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.
The ATA’s Beginning Teachers Conference (BTC) is a great way for new teachers to network and learn as they gain confidence in their new profession.
Two such conferences are scheduled for this fall, with registration open to teachers in their first two years of classroom teaching who have not previously attended the conference and those who are new to teaching in the province.
Conference schedule
September 25–26
Edmonton
Fantasyland Hotel
October 2–3
Calgary
Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre
Teachers who live in Red Deer and north of it should register for the Edmonton conference with this link .
Teachers who live south of Red Deer should register for the Calgary conference at this link .
The Education Technology Council invites all BTC participants to attend a Friday evening no-cost social gathering with food and beverages. RSVP for more information:
Edmonton: RSVP LINK
Calgary: RSVP LINK
Special ballot deadline changed
If you’re planning to request a special ballot for the upcoming provincial referendum, the deadline for requests has been bumped up to September 25. The previously publicized deadline was October 9.
Since teachers have a stake in decisions affecting Alberta’s students, schools, communities and public education system, the Alberta Teachers’ Association is encouraging members to learn about the issues, consider the questions carefully and make a plan to cast their ballots in the referendum, which takes place October 19.
Information on the referendum and its questions is available at https://www.elections.ab.ca/elections/referendum/ .
Self-reflection tool helps teachers with career planning
The ATA Professional Practice Self-Reflection Tool allows teachers to explore the Alberta Education Professional Practice Standards to self-determine areas of strength and potential growth. This can also assist teachers and school leaders in identifying goals for their annual professional growth plans. To explore this newly redesigned self-assessment tool, visit https://abselfreflectiontool.com . For more information on professional growth planning, including newly designed growth plan templates, visit this ATA web page .
Get $600 to advance your professional development
The ATA Educational Trust is a registered charity that provides bursaries to encourage teachers to advance their knowledge and skills and provides grants to help teachers attend professional development activities and events.
The belairdirect Insurance Centennial Fund for Teacher Development is a grant of up to $600 that enables teachers to attend a non-ATA professional development event such as a conference, workshop, seminar, institute or symposium.
Visit this site for more information, including application details.
Application deadline : 4:00 PM, Wednesday, Sept. 30
Write for the ATA Magazine and win a prize!
Every teacher in the province has something of value they can share with their colleagues. This is why the ATA Magazine is seeking submissions from teachers and school leaders for upcoming instalments of our Teacher Hacks feature.
In this section, Alberta teachers share their favourite “teacher hack,” which they’ve incorporated into their practice and that has made life easier for themselves, students or parents. It could be a learning project that they implement every year, a certain way of organizing their classroom, tips for running efficient field trips, their preferred way to combine nature and art—it’s pretty wide open.
We’re looking for summaries of up to 300 words. The authors of submissions that are selected for publication will receive an ATA prize pack (pictured) and a $50 gift card of their choice. If you’re concerned that you’re not a great writer, do not be dissuaded. The ATA Magazine ’s editing team is standing by to provide guidance and refinement as needed. You provide the raw material; we’ll help you polish up the writing.
How to submit
Reply to this message and paste your submission in the body of your email response.
Deadline
September 25