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.
Pitfalls and Precautions
As a new school year begins across Alberta, most teachers, students and families are focused on fresh starts, learning and building strong relationships. But occasionally issues arise that can quickly escalate into formal complaints. If this occurs, it is important for teachers to contact the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) immediately for assistance.
Sometimes a complaint comes from a seemingly innocuous, routine circumstance. This was the case recently when two members, a teacher and a school leader, found themselves the subjects of complaints. The issue? A parent was not happy with a decision made by the principal regarding programming in the school. In this case, the parent questioned the principal’s decision and ultimately filed complaints against the principal and a teacher with both the school division and the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission (ATPC).
Both the teacher and the school leader required support navigating the division’s investigation, assisted by staff in the ATA’s Teacher Employment and Membership Support (TEMS) program area. At the same time, they received support from the ATA’s Regulatory Affairs unit for guidance through the ATPC process.
The division investigated the matter and ultimately concluded that the principal’s decision was sound and that the teacher hadn’t engaged in misconduct either. The ATPC case remains ongoing—given the ATPC’s usual timelines, a decision isn’t expected for many more months.
Cases like this are not uncommon. Complaints can arise in a variety of circumstances and may proceed through different channels—the division and the ATPC—simultaneously. When they do, early action is critical.
If a complaint is made at the division level, members are encouraged to contact TEMS for assistance, particularly with employment-related matters and collective agreement issues. If notified by the ATPC of a complaint, teachers should reach out to the Regulatory Affairs unit as soon as possible, as legislated timelines and processes at the front end of the government’s regulatory process require your immediate attention.
Complaints happen. And while the possibility of complaints at the start of school year, or any time, is an unwelcome reality, the ATA is here to offer teachers support and expertise in both employment and regulatory issues. If you receive a complaint in either venue, please call the ATA immediately at 1-800-232-7208.
Our team wishes teachers all the best as the new year begins, and reminds you that the ATA is here for you.
ATA Associate Coordinator, Regulatory Affairs
