ATA staff remember their colleague Cory Schoffer as a master of his work who was generous with his wisdom — and wry with his humour.
After battling a rare illness for more than a decade, Schoffer died peacefully in the early hours of Dec. 3. He had spent his last few weeks in intensive care in the hospital, with friends by his side.
Schoffer joined the ATA as a staff officer in 2004 and, for nearly two decades, served the profession through various assignments in the Member Services, Teacher Welfare, Teacher Employment Services (TES) and Government program areas. During his tenure, he served as the lead investigator in professional conduct investigations, as staff advisor to the Outreach Education Council, and as the parliamentarian at annual representative assemblies.
Prior to joining the ATA, Schoffer worked in Golden Hills School Division and in Peace River School Division, rising to the position of principal. He also became involved in the ATA local, serving as teacher welfare committee chair and negotiating subcommittee chair, as well as at the provincial level as a teacher welfare liaison.
“I was witness to Cory’s steadfast dedication, passion and unrelenting support for teachers and the public education system,” said friend and ATA colleague Genevieve Blais. “He represented the best of what we can aspire to be in our profession — he refused to give up on teachers and would fight for the profession in defense of what he believed was right.”
Schoffer’s commitment to the profession extended beyond Alberta. He served on the board of the Canadian Association for the Practical Study of Law in Education (CAPSLE), including as president. Keith Hadden, coordinator of TES, recalls Schoffer — with no speaking notes in hand — convincing an audience of about 400 that a prairie boy would serve CAPSLE well.
“His oratorical skills were of great benefit to teachers as he represented them as a board member of CAPSLE,” Hadden says, “It was also very helpful to have an Alberta delegate serve on the CAPSLE board, as he could represent our teachers’ interests on a national level.”
In each role he took on, Schoffer balanced defending teachers’ rights with defending the profession. He did so in his own style — an analytical, no-nonsense approach that focused on fairness for members.
“He was not afraid to say what needed to be said,” Hadden says, “I think that’s what endeared him to a lot of people. He was a teacher’s teacher.”
Schoffer’s colleagues, friends and family gathered for a memorial at Barnett House on Dec. 9. Many in attendance wore team jerseys to honour Schoffer, whose love of his hometown sports teams, the Winnipeg Jets and Blue Bombers, matched his passion for the teaching profession.
Speaking at the memorial, ATA president Jason Schilling recalled Schoffer’s work to uphold the profession and support Alberta teachers.
“People become teachers because they want to make a difference, and Cory Schoffer made a difference,” Schilling said. “He made a difference in the lives of thousands of students and colleagues across the province. And for that we are grateful.” ❚
