Central areas district representatives

“Respect professionalism” is a clear assertion all teachers can use to strengthen our profession and the public image of teachers in Alberta. Collectively, teachers cannot bow to the trend to relinquish our professional status to a voice that tells us how to perform our professional role or attempts to take it away. As professionals, we must ensure our voice and our expertise are acknowledged as the authority in education.

I believe in teachers being empowered to thrive in their chosen profession and to continue to advocate for the best possible learning experiences for all students in their classrooms. I understand the challenges of our profession and, as such, will champion teacher voices and advocate for teachers as the experts of education, advocate for policies that attract and retain the excellent educators to our classrooms, and work to ensure every student has access to quality education, including adequate resources, equitable funding and excellent learning environments.

I am committed to serving as your district representative because I believe teachers deserve a strong voice and improved working conditions to allow their students' needs to be met.

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Brenton is from Drayton Valley where his classroom experience extends from elementary to high school, teaching sciences, math, physical education and communication technology. Prior to serving on Provincial Executive Council (PEC), Brenton served as Timberline Local No. 9's local president for 18 years and was active with the Teacher Welfare, Professional Development, Annual Representative Assembly and Teacher Board Advisory committees. Brenton also served provincially on the Professional Conduct Committee, Professional Conduct Appeal Committee and Teacher Qualifications Committee. As a member of Council, Brenton is serving on numerous provincial committees as well as acting as the PEC liaison for the Social Studies Council and North Central Teachers’ Convention Association.

I am in my 24th year of teaching and 6th year as the district representative for Central East Alberta. My three children are now all adults, having graduated from my K–12 school, H. A. Kostash in Smoky Lake, where I have taught every grade level and almost every subject. I am truly honoured to hold the trust of Central East teachers to serve as their provincial ATA voice. With the opposing view of the current government, the immediate future of public education is promising to be even more contentious. I will not back down on fighting for proper funding of public education, working conditions and an increase in salary.

Biography

Brice is a high school social studies and computer science teacher in Red Deer. When he’s not driving to Edmonton for ATA related work or in a meeting, he moonlights as a father and husband.

Platform

Nineteen years into teaching and the direction of public education couldn’t be clearer. Indeed, this is the primary reason I ran for district representative in 2022. To stem the erosion of public education, we must address critical funding shortages, prioritize teacher retention and advocate for policies that ensure equitable access to quality learning opportunities for all students.

My first term on Provincial Executive Council saw a concentration on making improvements in the Association to be more responsive to members. In this regard, several changes have or are in the process of being made that will lead to a more focused professional organization. For example, the Annual Representative Assembly will now be laser focused on education-related issues, rather than worldly and societal issues. And a committee on internal communications between the Association and locals/members has made several recommendations to improve the core tenet of communication. Internally, much is being done to align our work in the interest of and direction set by our membership.

Externally, the push to have a more aggressive and unapologetic Association continues. We see some of the fruits of our labour in our central table bargaining opening proposal. That said, we have much more work to do on this front.

Colleagues, the road ahead continues to be a difficult one. Your tenacity and dedication to the good of public education provides the foundation from which we base our offensive. Remain steadfast; it’s always darkest before the dawn.

Let me finish by thanking you for the trust you’ve placed in me and your support as I step into my second term.