Recently, I attended a session featuring the former first lady of Iceland, Eliza Reid, at this year’s uLead Conference in Banff. Her story was an interesting one, from growing up just outside of Ottawa to becoming the First Lady of Iceland. What was striking is how she chose to carve her own path. She spoke about how the first lady role was not really defined when she stepped into it. There were no official duties other than supporting her husband. Reid saw this as an opportunity and decided to make something of the role, remembering Michelle Obama’s quip that if the press were going to follow her, she might as well lead them somewhere.
Now you might be wondering where I am going with this. We have many concerns and issues facing public education. What does Iceland’s first lady have to do with those? Well, colleagues, now is the time to consider your own path forward.
When it comes to the concerns of Alberta teachers, the mediator’s report is front and centre at the moment. Members want to know how it will impact them. This mediator’s report is one of the most complex reports I have seen in my career. There is a lot to unpack, there are a lot of questions and there are high emotions around all of it. How could there not be? We care deeply about it and rightly so.
I’ve read the Facebook posts, answered questions by email and had conversations with many members. The mediator’s report, as it is written, provides an opportunity for us to have respectful conversations as we seek to understand the implications it would have for teachers and our working conditions, including classroom complexity. Your questions are important, and I strongly encourage you to attend the member information meetings (MIMs), whether in person or online.
What is valuable about MIMs is that they provide an opportunity for you to learn more about how the mediator’s recommendation will affect you in your context. You also may hear questions or points from your colleagues that you hadn’t considered before.
Whether or not you are able to attend a MIM, familiarize yourself and your colleagues with the details of the mediator’s recommendation. Read about the process of how we got here, and learn about the next steps. Review the FAQs and the responses. The website is your go-to for the most up-to-date and accurate information. Share this information with your colleagues.
Above all, vote. This is a decision that you, as teachers, will ultimately make. Seize your moment and have your say. ❚
