2021 Fall Professional Development Area Conference (PDAC): Full Schedule

A big thank you to Morgex Insurance who has donated prizes for participants throughout the conference.

These online sessions were conducted by members of the ATA’s Professional Development Program Area (pd@ata.ab.ca). Many of these sessions will be recorded by the ATA Professional Development staff for posting to various online collaboration, social media services, and platforms for use by ATA members and the general public. The recordings will be available on these services and platforms until at least (June 30, 2022). Please note that this session’s recording may be housed on servers outside Canada and beyond the ATA’s control. Your participation in this session is voluntary and indicates your consent for the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information during the session under the provisions of the Personal Information Protection of Alberta (PIPA). The ATA privacy officer is available to answer any questions or concerns at margaret.shane@ata.ab.ca.

6:30pm MST

Welcome & Opening

Speakers

Jason Schilling

President, ATA President

Jason Schilling was re-elected president in 2023, following four years of service as president, two years of service as vice-president and more than eight years of service as district representative for South West. As vice-president, Schilling chaired the Central Table Bargaining... Read More →

Mark Swanson

Coordinator, Professional Development, Alberta Teachers' Association

Dr. Mark Swanson is the Coordinator of Professional Development at the Alberta Teachers’ Association. Mark has extensive experience in the Alberta education system. He has worked as a teacher and school leader, overseen teacher certification as the Registrar for Alberta Education... Read More →

Friday December 3, 2021 6:30pm - 7:00pm MST

Plenary

7:00pm MST

Keynote Speaker— “Locating Adult Learners” [RECORDING AVAILABLE]

Locating Adult Learners
Adult learners have a wealth of experiences and knowledge that shape unique narratives. In this keynote, Cynthia Terry discusses how we understand who the adult learner is, how adults engage in meaningful learning experiences, and the role adults play in learning communities.

Speakers

Cynthia Terry

Cynthia Terry is passionate about cultivating learning communities and she believes that we can teach each other when we share our unique learning experiences, values and beliefs. She has held roles in training and leadership development for over 15 years. She holds a Master of Education... Read More →

C Terry Kenote References pdf

Friday December 3, 2021 7:00pm - 8:00pm MST

Keynote Speaker

8:00pm MST

Navigating the Landscape

For this activity participants will be encouraged to participate in a scavenger hunt activity to Navigate through the Professional Development landscape and more. Some challenges for this activity can be done from the comfort of your computer chair, while others may involve leaving your home and exploring your neighborhood. Morgex has generously donated prizes for three lucky winners!

Speakers

Nancy Luyckfassel

Associate Coordinator, Professional Development, The Alberta Teachers Association

Nancy Luyckfassel is the Associate Coordinator, Professional Development at the Alberta Teachers' Association, where she has worked since 2016. She has been a teacher for over 28 years, starting her career in Rockyview Schools and then returning to her hometown and teaching in Elk... Read More →

Chris Gonsalvez

Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development, Alberta Teachers' Association

Teacher. Administrator. PD Leader. Chris is an executive staff officer with the Alberta Teachers' Association and passionate about working with teachers and being involved in professional development. Spending most of his teaching career in Southern Alberta, he loved being a middle... Read More →

Goose Chase Text Base Answers xls

Friday December 3, 2021 8:00pm - 9:00pm MST

Plenary

9:00am MST

Welcome and Navigating the Day

Speakers

Mark Swanson

Coordinator, Professional Development, Alberta Teachers' Association

Saturday December 4, 2021 9:00am - 9:15am MST

Plenary

9:15am MST

Break

Saturday December 4, 2021 9:15am - 9:30am MST

Break

9:30am MST

100% for 100%—Establishing a school culture where ALL staff understand and respond to the needs of ALL students and staff. (TQS Competency 1) [RECORDING AVAILABLE]

Schools are complex, students are all unique, and teaching is exhausting! Gone are the days where teachers could survive by shutting their doors and taking care of “their class”. With the ever-changing intricacies that surround teaching, now more than ever it takes our whole village to help our students (and our staff) succeed. This workshop is designed to introduce participants to the 100% framework and challenge teachers to think about one or two small changes they could try to find ways to support both each other as well as students who may not be in their homeroom.

Speakers

Chris Gonsalvez

Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development, Alberta Teachers' Association

Saturday December 4, 2021 9:30am - 10:30am MST

Breakout Session I, Recorded

9:30am MST

Acknowledging the Land -- Why Does This Matter? (TQS Competency 5)

Providing a land acknowledgement is not something you just do before an event or meeting, but rather a thoughtful and intentional process. Throughout this session, you will learn ways to make land acknowledgements more authentic and meaningful. In addition, you will uncover ways to reflect on your positionality and responsibility to the land that you live, work, and play on.

Speakers

Melissa Purcell

Executive Staff Officer, Indigenous Education, Professional Development, Alberta Teachers' Association

Melissa Purcell is Denesuline, born and raised in Edmonton, and a member of Thebatthi in Treaty 8 territory. Melissa is a proud mother of one son and two daughters, and the oldest of her three sisters. Melissa is deeply committed to supporting Indigenous education and advancing truth... Read More →

Saturday December 4, 2021 9:30am - 10:30am MST

Breakout Session I

9:30am MST

Professional Conduct is in Order (TQS Competency 6)

The Code of Professional Conduct is a guide for teaching approved by teachers for teachers. Because it is referenced in The Teaching Profession Act, the code applies to the behaviour of teachers in a broad range of situations. Drawing on scenarios from actual cases, this presentation describes the standards of professional conduct expected of teachers and explains how the ATA deals with teachers who fail to live up to these standards.

Speakers

Dr. Konni deGoeij

Associate Coordinator, Administrator Assistance, The Alberta Teachers' Association

Dr Konni deGoeij Alberta Teachers' Association Associate Coordinator, Administrator Assistance Edmonton, AB Dr Konsctancija (Konni) deGoeij has worked as schoolteacher, school-based administrator, teacher educator, researcher, and policy advisor in Alberta. Being an administrator... Read More →

Saturday December 4, 2021 9:30am - 10:30am MST

Breakout Session I

9:30am MST

Rainbows and Pride Flags Aren't Enough (TQS Competencies 1 and 4)

It takes more than rainbow posters and Pride flags to make our classrooms and schools inclusive places where all 2SLGBTQ+ youth can feel safe and learn. This session will provide teachers and school leaders with current research and conceptual understandings about gender and relationship diversity; promising practices regarding the use of pronouns and gender-inclusive language in schools; and possible steps that can be taken to move beyond posters and flags to true allyship and advocacy.

Question from the workshop: How many Canadians identify as 2SLGBTQ+?
Answer: According to Statistics Canada data from 2021, one million Canadians identify as 2SLGBTQ+, accounting for 4% of the total population aged 15 and older. Data from younger students isn't known, but the demographic trends show an increase over time. The 2016-2018 versions of the same Statistics Canada survey found 900,000 Canadians (15 years and older) identified as "gay", "lesbian", or "bisexual".

Speakers

Dan Grassick

Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development, The Alberta Teachers' Association

Dan Grassick (they/them) is Executive Staff Officer in the Alberta Teachers’ Association Professional Development program area where their main responsibilities include supporting the Association's specialist councils and teachers’ conventions, and working with Alberta teacher... Read More →

ATA News DocDEHR Love Inclusive Valentine's Day Column pdf

ATA News Pronouns Feature pdf

Genderbread Person v4 pdf

2011 Egale Survey Report pdf

2011 Egale Survey Summary pdf

2021 Egale Survey Report pdf

2021 Egale Survey Summary pdf

ATA PRISM Toolkit Elementary pdf

ATA PRISM Toolkit Secondary pdf

ATA Student GSA QSA Guide pdf

ATA Teacher GSA QSA Guide pdf

CTF Affirming Gender Diverity pdf

Saturday December 4, 2021 9:30am - 10:30am MST

Breakout Session I

9:30am MST

The Cost of Caring: How to Plan to Protect your Mental Wellbeing using HEARTcare Planning (TQS Competency 2)

This presentation is based on a two-year research study sponsored by the Association and the Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan that was conducted by Dr Astrid Kendrick, from the University of Calgary. This study examined how educators, by providing emotional labour, are at greater risk to experience compassion fatigue, compassion stress, and / or burnout. The study also suggests HEARTcare planning, a mechanism by which teachers and school leaders can plan to protect and enhance their mental well being in times of trauma, crisis, and stress.

Speakers

Lisa Everitt

Executive Staff Officer, Government, The Alberta Teachers' Association

Dr Lisa Everitt has worked as an executive staff officer with the Alberta Teachers Association since 2006. Lisa has held several roles at the Association and has developed expertise in labour relations, employee benefits plans, educational research, and women in leadership. Prior... Read More →

COOR 101 32b HeartCare Planning Tool 2021 08 pdf

Saturday December 4, 2021 9:30am - 10:30am MST

Breakout Session I

9:30am MST

Weaving a Better “How” not Another “What”: A Conversation on Strategies for Overloaded Teachers to Keep Getting Better at Teaching

Effective teaching is complex, relational and contextual. Supporting diverse students to make progress across a broad range of valued outcomes requires high levels of adaptive expertise. So how can educators continue to enhance their expertise? And what could this look like in busy schools when we feel overloaded?
During this session participants will have an opportunity to:
• Identify the complexity of teaching and the need for adaptive expertise
• Explore the several big ideas about getting better all the time
• Examine the practical challenge of shifting ingrained habits of practice
• Explore the benefits of a ‘sprints’ approach and the power of incremental gains
• Consider how to harness new ways to develop evidence-informed teaching strategies

Speakers

Jeff Johnson

Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development, The Alberta Teachers' Association

Saturday December 4, 2021 9:30am - 10:30am MST

Breakout Session I

10:45am MST

Mise à jour provinciale et période de questions [EN FRANÇAIS]

Speakers

Maryse Simon

PD Facilitator

Presentation PDAC pdf

Saturday December 4, 2021 10:45am - 11:45am MST

Plenary

10:45am MST

Provincial Update and Q & A [ENGLISH]

Speakers

Adam Browne

Greater Edmonton Teachers Convention Association

Leizan Knecht

PD Facilitator

Mark Swanson

Coordinator, Professional Development, Alberta Teachers' Association

Saturday December 4, 2021 10:45am - 11:45am MST

Plenary

11:45am MST

Lunch Break

Saturday December 4, 2021 11:45am - 12:30pm MST

Break

12:30pm MST

Association Services for Administrators (TQS Competency 2)

This presentation describes the various services and programs that the Association offers to administrators. These services are intended to support the school administrator in his or her role as the accomplished teacher who, through expert leadership, ensures that all students in the school have optimal opportunities to learn and develop.

Speakers

Chris Gonsalvez

Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development, Alberta Teachers' Association

Saturday December 4, 2021 12:30pm - 1:30pm MST

Breakout Session II

12:30pm MST

Building Compassion Resilience (TQS Competency 1) [RECORDING AVAILABLE]

Compassion resilience is “the ability to maintain physical, emotional and mental well-being while responding compassionately”, and the best way to build this resilience is to develop excellent self-care strategies. This interactive workshop will help participants understand compassion fatigue; evaluate their wellness and learn strategies to increase their ability to stay healthy while teaching with compassion.

Speakers

Nancy Luyckfassel

Associate Coordinator, Professional Development, The Alberta Teachers Association

Saturday December 4, 2021 12:30pm - 1:30pm MST

Breakout Session II

12:30pm MST

Curriculum Report Findings—Where Things Are Going

On 2021 03 29 the Minister of Education presented the public of Alberta with a draft K–6 curriculum. The draft consisted of 8 subject areas across Kindergarten to Grade 6 including French First Language and Literature and French Immersion Language and Literature. Reaction from Albertans was swift and non-supportive. The Association undertook an analysis of the draft and provided a critique of it based on feedback from over 6,000 of its members. This presentation will provide a high level overview of the findings and a brief look at what we can expect next from the Minister.

Speakers

Mark Swanson

Coordinator, Professional Development, Alberta Teachers' Association

Saturday December 4, 2021 12:30pm - 1:30pm MST

Breakout Session II

12:30pm MST

Reinforcing Learning with Retrieval Practice (TQS Competencies 2 and 3)

It can be very frustrating for teachers when students forget so much of what has been taught. Retrieval practice has been proven through decades of research as one of the most effective strategies to make learning ‘stick’ so learners of all ages can use it to solve problems, think critically and creatively, and develop other competencies. In this session, participants will learn why retrieval practice is so effective, and numerous retrieval practice activities and resources will be shared.

Speakers

Danny Maas

Executive Staff Officer, Alberta Teachers' Association

Danny Maas is an Executive Staff Officer with The Alberta Teachers' Association in the Professional Development program area. He was previously the Manager of Educational Technology with Edmonton Catholic School Division and has supported teacher professional development for the past... Read More →

Saturday December 4, 2021 12:30pm - 1:30pm MST

Breakout Session II

12:30pm MST

Teaching through the Pandemic and Beyond

This presentation is for teachers and administrators. We will discuss the repercussions in education that have surfaced from the COVID-19 pandemic. After exploring the issues that have arisen, we will then discuss the question: Where do we go from here? The areas affected by the pandemic relate to legislation, government decisions, school division decisions and teachers’ personal practices. There has been an enormous impact on teaching practice as well as our own personal care requirements. This important piece of history has made profound impacts on all of us, and now how we move forward becomes critical.

Speakers

Kristine Wilkinson

Executive Staff Officer, Government, Alberta Teachers' Association

Kristine Wilkinson joined the Association’s executive staff in 2021. She holds an Advanced Labour Relations Certificate from Queen’s University, an Education degree from Concordia University and a Masters in Educational Psychology (School Counselling) from the University of... Read More →

Saturday December 4, 2021 12:30pm - 1:30pm MST

Breakout Session II

1:44pm MST

PD Regional Meetings (Select your specific meeting below based on your Local. A list of Locals in each region can be viewed by clicking on the meeting.)

Each PD Regional Meeting contains a list of the Locals included in the session descriptions. Please select the Regional Meeting appropriate to your Local.

Saturday December 4, 2021 1:44pm - 1:59pm MST

PD Regional Meeting

1:45pm MST

PD Region A Meeting

Fort Vermilion Local 77
Grande Prairie and District Catholic Teachers Local 42
Greater Peace Local 13
High Prairie Local 62
Northern Spirit Local 6
Northland Local 69
Trumpeter Local 26

Speakers

Danny Maas

Executive Staff Officer, Alberta Teachers' Association

Saturday December 4, 2021 1:45pm - 3:00pm MST

PD Regional Meeting

1:45pm MST

PD Region B Meeting

Aspen View Local 7
Evergreen Local 11
Greater St Paul Local 25
Lakeland Catholic Separate Local 30
Northern Gateway Local 43
Northern Lights Local 15
Park Plains East Local 31
Pembina Hills Local 22
Woodland Rivers Local 40

Speakers

Melissa Purcell

Executive Staff Officer, Indigenous Education, Professional Development, Alberta Teachers' Association

Saturday December 4, 2021 1:45pm - 3:00pm MST

PD Regional Meeting

1:45pm MST

PD Region C Meeting

Black Gold Teachers’ Local 8
Edmonton Catholic Teachers Local 54
Edmonton Public Teachers Local 37
Elk Island Catholic Teachers Local 21
Elk Island Local 28
Evergreen Catholic Local 44
Fort McMurray Local 48
Greater St Albert Catholic Local 23
Parkland Teachers’ Local 10
St Albert Public Teachers Local 73
St Thomas Aquinas Local 45 (STAR)
Sturgeon Local 27

Speakers

Jeff Johnson

Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development, The Alberta Teachers' Association

Saturday December 4, 2021 1:45pm - 3:00pm MST

PD Regional Meeting

1:45pm MST

PD Region D Meeting

Battle River Local 32
Chinook’s Edge Local 17
Clearview Teachers Local 33
Red Deer Catholic Local 80
Red Deer City Local 60
Timberline Local 9
Wetaskiwin Local 18
Wolf Creek Local 3

Speakers

Nancy Luyckfassel

Associate Coordinator, Professional Development, The Alberta Teachers Association

Saturday December 4, 2021 1:45pm - 3:00pm MST

PD Regional Meeting

1:45pm MST

PD Region E Meeting

Calgary Public Teachers Local 38
Calgary Separate School Local 55
Canadian Rockies Local 59
Christ the Redeemer Local 29
Foothills Local 16
Prairieland Local 36
Rocky View Local 35
Three Drums of Wheat Local 20

Speakers

Chris Gonsalvez

Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development, Alberta Teachers' Association

Saturday December 4, 2021 1:45pm - 3:00pm MST

PD Regional Meeting

1:45pm MST

PD Region F Meeting

Grasslands Local 34
Holy Spirit Catholic Local 5
Horizon Local 4
Lethbridge Public School Local 41
Livingstone Range Local 14
Medicine Hat Catholic Teachers Local 39
Medicine Hat Local 1
Palliser Local 19
Prairie Rose Local 2
Westwind Local 12

Speakers