Due to severe flooding in July, Barnett House will remain closed until early 2027.
The ATA Library is still open and providing resources to members.
Staff are working from home and continue to serve members online and by phone.
The Southern Alberta Regional Office (SARO) in Calgary is unaffected and conducts business per usual.
Who's out there
Teachers have their own extracurricular activities. Some volunteer. Some write books. Others produce podcasts, create art or make music. Here are some endeavours undertaken by your colleagues “out there.”
Junior high teacher Gabriela Roth is a visual artist specializing in watercolour and pen illustration. With work that often blends nostalgia with natural or imagined landscapes, Roth started an art Instagram account to share her creations and the behind-the-scenes process. Art helps Roth recharge, reflect and stay rooted in creativity while teaching full-time.
Gabriela Roth
Corpus Christi Catholic Elementary/Junior High School, Edmonton
Instagram: @gabbysartcellar
Teacher and filmmaker Anne Mueller has completed a short documentary, The Artist: A Creative Journey. The film features Canadian artists’ stories of overcoming adversity, finding joy and building meaningful community connections. The film has screened at theatres across Canada and internationally and is currently streaming on Telus Optik TV.
Anne Mueller
Corpus Christi Catholic Elementary/Junior High School, Edmonton
Instagram: @mrs_anne_mueller
In addition to being an elementary music teacher, Tayler Grace is a country folk musician. She has performed on prominent stages across the country such as the Edmonton Folk Music Festival and Winnipeg Folk Music Festival. Grace actively releases original music and performs with her band on a regular basis around the province. Her newest EP, West Coast Girl, came out in 2026 and has played on radio stations such as 102.3 NOW! Radio and CKUA Radio.
Tayler Grace (Straughan)
Elk Island Public Schools
Instagram: @taylergracemusic
Tara Ehret used her experience as a full-time teacher to found Teal Heart Planners, a Calgary-based company that centers on a custom lesson planner. The planner—designed by a teacher for teachers—brings everything into one cohesive space and offers templates tailored to different schedules, featuring gradebook sheets, accommodations lists, and sections for staff meeting notes and student goals. The business has also been expanding to include other custom planners that support work–life balance.
Tara Ehret
St. John Henry Newman School, Calgary
www.tealheartplanners.com
Music teacher Jessica Smeall is an owner and coach with Folding Mountain Taekwondo Academy in Hinton, and she recently medaled in the martial art in both Canadian and international competitions. She attended the Canadian National Taekwondo Championships in Montreal for Team Alberta, winning a bronze medal. She also competed in the Canada Open International, winning a bronze in pairs, and the US Open international, bringing home a silver medal as part of the team event.
Jessica Smeall
École Mountain View School, Hinton
What’s new with you?Your colleagues want to know! If you’d like to make a submission for publication in Who’s Out There?, email a summary (50–75 words) to associate editor Lindsay Yakimyshyn at lindsay.yakimyshyn@ata.ab.ca. |
