The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) will see a change in its top administrative leadership this fall, with Robert Mazzotta being named the new executive secretary. Set to officially assume the role in September 2026, Mazzotta will succeed Dennis Theobald, who is retiring from the position.
In taking on this position and having just attended the Annual Representative Assembly, Mazzotta is aware of teachers’ concerns and understands the challenges ahead for the Association.
“I think we really need to reinforce trust, regain the trust of the membership and ensure that we are all unified moving forward,” he said.
Mazzotta brings to the role extensive experience in both school administration and provincial association operations. Before joining the ATA, he spent 17 years with Edmonton Public Schools working as a teacher and school administrator. He later transitioned to the human resources department at the school district’s central office. Mazzotta sees this experience as essential in preparing him for his new role.
“The variety of experiences I’ve had have helped me fine tune my skills for listening, for understanding and for looking at all viable options to move forward,” said Mazzotta. “It’s important to resist immediate knee-jerk reactions. I like to think things out and determine what is actually best for members and for the Association.”
Mazzotta first joined the ATA in 2007. He began as an executive staff officer with Member Services (now called Teacher Employment Membership Support), where he was highly regarded for his extensive knowledge of policy, his bilingualism in French and English, and his effective presentation skills.
In August 2017, Provincial Executive Council named Mazzotta the coordinator for Member Services. Five years later, he took the next step in his career and became Associate Executive Secretary, a role that provided Mazzotta with an entirely new perspective on the work of the Association.
“I think one of the biggest challenges I’ve encountered over the past four years is managing the different perspectives and competing interests,” he said.
Mazzotta’s upcoming transition to executive secretary marks a new chapter, both for him in his nearly two decades of service to the ATA and for the ATA itself. Current Executive Secretary Theobald, who served in the role for eight years, says he’s confident Mazzotta will excel in his new role and offers him one piece of advice.
“Remember always that you are a teacher and why you became a teacher,” said Theobald. “Everything we do is rooted in that ethos and in a deep commitment to serving our members and the greater cause of public education. Keep that in mind, and you will never go far wrong.”
