Teachers must stand together for fairness and respect, not only for the present and for themselves, but for the future of the profession and public education in Alberta.
This was a key message delivered by Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) president Jason Schilling during his address to delegates of the 108th Annual Representative Assembly in Edmonton on May 17.
“What we can do now, in this moment, is send a clear message: while we continue to seek resolution at bargaining, we will not continue to tolerate conditions that hinder both teaching and learning,” Schilling said. “We will not remain silent as the system is eroded around us. We will stand together, and we will speak with one voice against chronic underfunding and policy missteps.”
Acknowledging the pressing matter of the upcoming strike authorization vote, Schilling encouraged delegates to remember that, through their voices and their votes, teachers are responding to current conditions of practice but also shaping their collective future.
“This vote is not just about a contract—it’s about the heart of public education in Alberta.”
At the heart of it
Looking beyond collective bargaining, Schilling addressed other issues facing the profession. First, Schilling spoke on the new curriculum that will be piloted this coming September, calling on the government to delay its implementation until teachers and schools have the requisite resources and supports. He then denounced the increase in standardized testing, particularly for the province’s youngest students.
“Teachers have identified the harm these exams are causing our students from K to 3,” he said. “Students do not need more testing—they need relationships, they need a curriculum that reflects our modern society and they need resources that help them thrive, and they need class sizes that will allow them to be supported.”
“Our unity is our power and our solidarity is our shield.
Schilling also expressed concern for the impact incoming legislation related to gender and sexual minority issues would have on the school community, emphasizing teachers’ commitment to the well-being of all students, including gender-diverse students, colleagues and families.
“At the heart of every classroom is a simple truth: students shine when they feel seen, safe and supported. That’s always been the calling of our profession.”
Unity does not require uniformity
After addressing immediate and ongoing challenges facing the profession and public education in Alberta, Schilling called for unified action and unwavering solidarity among teachers. He reminded delegates that the ATA’s strength lies in its members and in how they treat each other. Respect and collaboration are strategic necessities right now, he said.
“Make no mistake—those who seek to dismantle public education are watching closely,” he warned. “They know that a divided group is easier to silence, a fragmented group is easier to defeat. We cannot and must not give them that opportunity.”
Acknowledging that tensions are high and opinions within the membership may differ, Schilling remarked that unity does not require uniformity; rather, it requires a commitment to support each other in difficult times. Working together with mutual respect, he added, can incite meaningful change.
“Our unity is our power and our solidarity is our shield,” Schilling said.
We are ATA
The address concluded with a passionate call to action. Delegates were urged to have courageous conversations with colleagues, to support one another, and to engage the public in meaningful conversations about what’s really at stake in public education. Even after the current chapter of bargaining concludes, Schilling assured delegates, the ATA will continue to fight—for a better curriculum, for meaningful assessment practices, and for the dignity of every student and teacher.
Schilling closed his remarks by pointing to the red “We are ATA” pin that he, and many delegates, were wearing.
“We are more than teachers. We are advocates. We are guardians of public education. Every teacher across this province who works in a public school [...] we are the ATA,” he said. “And when we stand together, shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, no force can silence our call for justice, dignity and respect.”