AGM 2020
With the technical support of Chris Gonsalvez, ATA executive staff officer, our first-ever online AGM was a success. This year’s accomplishments included a newly redesigned website (thanks to Darcy House, Robert Wong and Amanda Schulz), an upcoming position paper on educational technologies, and multiple sources of online communication and learning. Our newsletter and our full history of delta-K publications can now be accessed through the website. We are the first council to offer an online conference, and we continue to explore ways to reach out to our membership through weekly Mathematical Monday posts and future professional learning opportunities. Our staff advisor, Gaylene Schreiber, acknowledged the commitment, passion and ingenuity of Alberta educators who continue to teach during a pandemic and encouraged the council to continue to find ways to keep educators connected.
Fall Executive Meetings
Two executive meetings were held in the fall 2020, the latter by Zoom. Our first-ever virtual conference proceeded smoothly from the planning stages through delivery. Plans are already beginning for a virtual 2021 conference. A variety of 2021 online opportunities were offered to lead and engage in professional learning, including Beginning Teachers’ Conference, carousels, other specialist council conferences, ATA Women in Leadership Summit, Mathematical Monday posts, delta-K, PDAC and PEC nominations. Posters will be out soon to schools for our MCATA logo contest. The executive, representing learning contexts from early childhood through university, shared their challenges with online learning and the concern with mental health of educators and students alike during the pandemic. A motion was passed at the November meeting that clearly delineated MCATA’s support of the ATA’s stance of making all diploma exams optional for the duration of the pandemic and cancelling the PATs going forward.
Barbara O’Connor
