BTC 2024 - Calgary: Full Schedule

WELCOME TO THE 2024 CALGARY BEGINNING TEACHERS’ CONFERENCE!

Teachers new to the profession are invited to attend the 2024 Beginning Teachers’ Conference, October 4-5, Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre, Calgary. There is no registration fee. Space is limited; apply early.

School principals, school jurisdictions and local associations work together to provide substitute teacher coverage as per the collective agreement to facilitate the attendance of beginning teachers at the conference. Substitute teacher coverage must be organized and approved in advance. Please ensure you meet with your school principal to discuss release time and obtain the appropriate absence code to attend this conference.

Teachers in charter, federal and private schools must be associate members of the Association to be eligible to attend the Beginning Teachers Conference.

10:15am MDT

Artificial Intelligence Tools to Amplify Your Professionalism and Save Time (K–12)

Friday October 4, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am MDT

Plaza 2

Ready to revolutionize your teaching? Join our workshop on AI tools that go beyond traditional lesson planning. Explore how generative AI can create personalized content, assessments, and more. We’ll guide you through a process that balances efficiency with creativity, ensuring you remain the architect of exceptional learning experiences. Plus, let’s delve into professional considerations—because AI is not just about algorithms; it’s about impact.

Speakers

Chris Gonsalvez

Executive Staff Officer, ATA

Teacher. Administrator. PD Leader. Chris is an executive staff officer with the Alberta Teachers' Association and passionate about working with teachers and being involved in professional development. Spending most of his teaching career in Southern Alberta, he loved being a middle... Read More →

Friday October 4, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am MDT
Plaza 2

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I, II, III and IV

10:15am MDT

Explorez comment l'intelligence artificielle générative peut vous assisster (K–12)

Friday October 4, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am MDT

Temple

Est-ce que vous cherchez de nouvelles façons d'impliquer vos élèves et d'inspirer leur apprentissage ? L'IA générative peut vous aider à réinventer votre enseignement et à lui donner un coup de fraîcheur. Dans cet atelier, vous apprendrez à utiliser des modèles d'IA générative pour créer du contenu original, innovant et surprenant pour vos activités en classe. Même si vous souhaitiez rédiger un plan de cours, un quiz, une histoire ou un jeu, l'IA générative peut vous aider à créer des contenus originaux, innovants et surprenants pour vos élèves. Vous apprendrez à rédiger des messages-guides qui incitent l'IA à générer des contenus créatifs, novateurs et amusants. Préparez-vous à travailler, à partager et à explorer! Veuillez apporter un ordinateur ou un dispositif digital à cette session d'apprentissage.

Speakers

Stacey Hannay

Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development, Alberta Teachers' Association

Tansi, Way' -Weytk, Salut, Greetings!Stacey is the newest Executive Staff Officer in the Association's Professional Development program area. Stacey holds a Bachelor of Physical Education, Bachelor of Education, a Master’s degree in Integrated Studies and has recently completed... Read More →

Friday October 4, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am MDT
Temple

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I, II, III and IV

10:15am MDT

Teacher Evaluations and Contracts (K–12)

Friday October 4, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am MDT

Plaza 1

This session will explore the different types of teaching contracts under which teachers may be employed, and what teachers’ rights and obligations are in relation to their contracts.

Speakers

Genevieve Blais

Executive Staff Officer, Teacher Employment Services (SARO), Alberta Teachers' Association

Geneviève joined the Association’s executive staff in the Teacher Welfare program area in 2015 and is now an executive staff officer in Teacher Employment Services based out of the Southern Alberta Regional Office (SARO). Teacher Employment Services assists teachers with professional... Read More →

Friday October 4, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am MDT
Plaza 1

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I, II, III and IV

12:30pm MDT

Teacher Safety Net—Your Entitlements, Your Protection! (K-12)

Friday October 4, 2024 12:30pm - 1:45pm MDT

Plaza 1

Over many years the Association has constructed a safety net for teachers and their families. This presentation provides an overview of what teachers have in regard to sick leave and other leaves through the collective agreement, extended disability, life insurance, other benefit plan provisions, as well as pension and death benefits. This is a light-hearted presentation that is intended to be presented to local teachers in order to provide very relevant and necessary information on existing entitlements.

Speakers

Phil Bresee

Executive Staff Officer, Teacher Employment Services (SARO), Alberta Teachers' Association

Phil is an executive staff officer in the Teacher Employment Service program area based out of the Association's Calgary office. Phil's career spans many years of teaching, school leadership, and legal expertise. He has served as the principal of Ecole Notre-Dame des Monts in Canmore... Read More →

Friday October 4, 2024 12:30pm - 1:45pm MDT
Plaza 1

Hot Topics for Professionals, ??

2:00pm MDT

Code of Conduct for Teachers—What You Need to Know! (K–12)

Friday October 4, 2024 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT

Plaza 1

The new Code of Professional Conduct outlines minimum expectations for teaching certificate holders, including teachers, teacher leaders and superintendents. The code applies to the conduct of teachers in both on-duty and off-duty contexts. Drawing on scenarios from various typical employment matters, this presentation describes the standards of professional conduct expected of teachers and teacher leaders and explains the complaint process.

Speakers

Richard Svoboda

Friday October 4, 2024 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Plaza 1

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I, II, III and IV

2:00pm MDT

Five Strategies to Flourish as an Early Career Teacher (K–12)

Friday October 4, 2024 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT

Plaza 2

Starting your teaching journey can be both exciting and overwhelming. Join us in this engaging session designed specifically for Alberta teachers in their early years of professional practice. Discover five practical strategies that will help you navigate the challenges of workload, student behaviors, and mental well-being, while building a supportive professional network. Learn how mentorship, classroom management techniques, and relevant professional development can enhance your confidence and sustainability in the classroom. Whether you’re feeling uncertain or eager to grow, these actionable insights are designed to help you flourish as a beginning teacher.

Speakers

Phil McRae and Thelma Gunn

Friday October 4, 2024 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Plaza 2

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I, II, III and IV | Teacher Wellness, Division I, II, III and IV

2:00pm MDT

Cost of Caring—How to Nurture Your Mental Emotional Health as a Beginning Teacher (K–12)

Friday October 4, 2024 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT

Plaza 5

This session will delve into the unique challenges faced by beginning teachers when they provide emotional labour to children and their school communities. Join this session to learn about and reflect on how the emotional investment required to support students can sometimes lead to mental and emotional distress, such as burnout or compassion fatigue. You will also be guided to reimagine wellness, not just as an individual pursuit but as a shared responsibility within the school community. Be prepared to chart a path toward sustainable well-being that benefits you, your colleagues, and your students.

Speakers

Lisa Everitt

Friday October 4, 2024 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Plaza 5

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I, II, III and IV | Techer Wellness, Division I, II, III and IV

9:00am MDT

Making Learning Meaningful—Hands-On Activities to Spark Creativity, Ignite Conversations and Promote Problem-Solving (K–12)

Saturday October 5, 2024 9:00am - 10:15am MDT

Plaza 2

Join us for this engaging session as we delve into the world of meaningful, hands-on activities that will spark creativity, ignite conversations, and promote problem-solving skills. Be prepared to embark on a cross-curricular journey of discovery, armed with a wide array of practical resources and innovative ideas. Participants are guaranteed to leave the workshop with a collection of carefully curated activities and lessons that you can seamlessly integrate into your classroom, starting as early as Monday morning.

Speakers

Chris Gonsalvez

Executive Staff Officer, ATA

Saturday October 5, 2024 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Plaza 2

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I, II, III and IV

9:00am MDT

Managing Professional Relationships— Dealing with Difficult People and Difficult Issues (K–12)

Saturday October 5, 2024 9:00am - 10:15am MDT

Plaza 1

Hostile conversations with adults in school settings are becoming more commonplace and more intense, and are deemed to be extremely stressful for educators. What can schools do to safeguard the school and effectively communicate with those individuals who have a propensity toward volatility? This presentation gives an overview of the rights and responsibilities of students, parents, teachers and school leaders with an emphasis on the knowledge and skills for effective conflict management and conflict resolution. This session also provides a brief introduction to the Healthy Interactions Program.

Speakers

Phil Bresee

Executive Staff Officer, Teacher Employment Services (SARO), Alberta Teachers' Association

Saturday October 5, 2024 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Plaza 1

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I, II, III and IV

9:00am MDT

Free Tools and Kits for Use with Students (K–12)

Saturday October 5, 2024 9:00am - 10:15am MDT

Plaza 3

Imagine your classroom with challenges to solve, opportunities to create and students who are engaged. In this session, participants will have HANDS ON experience with a number of engaging kits to promote interactive learning. Throughout the session, you will have an opportunity to EXPLORE, CREATE and PLAY! Any member can sign out all demonstrated kits and books FREE from the ATA library. Participants should come armed with a mobile device to navigate the Association library and begin requesting materials before they leave the workshop. Every teacher is guaranteed a take-away!

Speakers

Dan Grassick

Executive Staff Officer, The Alberta Teachers' Association

Dan Grassick (they/them) is Executive Staff Officer in the Alberta Teachers’ Association Professional Development program area where their main responsibilities include supporting the Association's specialist councils and teachers’ conventions, and working with Alberta teacher... Read More →

Saturday October 5, 2024 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Plaza 3

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I, II, III and IV | Curriculum Pedagogy, Division I, II, III and IV

10:30am MDT

Improving Teaching and Learning Through Professional Growth Plans (K–12)

Saturday October 5, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am MDT

Plaza 2

This session will provide teachers with an opportunity to reflect on their understanding of provincial legislation, policy and other requirements related to teacher professional growth, promote awareness of the effective components of a professional growth plan, and share materials and tools that can be accessed to assist in the development of those plans. The session will also address the implications for teacher evaluation and permanent certification.

Speakers

Nancy Luyckfassel Professional Development

Coordinator, Professional Development

Nancy is a teacher, wanderer and wonderer, with 31 years of experience that includes: 7 schools, 4 towns, courses in grades K–12, roles as Assistant Principal and Principal and 8 years at the ATA. Nancy comes from a small farming community and that upbringing instilled in her values... Read More →

Saturday October 5, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
Plaza 2

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I, II, III and IV

10:30am MDT

Optimiser l’enseignement et l’apprentissage grâce aux plans de croissance professionnelle (K–12)

Saturday October 5, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am MDT

Temple

Cette session offre à chacun l’occasion de réfléchir aux cadres juridiques, à la politique, et aux autres exigences relatives à la croissance professionnelle des enseignants; de se familiariser avec les composantes essentielles et efficaces du plan de croissance; et de découvrir les documents d’appuis et les outils à la disposition des enseignants pour élaborer un plan de croissance professionnelle. Le processus d’évaluation des enseignants et les exigences pour l’obtention du brevet d’enseignement permanent seront également abordés pendant la session.

Speakers

Stacey Hannay

Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development, Alberta Teachers' Association

Saturday October 5, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
Temple

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I, II, III and IV

10:30am MDT

Your Online Presences and Your Job—Safeguarding Your Online Activities to Protect Your Employment (K–12)

Saturday October 5, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am MDT

Plaza 1

Increasingly teachers are facing employment discipline resulting from their use of school computers, laptops, internet connections and cellphones. Also, teachers' posting on their own computers on such social networking sites as Facebook, Twitter or blogs are increasingly facing employer disciplinary action. Integration and use of electronic media and communication in classrooms can present some unique opportunities together with some employment risks. How do teachers use these technologies without jeopardizing their career? This session will also look at cyberharassment or cyberlibel directed at teachers by students or parents and the steps to take in these circumstances.

Speakers

Phil Bresee

Executive Staff Officer, Teacher Employment Services (SARO), Alberta Teachers' Association

Saturday October 5, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
Plaza 1

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I, II, III and IV