BTC 2024 - Calgary

BTC 2024 - Calgary

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.

7:45am MDT

BREAKFAST

Friday October 4, 2024 7:45am - 8:45am MDT

Friday October 4, 2024 7:45am - 8:45am MDT
Plaza 1

Meals and Breaks

9:00am MDT

CONFERENCE KICK OFF AND WELCOME

Friday October 4, 2024 9:00am - 9:15am MDT

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 →

Friday October 4, 2024 9:00am - 9:15am MDT
Plaza 1

Pinned

9:05am MDT

WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT

Friday October 4, 2024 9:05am - 9:20am MDT

Speakers

Jason Schilling

President, ATA

Jason Schilling was re-elected president in 2023, following four years of service as president, two years of service as vice-president and more than eight years of service as district representative for South West. As vice-president, Schilling chaired the Central Table Bargaining... Read More →

Friday October 4, 2024 9:05am - 9:20am MDT
Plaza 1

Pinned

9:20am MDT

YOUR ASSOCIATION AND YOU: THINGS EVERY BEGINNING TEACHER SHOULD KNOW

Friday October 4, 2024 9:20am - 10:00am MDT

Panel Discussion:
Professional Development - Nancy Luyckfassel

Teacher Employment Services- Genevieve Blais

Government - Dr. Elissa Corsi

Moderators

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 →

Speakers

Dr. Elissa Corsi Government

Associate Executive Secretary, Government, Alberta Teachers' Association

Dr. Elissa Corsi is one of two Associate Executive Secretaries for the Alberta Teachers' Association and is the Coordinator of the Association's Government Services program area. She worked as a teacher and administrator in Alberta schools, both in English and French Immersion, before... Read More →

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 →

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 →

Friday October 4, 2024 9:20am - 10:00am MDT
Plaza 1

Pinned

10:15am MDT

Teacher Evaluations and Contracts (K–12)

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

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

11:30am MDT

LUNCH

Friday October 4, 2024 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT

Friday October 4, 2024 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT
Plaza 1

Meals and Breaks

12:30pm MDT

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

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

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

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

3:30pm MDT

BARGAINING 101

Friday October 4, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm MDT

Attendance for GIA and additional prizes

Friday October 4, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm MDT
Plaza 1

Pinned

4:00pm MDT

SOCIAL—QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Friday October 4, 2024 4:00pm - 4:45pm MDT

Grab and Go Sessions, Social and Draw Prizes

Sessions include:
ASEBP Benefits
Employment Contracts
Financial Wellness
Inclusive Education
Indigenous Education
TeacheSeance de questions et reponses—Services a francaisr Evaluations
Teacher Qualification Services
Working with Educational Assistants
New Curriculum and Resources (K-6)
Technology Tools for the Classroom
Teacher Evaluations

Each table will have a QR to scan that links to key information on the website about the topic. As well, there will be sample copies of print resources which are available.

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 →

Friday October 4, 2024 4:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
Plaza 1

Q and A

8:00am MDT

NETWORKING BREAKFAST/DISPLAYS

Saturday October 5, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am MDT

Saturday October 5, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am MDT
Plaza 1

Meals and Breaks

9:00am MDT

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

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

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

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 →

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

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

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

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 →

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

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

11:45am MDT

LUNCH

Saturday October 5, 2024 11:45am - 12:45pm MDT

Saturday October 5, 2024 11:45am - 12:45pm MDT
Plaza 1

Meals and Breaks

12:30pm MDT

CLOSING AND PRIZES

Saturday October 5, 2024 12:30pm - 1:30pm MDT

Saturday October 5, 2024 12:30pm - 1:30pm MDT
Plaza 1

Closing and Prizes