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Brad Langdale
Physics, Spruce Grove Composite High School
How long have you been teaching?
Eleven years
Why did you become a teacher?
I like being in front of people, talking, making jokes, communicating ideas that I think are important. The best teachers I had growing up shared their passion about their subject matter with their students. I wanted to do that too.
Current Association role
Economic Policy Committee (EPC) chair, Parkland Teachers Local No. 10
What are your main responsibilities?
Chairing meetings, facilitating communication between committee members, preparing research for contract negotiations, helping our local members interpret their collective agreement and ensure it’s working for them, writing a lot of emails ...
What do you enjoy most about this work?
I enjoy the chance to help teachers with issues at their work. It feels good when you can relieve a bit of the stress that your peers are feeling. Of course, writing emails is pretty awesome too.
What other roles have you held with the Association?
Negotiating Subcommittee alternate, EPC vice-chair, staff representative
Why do you do this work? Why is it important?
I really enjoy the people I work with on the EPC. It’s a great opportunity to get to know other teachers from my local who are not in my school and hear what they’re doing with students. As a teacher stuck in a classroom all day, I don’t feel like I get out much. With my work with the local, I feel like I can see and hear what’s going on in education in my community.
How or why did you first become involved in Association work?
I came out for the free dinners and the camaraderie, and I think I was kind of talked into joining the EPC. I never thought I would be able to be chair of a committee, but I was able to learn so much from teachers who I worked with that it felt like a pretty natural transition.
What is your favourite ...
Movie? The Sting
TV show? Sherlock (BBC version)
Band/singer? Del Barber
Book? Agatha Christie’s Poirot novels
Summer vacation activity? Golf
Travel destination? The Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland
Article of clothing?
Plaid flannel shirts
What super power would you most like to have and why?
To be able to touch a book and instantly have read and understood it
What fictional character are you most like and why?
Probably Wimpy from Popeye
What fictional character would you most like to meet and why?
Doc Brown from Back to the Future. So many great talks about physics.
What was your first car?
2005 Ford Focus, purchased just before my first teaching gig in beautiful Mallaig, Alberta ❚
