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WELCOME TO THE 2024 EDMONTON BEGINNING TEACHERS’ CONFERENCE!

Teachers new to the profession are invited to attend the 2024 Beginning Teachers’ Conference, September 20-21, Fantasyland Hotel, Edmonton. There is no registration fee. Space is limited; apply early.

School principals, school jurisdictions and local associations work together to provide substitute teacher coverage as per the collective agreement to facilitate the attendance of beginning teachers at the conference. Substitute teacher coverage must be organized and approved in advance. Please ensure you meet with your school principal to discuss release time and obtain the appropriate absence code to attend this conference.

Teachers in charter, federal and private schools must be associate members of the Association to be eligible to attend the Beginning Teachers Conference.

7:30am MDT

REGISTRATION

Friday September 20, 2024 7:30am - 8:45am MDT

Friday September 20, 2024 7:30am - 8:45am MDT
Ballroom D

Registration

7:45am MDT

BREAKFAST

Friday September 20, 2024 7:45am - 8:45am MDT

Friday September 20, 2024 7:45am - 8:45am MDT
Ballroom D

Meals and Breaks

9:00am MDT

CONFERENCE KICK OFF AND WELCOME

Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 9:15am MDT

Speakers

Nancy Luyckfassel

Coordinator, Professional Development, ATA

Nancy is a teacher, wanderer and wonderer, with 31 years of experience that includes: 7 schools, 4 towns, courses in grades K–12, roles as Assistant Principal and Principal and 8 years at the ATA. Nancy comes from a small farming community and that upbringing instilled in her values... Read More →

Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 9:15am MDT
Ballroom D

Pinned

9:05am MDT

WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT

Friday September 20, 2024 9:05am - 9:20am MDT

Speakers

Jason Schilling

President, ATA

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 →

Friday September 20, 2024 9:05am - 9:20am MDT
Ballroom D

Pinned

9:20am MDT

YOUR ASSOCIATION AND YOU: THINGS EVERY BEGINNING TEACHER SHOULD KNOW

Friday September 20, 2024 9:20am - 10:00am MDT

Please submit your questions at www.menti.com and use code 8870 1164. If your question isn't answered during this session, you can find the answer during the social question and answer time at 4 pm today or you can call 1-800-232-7208 and ask to speak to an ATA staff officer.

Panelists:

Professional Development – Nancy Luyckfassel
Teacher Employment Services – Genevieve Blais
Government – Dr. Elissa Corsi

Moderators

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 →

Speakers

Dr. Elissa Corsi

Associate Executive Secretary, Government, Alberta Teachers' Association

Dr. Elissa Corsi is one of two Associate Executive Secretaries for the Alberta Teachers' Association and is the Coordinator of the Association's Government Services program area. She worked as a teacher and administrator in Alberta schools, both in English and French Immersion, before... Read More →

Nancy Luyckfassel

Coordinator, Professional Development, ATA

Nancy is a teacher, wanderer and wonderer, with 31 years of experience that includes: 7 schools, 4 towns, courses in grades K–12, roles as Assistant Principal and Principal and 8 years at the ATA. Nancy comes from a small farming community and that upbringing instilled in her values... Read More →

Geneviève Blais

Associate Coordinator, Teacher Employment Services, The Alberta Teachers' Association

Geneviève joined the Association’s executive staff in the Teacher Welfare program area in 2015 and is now the associate coordinator in Teacher Employment Services based out of the Southern Alberta Regional Office (SARO). Teacher Employment Services assists teachers with professional... Read More →

Friday September 20, 2024 9:20am - 10:00am MDT
Ballroom D

Pinned

10:15am MDT

Artificial Intelligence Tools to Amplify Your Professionalism and Save Time (K–12)

Friday September 20, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am MDT

Ready to revolutionize your teaching? Join our workshop on AI tools that go beyond traditional lesson planning. Explore how generative AI can create personalized content, assessments, and more. We’ll guide you through a process that balances efficiency with creativity, ensuring you remain the architect of exceptional learning experiences. Plus, let’s delve into professional considerations—because AI is not just about algorithms; it’s about impact.

Speakers

Daniel W Maas

Acting Associate Coordinator, Professional Development

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 →

Friday September 20, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am MDT
Ballroom D

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I, Division II, Division III, Division IV

11:30am MDT

LUNCH

Friday September 20, 2024 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT

Friday September 20, 2024 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT
Ballroom D

Meals and Breaks

12:30pm MDT

Cost of Caring—How to Nurture Your Mental Emotional Health as a Beginning Teacher (K–12)

Friday September 20, 2024 12:30pm - 1:45pm MDT

This session will delve into the unique challenges faced by beginning teachers when they provide emotional labour to children and their school communities. Join this session to learn about and reflect on how the emotional investment required to support students can sometimes lead to mental and emotional distress, such as burnout or compassion fatigue. You will also be guided to reimagine wellness, not just as an individual pursuit but as a shared responsibility within the school community. Be prepared to chart a path toward sustainable well-being that benefits you, your colleagues, and your students.

Speakers

Lisa Everitt

Executive Staff Officer, Government

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 →

Friday September 20, 2024 12:30pm - 1:45pm MDT
Ballroom D

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I, Division II, Division III, Division IV | Teacher Wellness, Division I, Division II, Division III, Division IV

2:00pm MDT

Five Strategies to Flourish as an Early Career Teacher (K–12)

Friday September 20, 2024 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT

Starting your teaching journey can be both exciting and overwhelming. Join us in this engaging session designed specifically for Alberta teachers in their early years of professional practice. Discover five practical strategies that will help you navigate the challenges of workload, student behaviors, and mental well-being, while building a supportive professional network. Learn how mentorship, classroom management techniques, and relevant professional development can enhance your confidence and sustainability in the classroom. Whether you’re feeling uncertain or eager to grow, these actionable insights are designed to help you flourish as a beginning teacher.

Speakers

Philip McRae

Associate Coordinator, Research, The Alberta Teachers' Association

Dr. Philip McRae is Executive Staff Officer and Associate Coordinator, Government-Research with the Alberta Teachers’ Association and Adjunct Professor within the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta where he earned his Ph.D. Phil is the past winner of the Alberta Excellence... Read More →

Thelma Gunn

University of Lethbridge

Dr. Thelma Gunn joined the Faculty of Education in 2000 after completing her Ph.D. at the University of Saskatchewan that same year. Born and raised in Saskatoon, Thelma completed her K to 12 Education in Saskatoon as well as her undergraduate degrees at the U of S before teaching... Read More →

Friday September 20, 2024 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Ballroom D

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I, Division II, Division III, Division IV | Teacher Wellness, Division I, Division II, Division III, Division IV

3:30pm MDT

BARGAINING 101

Friday September 20, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm MDT

Attendance for GIA and additional prizes

Friday September 20, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm MDT
Ballroom D

Pinned

4:00pm MDT

SOCIAL—QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Friday September 20, 2024 4:00pm - 4:45pm MDT

Grab and Go Sessions, Social and Draw Prizes. Each table will have a QR to scan that links to key information on the website about the topic. As well, there will be sample copies of print resources which are available.

Friday September 20, 2024 4:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
Ballroom D

Q and A

8:00am MDT

NETWORKING BREAKFAST/DISPLAYS

Saturday September 21, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am MDT

Saturday September 21, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am MDT
Ballroom D

Meals and Breaks

9:00am MDT

Making Learning Meaningful—Hands-On Activities to Spark Creativity, Ignite Conversations and Promote Problem-Solving (K–12)

Saturday September 21, 2024 9:00am - 10:15am MDT

Join us for this engaging session as we delve into the world of meaningful, hands-on activities that will spark creativity, ignite conversations, and promote problem-solving skills. Be prepared to embark on a cross-curricular journey of discovery, armed with a wide array of practical resources and innovative ideas. Participants are guaranteed to leave the workshop with a collection of carefully curated activities and lessons that you can seamlessly integrate into your classroom, starting as early as Monday morning.

Speakers

Chris Gonsalvez

Executive Staff Officer, ATA

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 →

Saturday September 21, 2024 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Ballroom D

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I, Division II, Division III, Division IV

10:30am MDT

Improving Teaching and Learning Through Professional Growth Plans (K–12)

Saturday September 21, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am MDT

This session will provide teachers with an opportunity to reflect on their understanding of provincial legislation, policy and other requirements related to teacher professional growth, promote awareness of the effective components of a professional growth plan, and share materials and tools that can be accessed to assist in the development of those plans. The session will also address the implications for teacher evaluation and permanent certification.

Speakers

Nancy Luyckfassel

Coordinator, Professional Development, ATA

Nancy is a teacher, wanderer and wonderer, with 31 years of experience that includes: 7 schools, 4 towns, courses in grades K–12, roles as Assistant Principal and Principal and 8 years at the ATA. Nancy comes from a small farming community and that upbringing instilled in her values... Read More →

Saturday September 21, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
Ballroom D

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I, Division II, Division III, Division IV

11:45am MDT

LUNCH

Saturday September 21, 2024 11:45am - 1:00pm MDT

Saturday September 21, 2024 11:45am - 1:00pm MDT
Ballroom D

Meals and Breaks

1:00pm MDT

CLOSING AND PRIZES

Saturday September 21, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT

Speakers

Nancy Luyckfassel

Coordinator, Professional Development, ATA

Nancy is a teacher, wanderer and wonderer, with 31 years of experience that includes: 7 schools, 4 towns, courses in grades K–12, roles as Assistant Principal and Principal and 8 years at the ATA. Nancy comes from a small farming community and that upbringing instilled in her values... Read More →

Saturday September 21, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
Ballroom D

Closing and Prizes