Specialist councils are turning 65!
ATA active and associate members: Renew your council memberships or sign-up for new councils before April 17 to be entered into a draw for $650 courtesy of Belairdirect. The more councils you’re in—the more chance to win!
Sign up now!About specialist councils
The ATA’s 20 specialist councils exist to increase members’ knowledge and skills in defined specialty areas related to
- curriculum subjects (eg, science, math, art);
- leadership or support roles (eg, school leaders, counsellors);
- professional practice standard competencies (eg, Indigenous education, inclusive education, the effective use of technology); or
- pedagogical contexts (eg, grade groupings, modes of instruction, unique learning environments).
Specialist councils support professional development by
- hosting in-person and online workshops and conferences;
- organizing communities of practice; and
- publishing newsletters, journals and other pedagogical and leadership resources.
Councils also play a role in shaping Association policy in the councils’ areas of specialty.
All active, student, associate and life members of the Association can become specialist council members. Refer to the Membership information section below for eligibility details, pricing and sign-up instructions
Specialist council events
For information about upcoming specialist council events, refer to the councils’ websites using the directory below or visit the ATA's Events page.
Council Directory
Additional Languages and Intercultural Council (ALIC)
Career and Technology Education Council (CTEC)
Council for English as an Additional Language (CEAL)
Council for Inclusive Education (CIE)
Council for School Leadership (CSL)
Council of School Counsellors (CSC)
Early Childhood Education Council (ECEC)
Educational Technology Council (ETC)
English Language Arts Council (ELAC)
Global Environmental & Outdoor Education Council (GEOEC)
Health and Physical Education Council (HPEC)
Indigenous Education Council (IEC)
Outreach Education Council (OEC)
Membership information
Active members
As an active ATA member, you can join the council of your choice at no cost. Your membership automatically renews every year until changed.
Want to join more than one council? You’ll just have to pay a modest fee annual fee depending on which council you choose to join. Refer to the Specialist councils application and renewal document for councils' current annual membership cost.
Sign up for or renew your no-cost council membership and purchase additional memberships
Note: You’ll need to log in to your ATA Online Services account (username@teachers.ab.ca) to sign up for specialist councils. Request or renew your account.
For more information and to sign up, please e-mail pd@ata.ab.ca or call 1-800-232-7208 and ask to speak to someone in Professional Development.
Student members
If you’re a member of the student local at your university or college, you can sign up for as many specialist councils as you want at no cost.
Student memberships renew automatically, as long as you remain a member your student local and renew your ATA online account each fall. As a student member of the ATA, you can't vote or hold office, but you can volunteer to assist council executive officers with certain tasks.
Sign up for or renew your no-cost council memberships
Note: You’ll need to log in to your ATA Online Services account (username@teachers.ab.ca) to sign up for specialist councils.
Please consult these videos if you need help creating or renewing your account.
For more information and to sign up, please e-mail pd@ata.ab.ca or call 1-800-232-7208 and ask to speak to someone in Professional Development.
Associate members
As an associate member, you may purchase annual memberships in the specialist councils you want to join. Fees differ from council to council, refer to the Specialist councils application and renewal document for councils' current annual membership cost.
As an associate member of the ATA, you may vote or hold office as a council table officer or executive committee members as long as associate membership is the highest level of membership available to you.
For more information and to sign up, please e-mail pd@ata.ab.ca or call 1-800-232-7208 and ask to speak to someone in Professional Development.
Life members
If you’re a retired teacher with an ATA life membership, you must purchase annual memberships for the specialist councils you want to join. Membership costs for life members differ from council to council, refer to the Specialist councils application and renewal document for councils' current annual membership cost.
For more information and to sign up, please e-mail pd@ata.ab.ca or call 1-800-232-7208 and ask to speak to someone in Professional Development.