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ATA president outlines goals and challenges ahead
ATA President Mark Ramsankar was interviewed by the ATA News upon his return from touring flood-damaged regions of High River. He spoke about his role as president and what he experienced first-hand in southern Alberta.
Have you identified your priorities as president?
Improving the communication among our members and Association leadership is one of my biggest priorities. If we are going to move forward with our strategic plan and advocacy, it’s important that we put the tools into the hands of our members so they have a comfort level talking about their careers, public education and the work that needs to be done. I think it’s our responsibility as the leadership to support our members in that area and the best way to do it is to be there, to listen with an empathetic ear and do the best we can to help get the assistance in place so they can continue to do their best.
What are the biggest challenges facing teachers today?
The biggest challenge is the enactment of the transformation agenda. We have a definition of the agenda but it needs to be a grassroots approach. The onus will be on locals and schools to move this agenda forward. The greatest challenge will be helping Alberta Education and other leaders to understand that initiatives and directives alone won’t transform education. It has to be authentic and it has to grow from the ground up. The other part of that equation is whether it will be supported and put into action or whether it will be left as just a concept or an ideal.
If you had a magic wand, what three things would you change in the Alberta education system today?
I would give the profession full responsibility for the certification and governance of the education system. Teacher excellence would be fully funded and supported in terms of professional development, compensation and time. I would erase the two things that, in my view, are the greatest hindrances to education—the size and expectation that are put forward in the curriculum as it exists. There are too many outcomes and there’s no flexibility for teachers to develop and teach because they’re teaching to specific things. And the structure of delivery is flawed. There needs to be more time for professional development, relationship building and delivery of teaching.
Tell me about your metaphor: “A Ferrari can’t perform on a gravel road.”
Alberta has excellent teachers! The issue is the environment in which they have to exercise that expertise—it’s untenable; they don’t have time and they have too many students in front of them. I thought about how excellence in automobiles is often symbolized by a Ferrari, and you need dry, flat pavement and straight roads to achieve the greatest performance. That’s why I used the word performance—it’s not that you can’t drive a Ferrari on a gravel road, but you sure won’t get the performance. When you are stressed or tired or have too many other things on your plate, you can’t deliver the best you have to offer.
Do you have a vision for your presidency? Is there a legacy you wish to leave?
As a leader, it is not about what I feel is best for me. My decisions are based solely on what I believe is in the best interests of teachers, because that is who I represent and who I serve. Teachers will determine whether or not I’ve represented them. The only thing I’ve always said is I will offer the best that I have. You will get everything I have to offer. Legacy will be determined on the other end of my presidency. I have goals, of course. I would like to move the profession forward and be a part of the transformation agenda. I would like to see the end of high-stakes testing and the end of a number of issues that we face in education today. I want to be a part of that change, but I’d also like to be sure that I’m supporting teaching while moving down that path.
You recently toured the flood-affected areas in southern Alberta. Can you tell me what you observed?
I witnessed the work and support of communities where people truly care about each other and put each other first. I witnessed teachers going above and beyond anything that you’d find in any teacher’s job description to get the best learning environments for the students in their class. I witnessed teachers succeed at that. I am concerned that the work teachers undertook in the aftermath of the flood and the work they’ve done to prepare for the school year has drained them. The phrase that jumps to mind when it comes to these teachers is, “What’s often forgotten is care for the caregivers.” The focus is on children, but what about the people that are delivering? They are going to need support. I would hate to see teachers burn out. But that’s what teachers do—they put children first.
Do you have anything you’d like to add?
Although I’m only three months into my term, everything that I believed about the ATA is absolutely true. I’m surrounded by expertise in the field of education and unbelievably hard-working people. I’m grateful for all the support I’ve received in terms of being able to do my job representing teachers. The welcome and good wishes that I’ve received from colleagues around the province have been wonderful. ❚
