills School Division. He also became involved with the Association at the local and provincial levels.

Matson served the Association as a school representative, local political engagement officer and a delegate at its Annual Representative Assembly (ARA) before becoming president of Foothills Local 16 in 2012. He continued to be an ARA delegate in addition to serving on a number of Association committees. He assumes his new duties in the Member Services program area January 1, 2015.

Matson’s experience in different jurisdictions and various roles within the Association were viewed as assets that will enhance the level of service provided to ATA members.

Executive staff officers in the Member Services program area provide advice and, where authorized, legal assistance to members facing such contractual problems as transfers, terminations and suspensions. Members with concerns about evaluation processes leading to unsatisfactory decisions about their teaching practice or assignments may also obtain advice from this program area. In addition, Member Services staff provide organizational assistance to local associations, training for local executive members and school representatives, presentations and workshops for school staffs and other groups of teachers, advice and assistance to school-based administrators, and support for substitute teachers. ❚