Highlights in This Issue

Volume 10, Number 2 Winter 2010

PD-97 2010 01

• BuildingaCommunityofPractice................... 1

• BetweentheStacks—Teachers in

Professional Communities: Improving Teaching and Learning.......... 2

• ReflectionsonFallPDAC........................... 3

• YourAssociationNeedsYou—ApplytoBecomeanAssociationInstructor!.................. 4

• InYourNeighbourhood—CollaborativePDin

RedDeerCatholicSchools.................... 5

• PDSurveyNewsandReminder.............. 6

• UpcomingEvents........ 6

• SpecialistCouncilProfile—Global,Environmental

&OutdoorEducationCouncil.................... 7

• Links........................... 7

• BreakingNews:RevisedCurriculumSchedule...................... 8

• ResourcesandProfessionalDevelopmentat2Learn.ca................. 8

• Noussommesàl’écoute!..................... 10

Editorial

Whatdowecurrentlyknowaboutadultlearning?Surprisingly,quitealot!IttookGooglejust0.24secondstocome

upwithalistofover40,600,000hitsonthetopic.Adultlearningisattheheartofteachersbuildingcommunitiesofpractice.

ThefourthandlastleadershipgoalforPDleadersistofacilitatebroad-based,skilfulparticipationintheplanningandimplementationofeffective,collaborative,ongoingprofessionaldevelopment.Thefocusneedstobeonsupportingteacherleadersinbuilding,facilitatingandmoderatingcommunities/networksofpractice.

Thefieldofadultlearning,pioneeredbyMalcolmKnowles,ischaracterizedbysixcriticalfeaturesthatarekeytobuildinglivelyandlastingcommunitiesofpractice.Considerthefollowing:

• Adultsarehighlyautonomousandself-directed.

• Adultshaveafoundationoflifeexperiencesandknowledge.

• Adultsaregoal-orientedandtheyknowwhattheywanttoattainoraccomplish.

• Adultswantthelearningtoberelevant.

• Adultsarepractical.• Adultsneedandwanttobeshown

respect.

Perhapsalessknownbutincreasinglycriticalfactorinsuccessfuladultlearningissocialrelationships.Theopportunitytoconnectwithothersandtobuildassociationsandfriendshipsisnecessarytosustainanethosoflearning.Therecentgrowthandinterestindevelopinglearningcommunitiesisevidenceofthistrend.

Whetherfacetoface,insmallgroupsbothinsideandoutsideofschools,orinvirtualonlinecommunities,theneedtoengageininteractive,generative,collectiveandparticipatorylearningexperiencesunderscorestheimportanceoflearningasasocialactivity.

Learningcommunitiesareinterestingplaceswheredistributedformsofleadershipisacentralorganizingfeature.Theyareplaceswherelearnersaredrawntogetherbecauseofasharedcommitmenttotheirdisciplineandstudents(values)andadesiretoimproveteachingandlearning(vision)inaplacewheremultipletypesoflearningareaccepted,encouragedandnurtured

Building a Community of PracticeMichael Podlosky, Coordinator, Professional Development

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(creativity).Learningcommunitiesareplaceswherelearnersaresupportedthroughtime,money,resources,respectandahighdegreeoftrust.Thesuccessofacommunityofpracticeisbasedontheextenttowhichitsmembersarewillingtosharetheirknowledge,experienceand

expertise,aswellastheirfrustrationsandconcerns.

Howcanyoupromoteorsupportthecreationofengagingandlivelylearningcommunities?

Teachers in Professional Communities: Improving Teaching and LearningEdited by Ann Lieberman and Lynne MillerTeachers College Press, 2008

Reviewed by Joni Turville, Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development

Confusionaboutwhatdefinesaprofessionallearningcommunity(PLC)aboundsandoccasionallyleadstobacklashforusersofPLCterminology.InTeachers in Professional Communities: Improving Teaching and Learning,AnnLiebermanandLynneMiller,throughtheirmanyyearsofresearchandlivedexperiencesinschools,examineselectedresearchstudies,personalreflectionsandcasestudiestouncoverinsightsaboutprofessionallearningcommunitiesandhelp

readersunderstandapositiveframeworkforPLCs.

TheauthorsdefinePLCsas“ongoinggroupsofteacherswhomeetregularlyforthepurposeofincreasingtheirownlearningandthatoftheirstudents”(p 2).Thebookisdividedintotwoparts:“LearningfromResearchandDevelopment”(essays)and“LearningfromPracticeandReflection”(casestudies).Contributingauthorshavedifferentexperiences,butsimilarthemesemerge,suchastheimportanceofidentities.Theystressthat“thereisnosuchthingasinstantcommunity”andthatittakestimetodevelopeffectivewaystoworktogether(p12).Eventhoughtherearesome“instantfix”typeprograms,thereisnoonepaththatmustbefollowedforeffectivecollaboration.Teachers’contextsarejusttoodifferenttobeabletothinkofPLCsinasimplisticmanner.

Severalessaysfocusontheimportanceofmovingfromcollegialtohonestconversation,whereteacherstaketheirpracticefromprivatetopublic.Thecontributorsalsoemphasizethefactthatthiskindoftalkisriskyandcancauseconflict,butitissomethingthatwillbringgrowthtothegroupanditsmembers.ThecasestudiesrangefromPLCsinteacherpreparationprogramstoPLCsthatusenewtechnologies.Thissectionprovidesfascinatingnarrativesfromthefield.

Teachers in Professional Communitieswouldbeanexcellentresourceforaprofessionallibraryorasabookstudyforindividualteams.

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Reflections on Fall PDAC with Dr Dennis Shirley, Coauthor of The Fourth Way

Gaylene Schreiber, Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development

TheProfessionalDevelopmentAreaConference(PDAC)thispastNovemberhaslongsincepassed,and

yetIstillfindmyselfrecallingwithdeeppleasureourvisitwithDrDennisShirley,coauthor(withAndyHargreaves)ofThe Fourth Way(Corwin,2009).Iambothconcernedandtentativelyheartenedbythenotionthatheandhiscolleaguesfindmuchinoursituationtoexamine—concernedbecauseIthinkwearepossiblyatapointinAlbertawherecrucialdecisionsmaybeconsideredbypolicy-makerswithoutfullinformation,heartenedbecauseIbelievethattheworkofscholarssuchasDennisShirleygivesusanopportunitytoconsiderthismomentcarefullyandshapeourresponseinaproactivefashion.IfindmyselfreconsideringtheAlbertaeducationalcontextasaresultofhavingheardhisperspectives.

Inhisintroductorycomments,DrShirleyremindedparticipantsthatteachingisavocationandnotedthatvocationhasrootsintheLatinwordvocare(“tocall”).Interestingly,thedictionarynotesthattheLatinvox,meaning“voice,”isalsoarelatedword.Asteachers,manyofusexperienceacallingtotheprofession,andperhapspartofthiscallingistogivevoicetothosewhodon’thaveone.IwasstruckdeeplywhenhecomparedtheAssociation’sRealLearningFirstinitiativetoThe Fourth Way,becausebothrequire“lookingatdata,

butalsolookingatchildrenandlookingwithin.”Hesuggestedthatsubstantialbenefitsresultwhen“values,ratherthanmeasurements,driveinitiativesandefforts,”andIfindmyselfwonderingaboutbalancewithmyownstudentsatthistimelastyear.DidIallowmyawarenessofimpendingprovincialachievementtestsanddiplomaexamstoshapemyteaching,andmystudents’experiencesinmyclass,morethanwasnecessary?IsupposeIhavebeendoingsomeofmyownlookingwithin.

DrShirleyalsonotedthat“aresilientprofessionresultswhenyouhaveaclearvision,amoralvisionandanetworkofsupportivepartnerships.”PDACseemedtosupportanetworkoflikeminds.Fromthefacilitatedlargegroupconversationsandbreakoutskillssessiontotheclosingregionalmeetings,thereseemedtobeasenseofconstructiveurgency—adesiretoconnect,converseandgrappletogetherwithissuessurroundingthechanginglandscapeineducation.InThe Fourth Way,HargreavesandShirleynotethatthefourthway“bringstogethergovernmentpolicy,professionalinvolvement,andpublicengagementaroundaninspiringsocialandeducationalvisionofprosperity,opportunity,andcreativityinaworldofgreaterinclusiveness,securityandhumanity”(p71).AtPDAC,acommonthreadrunningthroughourconversationsreflectedthisaswefocusedonpurposeandcoherenceinourprofessionalism.Iamleftinspiredbythepossibilitiesandgratefulforthecommitmentandcontributionsofourprofessionaldevelopmentleadersacrosstheprovince.Definitelyaworthwhilewaytospendaweekend!

Reminder: Spring PDAC, 2010 04 23(eve)–24

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Your Association Needs You—Apply to Become an Association Instructor!Associationinstructorsfacilitateavarietyofworkshopsforschool-anddistrict-basedPDevents,forteachers’conventionsandforspecialistcouncilconferences.Weareseekingoutstandingclassroomteachersrepresentingallgradelevelsandsubjectareasfromacrosstheprovince.WeencourageteacherswhoareproficientinFrench,thosewhoself-identifyasFirstNations,MétisandInuit(FNMI),andthosewhospecializeinspecialeducation,counsellingandadministrationtoapply.Thethree-yearappointmentsfortheseassignmentswillbegininAugust2010.

Inyourapplication,pleaseprovidethefollowinginformation:

1.Professionalexperience:subject,grades,teachingexperience2.Areasofinterestandexpertise:assessment,brainresearch,classroommanagement,

conflictresolution,dealingwithbullying,diversity,FNMIeducation,globaleducation,specialeducation,studentmotivation,technology,wellnessorothers

3.Professionaldevelopmentleadershipexperiences4.Reasonsforapplying5.Namesoftwoprofessionalreferences6.Languagecapability:EnglishorFrench,bothorother(pleasespecify)

Successfulcandidatesareexpectedtodeliverbetween7and10workshopsperyearandmustattendtwotrainingsessionsperyear.InitialtrainingfornewinstructorswilloccuratSummerConference(attendanceatSummerConferenceisrequiredforallnewinstructors).SummerConferenceisAugust9–13,2010,inBanff.TheAssociationcoversreleasetime,associatedexpensesandanhonorarium.PleasedonotapplyifyouareunabletoattendalldaysofSummerConference,orcannotcommittoattendingalltrainingsessions.

Asacourtesy,pleaseadviseyoursuperintendentandprincipalthatyouwillbeapplyingpriortodoingso.AllapplicantsmustbeactiveorassociatemembersoftheATAandholdanAlbertateachingcertificate.

PleasesendaletterofapplicationtoJoniTurville,ExecutiveStaffOfficer,ProfessionalDevelopment,TheAlbertaTeachers’Association,11010142Street,Edmonton,ABT5N2R1ore-mailjoni.turville@ata.ab.ca.

ThedeadlineforapplicationisJanuary25,2009.Formoreinformation,pleasevisitwww.teachers.ab.ca.

In making application to become an association instructor for the Alberta Teachers’ Association, you are voluntarily providing your personal information to the ATA. Visit the ATA website for more information.

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In Your Neighbourhood

Collaborative PD in Red Deer Catholic SchoolsChris McCullough

ProfessionaldevelopmentinRedDeerCatholicschoolscanbesummedupinoneword:collaborative.TheRedDeerCatholicLocalNo80andRedDeerCatholicRegionalSchoolsplanprofessionaldevelopmentthroughacollaborativemodelwherebythelocal’sPDchair(ChrisMcCullough)andthedistrict’sassociatesuperintendentoflearningservices(Dr LynneParadis)cochairtheprofessionaldevelopmentcommitteeforthelocal/division.AdhocmembersofthecommitteeincludeATAlocalpresidentLeoRicher,ATAstaffofficerAndreaBergandCARC(CentralAlbertaRegionalConsortium)executivedirectorDonnaMcRae.ThisbroadspectrumofstakeholdersrepresentsthediverseneedsofteacherPD.

Theprofessionaldevelopmentcommitteemeetsapproximatelyfivetimesperyear.Thesemeetingsareheldduringtheday,withthelocalandthedivisionsharingcosts.Committeemembersarechosenfromeachschoolbytheschoolstaff,inthesamewayCouncilofSchoolRepresentativesmembersarechosenforATAlocalmeetings.SchoolrepresentativesonthejointPDcommitteeserveaskeyliaisonstoeachschool’slocalPDcommittee,andinconjunctionwiththeschool-basedadministrationteamcreateaPDplanattheschoollevel.Inanutshell,PDcommitteemembersfacilitatetheprofessionaldevelopmentneedsandwantsattheirindividualschools.

TheATAlocalPDchairandtheassociatesuperintendentoflearningservicesserveasresourcepeopleforcommitteemembers,assistingschoolswiththeirprofessionaldevelopmentplans.CommitteemembersmeettheneedsoftheirteachersatthedivisionandschoollevelsbyusingdatatomakeinformeddecisionsaroundPDplans.ThiscommitteealsoworkstogethertoplantheATAProfessionalDevelopmentDayscheduledinthedivisioneachyear.TeachersinRedDeerCatholicRegionalSchoolssupportweeklyembeddedPD,andcommitteemembersworkattheschoolleveltoplanandimplementeffectivePD.

Whenprofessionaldevelopmentgoals,needsandplansarelinked,itisimportanttohaveastrongvoice,andRedDeerCatholicLocalNo80andRedDeerCatholicRegionalSchoolsworktogethertoachievetheirprofessionaldevelopmentgoals.

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PD Survey News and ReminderGaylene Schreiber, Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development

TheAlbertaTeachers’AssociationcontinuesitsannualsurveyofresourcesandissuesregardingPDintheATAProfessionalDevelopmentSurvey.Thesurveywillprovideprofessionaldevelopmentleaderswithessentialinformationtouseinplanningandadvocacyactivities.LocalPDchairsreceivedinformationpackagesattheFallProfessionalDevelopmentAreaConference(PDAC)inNovember.Packagesweremailedtothosechairsunabletoattend.

Part1,whichtrackstimeandmoneyallocationsforprofessionaldevelopment,continuesinchartformasinpreviousyears.Thisyear,localEconomicPolicyCommitteechairswereaskedtocollaboratewithlocalPDchairsinretrievingthisinformationthroughaninformationpackagemailedonNovember30.

Inresponsetomemberrequests,Part2recentlymadeitsdebutasanonlinedocument.OnDecember5,localPDchairsreceivedane-mailwithalinktothedocument.BothsurveyinstrumentsshouldbecompletedandsubmittedbylocalPDchairsbyFebruary 15forinclusioninthisyear’sreport.

LocalPDchairsareencouragedtocontacttheirregionalfacilitatororthestaffofficerassignedtotheirregionforanyassistanceincompletingeithersectionofthesurvey.IndividualcontactinformationisavailablethroughthePDBulletinorontheprofessionaldevelopmentcollaborativewebsiteorbye-mailingpd@ata.ab.ca.

Remember: The deadline to submit

your ATA PD Survey is February 15, 2010.

Upcoming EventsJanuary28 GlobalCitizenshipConference31–Feb3 WesternStaffDevelopment

Conference:Winnipeg

February4–5 CentralAlbertaandNorth

CentralTeachers’Conventions11–12 CalgaryCityandNortheast

Teachers’Conventions18–19 PalliserDistrict,SouthWestern

AlbertaandSoutheasternAlbertaTeachers’Conventions

25–26 GreaterEdmontonTeachers’Convention

March4–5 CentralEastAlbertaTeachers’

Convention12–14 EducationalTechnology

CouncilConference19–21 FirstNations,MétisandInuit

EducationCouncilConference25–26 MightyPeaceTeachers’

Convention

April16–18 MiddleYearsCouncil

Conference19–22 HealthyInteractionsFacilitator

TrainingWorkshop22 PDFacilitators’SpringMeeting ConventionAssociationMeeting23–24 SpringProfessional

DevelopmentAreaConference(PDAC)

23–25 CareerandTechnologyStudiesCouncilConference

29–May2 AlbertaSchoolLibraryCouncilConference

30–May2 HealthandPhysicalEducationCouncilConference

EnglishLanguageArtsCouncilConference

May6–8 Global,Environmentaland

OutdoorEducationCouncilConference

Edmonton Catholic has revised its spring break to coincide with Edmonton Public’s spring break, scheduled for March 29 to April 5, 2010.

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Specialist Council Profile

Global, Environmental & Outdoor Education Council

Sharon Vogrinetz, Coordinator, Teacher Welfare

Wherecanyouparticipateinasweatlodge,learnhowtowalklikeawolf,raftdowntheBowRiveranddancethenightawaytoagreatband?AttheGlobal,Environmental&OutdoorEducationCouncil(GEOEC)conference!

GEOECmemberscomefromallgradesandsubjectlevels.ThegoalofGEOECistohelpteachersembedenvironmentalandglobalawarenessintotheirteachingpractice.Theskillsandresourcesavailablereachacrossallgradesandcovermanycurriculumareas.VisittheGEOEC

website(www.geoec.org)forgreatactivitiesandresourceslike“FiveMinuteFieldTrips.”Thisguidebookprovidesamyriadofindoorandoutdooractivitiesthatcanhappenintheschoolandschoolyardwithaminimumofcost.DivisionsI,IIandIIIteacherswillfindmanyactivitiesacrossthesocialstudies,scienceandlanguageartscurriculaonthefreeposter“TeachYourCurriculumUsingEnvironmentalThemes,”alongwithunitplansavailableonthewebsite.

Thisyear,GEOECishostingajointconferencewiththeAlbertaCouncilforEnvironmentalEducationandtheCanadianCommissionforUNESCOSchools,alongwithseveralotherareagroups.KeynotespeakersincludeCraigKielburger,ChrisTurnerandGeoffGreen.MarkyourcalendarandplantoattendtheconferenceinCanmoreMay6–8.Gotowww.geoec.orgforregistrationinformationandgreatcurriculumresources.

Linkswww.geoec.org

www.education.alberta.ca/teachers.aspx

www.education.alberta.ca/francais/admin/franco.aspx

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2Learn.caisaportaltoeducationalresourcesthatsupporttechnology-enrichedlearning,atooltohelpeducatorsandstudentsfindthoseelusiveInternetgems.Thesiteson2Learn.caareselectedbyteachersandapprovedbyateamlibrarian,andthenorganizedbysubjectanddivision.

2Learn.cahasfourgreatsitesaimeddirectlyatstudents.Thesefoursitesarefilledwithinteractiveactivitiesandwhiteboardresourcesthatarerelevanttocurriculum.ABC@2Learn.caiscreatedforstudentsfromKindergartentoGrade2,withlinksthattakethemdirectlytoonlineinteractivessortedbysubjectareaandtopic.KidsLove2Learn.caisforstudentsinGrades3–6,2Learn.caforTeensisforGrades7–9

andSeniorHighSource,currentlybeingupdatedwithfantasticnewinteractives,isforstudentsinGrades10–12.

VisitGateways2Learningtofind11multimedia-richsites,eachfocusingonadifferenttopic(suchasCanada’sfirstpeoples,robotics,agriculture,dinosaurs,theenvironment).Thesesiteshavestudentandteacherprintables,linkstogreatonlineresources,Web2.0toolsandwhiteboardinteractives.Theimagegallerieshavecopyright-freeimagesthatteachersandstudentscanuseinprojectsandintheclassroom.

’NetKnow-Howisaresourcecreatedforstudents,teachersandparents.Thissiteexploresvariousissuesassociated

Resources and Professional Development at 2Learn.caBruce McGillvary, 2Learn.ca Provincial Team, 2Learn.ca Education Society

SubjectArea OriginalImplementationDates

RevisedImplementationDates

K–12 Arts EducationK–6 2012/13 2014/157–9 2013/14 2015/1610–12 2014/15 2016/17K–6 Science

K–3 2013/14 2015/164–6 2014/15 2016/17Wellness-Related Programs of StudyCareerandLifeManagement 2012/13 2014/15K–9HealthandLifeSkills 2013/14 2015/16PhysicalEducation10–20–30 2012/13 2014/15K–9PhysicalEducation 2013/14 2015/16Social Sciences 2011/12 2013/14Latin 10–20–30 2013/14 2015/16

Breaking News: Revised Curriculum ScheduleThedatesfortheimplementationoffiveareasofcurriculumhavebeenrevisedasofDecember1,2009.ThedecisiontoadjustthedateswasbasedonstakeholderfeedbackduringAlbertaEducation’svaluereview,priority-settingandcurriculumredesignproject,whichisinitsearlystages.TheEnglishandFrenchrevisedImplementation Schedule for Programs of Study and Related Activities 2009–2010andtheaccompanyingQuick Reference Provincial Implementation Dates (2008–2009)arenowpostedatwww.education.alberta.ca/teachers.aspx(English)andwww.education.alberta.ca/francais/admin/franco.aspx(French).

Thefollowingareaswillseeatwo-yeardelayinprovincialimplementation:

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withdigitalcitizenship:Internetsafety,cyberbullying,plagiarismandcopyright.Thereareactivities,guidesandlinkstogreatonlineresources.

ForthoseinvolvedinFrencheducation,thereisPourApprendre.WhilethisisnotasextensiveastheEnglishresources,studentsandeducatorscansearchforFrenchsitesinthedatabaseofover5,000sites(Recherche)andaccessholiday(s’amuser)andhottopic(editionsspecials)pages,filledwithlinkstoFrenchresources.

TheVCRLNsitesupportsthosewhohaveaccesstovideo-conferencing(VC)equipment.Resources,PDopportunitiesandstudentengagementsessionsviaVCareincluded.Over200VCevents,includingcontentprovidersessions,class-to-classcollaborationsandprovincialevents,arescheduledforthe2009/10schoolyear.

2Learn2Gether.caisAlberta’sfirsteducatornetworkingsite.The2Learn.caEducationSocietyisprovidingthisservicesothatteacherscanparticipateingroupforums,

blog,shareresourcesandconnectwithotherlike-mindededucatorsacrosstheprovince.Thisisasecureenvironment,wherepersonalinformationisprivate(unlikeothersocialnetworkingsites)andresourcesaresharedlocally.SomeATAspecialistcouncils,liketheCareerandTechnologyStudies(CTS)Council,arecurrentlyusingtheservice.Itisopentoalleducatorsandeducationalorganizationsintheprovince.

The2Learn.caEducationSocietyisanalliancesupportedbyAlbertaEducation,theAlbertaTeachers’Association,theCollegeofAlbertaSchoolSuperintendentsandtheUniversityofAlberta’sFacultyofEducation.Themissionofthe2Learn.caEducationSocietyistoinitiate,advocateandsharewitheducatorstechnology-enrichedteaching,learningandleadershipoptionsfortomorrow,empoweredbyuniqueallianceswitheducationalandcommunitypartners.

Formoreinformation,visitwww.2Learn.caorcontactusdirectlyat780-467-0380.

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Françoise Ruban, Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development

Bonneetheureuseannéeàtous!

Lanouvelleannées’annoncetrèsbonneausecteurdu

perfectionnementprofessionnelencequiatraitauxservicesenfrançaisdel’AlbertaTeachers’Association.C’estavecgrandplaisirquejevousprésentedeuxnouvellesfacilitatricesdelanguefrançaise :MmeMoniqueGraveletMmeSuzieChambersquiviennentdes’ajouterànotrebelleéquipede « FacilitatorCorps ».Ellesm’épaulerontdansdiversesinitiativesetdossiersquivontcontribueràl’expansiondesservicesenfrançaisoffertsparl’ATA.

Ellesn’ontpasquittépourautantleursresponsabilitésprofessionnellesd’enseignantes.Ellesontsimplementétéinvitéesàpartagerleurexpertiseetexpérienceavecnosmembresdelanguefrançaise.Voicici-dessousunpeuplusderenseignementsàleursujet :

Monique Lamoureux Gravel

JetravailledepuismaintenantquinzeanspourleConseilscolaireCentre-Nord.Audébut,j’enseignaisl’anglaisetl’éducationphysiqueàl’ÉcoleMaurice-Lavalléeetàl’ÉcoleCitadelle.Ces

deuxdernièresannées,j’occupelesfonctionsdeConseillèreenorientationàl’ÉcoleMaurice-Lavallée.Mesexpériencesprofessionnellesincluent,entreautres,unbrefséjourauministèredel’ÉducationcommeAdministratricedesprogrammesde« bienêtre »,ainsiqueleposted’AssociéeauBureaudelapratiqueduCampusSaint-Jean,quej’aioccupéluipendanttroisans.

Lesprojetsetactivitésliésàl’enseignementauxquelsj’aiparticipéàtitrebénévole,quecesoitavecmonassociationprofessionnelle,l’ATA,oudansla

Nous sommes à l’écoute!

communautéfrancophone,m’onttoujoursparticulièrementtenuàcœur :parexemple,j’aiété,pendantneufanslaconseillèreéconomiquedel’Unitélocalefrancophone;j’aiégalementeuleprivilègedesiégeraucomitédepolitiqueéconomiqueentantqu’agentedesnégociations.

Depuismoninscriptionauprogrammedemaîtriseensciencesdel’éducation,leperfectionnementprofessionneljouepourmoiunrôleencoreplusimportant.C’estdoncavecplaisirquej’acceptelesresponsabilitésdeFacilitatricedeperfectionnementprofessionnelpourl’ATA.

Suzie Chambers

J’enseigneenAlbertadepuis23ans.MacarrièreadébutéàFortMcMurrayetsepoursuitprésentementàLethbridge.J’aieuleprivilèged’enseigner« danslesdeuxsystèmes » etàtousles

niveaux,c’estàdireenécolefrancophoneetenprogrammed’immersionfrançaisedelamaternelleàladouzièmeannée.Cescinqdernièresannées,jepartagemontempsentremesresponsabilitésd’enseignanteetlesoutienauxenseignantsdefrançaislangueseconde.Encemoment,parexemple,jesuismembreducomitéconsultatifministériel « FrenchImmersionProvincialAdvisoryCommittee ».

Avecl’AlbertaTeachers’Associationj’aiprincipalementtravailléàélaborerdesplansdecroissanceprofessionnelle,àoffrirdessessionsdeperfectionnementpédagogique,etànouerledialogueentrelesdifférentsintervenantsenéducationdemasectionlocale.J’apprécieénormémentl’occasionquim’estoffertedecollaboreràlaformationcontinuedemescollèguesentantquefacilitatricedeperfectionnementprofessionnelpourl’ATA.

Autresnouvelles:

LecongrèsannuelduConseilFrançaiss’estdérouléauSherwoodParkCoastHotelles19,20et21novembredernier.Plusde110participantssesontrassembléspours’informer,seperfectionner,renouvelerdesamitiésetsedivertirenfrançais.

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M.JohnRaulstonSaul,auteurderenomméeinternationaleetMmeClaudetteTardif,sénatrice,furentparmilesinvitésdemarqueaucongrès.Lorsdudînerdel’Assembléegénérale,MmeTardifdécernaleprix‘ClaudetteTardif2009’àMmeLorraineRobinson,assistanteaudirecteurgénéralduConseilfrancophonecatholiqueduSud.Depuisplusde25ans,MmeRobinsonœuvredanslesécolesfrancophonesetpoursuitsoncheminavecentrain,énergieetenthousiasmeavecl’objectifdepromouvoirlefrançaisenmilieuéducatif.Sondévouementetsonimplicationauniveauprovincialetnationalestsansreproche.

Jesuisaussiheureusedevousinformerqu’undeuxièmeprixd’excellenceaétédécernéàMmeRenéeMichaudquipartagesasagessepédagogiqueenmathématiquesavecplusieursenseignantsetenseignantesdepuissonentréeenfonctionauConsortiumfrancophoneen2007.

Toujourssourianteetlesyeuxpétillantsdejoiedevivre,MmeMichaudnemanquejamaisuneoccasionderireoudefairerire.Énergétique,informée,infatigableetdévouéeMmeMichaudselancedanscettenouvelleinitiativedeperfectionnementprofessionnelauprèsdenosenseignantsfrancophones.Bravo!

Félicitationsànosdeuxrécipiendaires!