Teachers’ conventions bring together teachers to learn and share, to collaborate and be inspired, and to connect and reflect as professionals on these two guaranteed days of self-determined professional development. Keynote rooms were buzzing, and thousands of conversations unfolded about professional practice, curriculum and the realities of today’s classrooms.
What most members don’t see is that those two days represent nearly a full year of voluntary leadership and many hundreds of hours of planning and preparation.
Across Alberta, nine teachers’ convention associations work year-round to design and deliver these world-class professional development events. Each convention board is made up of between 10 and 40 volunteer teachers representing member locals. Within each board, approximately eight executive members take on additional leadership and planning responsibilities to ensure the annual event runs smoothly. These responsibilities include leading planning meetings, guiding budgets, designing programs and exhibit spaces, negotiating contracts, facilitating communications, working with audiovisual companies and more. Almost all this volunteer work takes place outside of school hours.
In total, hundreds of volunteers across the province contribute their time and expertise to make the conventions happen. The scale is remarkable.
This past year, more than 2,200 sessions were offered to the more than 40,000 members who attended across the province. These include internationally recognized keynote speakers as well as a significant number of sessions delivered by fellow ATA members who are classroom teachers, specialists and school leaders sharing their practice with colleagues. Sessions are offered at many conventions by ATA specialist councils, local professional development (PD) committee members, ATA Association instructors and administrator instructors, Indigenous Education PD facilitators and ATA staff.
Most teachers are surprised to hear that the cost for hosting such a two-day event works out to around $100 per member, with convention boards demonstrating exceptional financial stewardship. Teachers’ conventions are a powerful example of professional autonomy in action and demonstrate what is possible when teachers lead their own learning.
The strength of the Association’s teachers’ convention model lies in this volunteer foundation. Teachers’ conventions are not outsourced. They are not imposed. They are built by teachers who understand the realities of the classrooms and who are committed to supporting their fellow colleagues across the province.
To every teacher who serves on a convention board, whether as a volunteer, a committee member or an executive member: thank you. Your leadership ensures that for two days each February and March, Alberta’s teachers gather not just to attend sessions, but to strengthen their professional community. And long before the doors open and long after they close, your work sustains one of the most respected professional development models in the country.
FUN FACT
ATA president Jason Schilling attends almost every convention every year! He also presents each year at conventions to share information and gather important feedback from members.
