It has been an incredibly challenging year, but we’ve learned important lessons about who we are as teachers and as people. We are in this together, and your Association is here for you. #WEAREATA
What have we heard from teachers over the past year?
This has been an incredibly challenging year for teachers in Alberta. They have faced challenges with government resources and supports, have dealt with an unpredictable teaching environment and moving between in-class and online instruction, and have helped support students coping with the impacts of the pandemic while trying to look after their own mental health. Teachers have shown how resilient they are.
As the 2020/21 school year draws to a close, here are the most important things we’ve heard from teachers over the past year and how the Association can help.
Teachers are struggling
Teachers have gone above and beyond over the past year to support their schools and their students. Unfortunately, this has come at the cost of their own mental, and sometimes physical, health, and many teachers and substitute teachers are finding it hard to cope. The association’s pandemic pulse research study has some worrying data about the state of teacher wellness.
If you feel this way, you are not alone. We have heard from teachers across the province who are feeling stretched, stressed, and burnt out. Some are even unsure about their future and whether they will be able to return to the classroom this fall.
Help is available. Although many teachers find it difficult to put themselves first, addressing your own wellness is essential to ensuring that you can continue to support your students, family, and community. Almost all Alberta teachers now have a combined health spending account (HSA) and wellness spending account (WSA).
The WSA provides many options—from athletic shoes to alternative healing therapies—to support your own wellness.
Teachers in Alberta and their dependants also have access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) as part of their group health benefits plan in their collective agreements. The EFAP provides access to confidential mental health supports for anyone struggling with career-, financial-, or family-related stress.
Finally, if you are considering your employment options for the fall, contact Teacher Employment Services (TES) to get advice and learn more about the supports available to you.
Substitute teachers must be supported
Substitute teachers are critical to our school system. These teachers assumed significant risk as they parachuted into classrooms in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. We need to make sure they have access to the mental health care and support they need.
Teachers are worried about the future of public education
In addition to the stress brought on by the pandemic, the past year has seen a number of additional challenges. Cuts to education through the provincial budget, a new funding model and changes to how pensions are managed have raised concerns about the state of public education in Alberta. Teachers are also concerned about their contracts, as the 2021/22 school year marks the beginning of another round of collective bargaining.
The collective bargaining process has three phases. In phase 1, list of all matters (LAM) bargaining, we determine which items will be discussed centrally and which items will be discussed at local bargaining tables. (We are currently in this phase.) In phase 2, central matters bargaining, we bargain the substance of the matters assigned to the central table, and in phase 3, local bargaining, the remaining items are bargained at each of the 61 local tables.
The Central Table Bargaining Committee (CTBC) at the Association, which is made up of five elected officials from Provincial Executive Council, and two members of staff, is here to represent teachers in these negotiations. CTBC bargains for teachers and takes its direction from teachers. Thus, it is critical to maintain an engaged and unified membership to support the work of CTBC at the table. We encourage you to contact your local Teacher Welfare Committee representative and to watch for information about how teachers can support the process. Stay updated on the status of bargaining through the Association website.
Thank you
Teaching is a complex and challenging profession, and many teachers are facing conflicts or predicaments that bring on uncertainty. You are not alone: TES is here to help. Considerable support is available to all members, whether you are a classroom teacher or an administrator. Even if you are unsure, please reach out to TES at any time.
On behalf of everyone at the Association, we sincerely thank all of you for doing such hard work, and we would like to offer some hope as the pandemic comes to an end. In addition to hearing from thousands of teachers, we have also heard from thousands of Albertans who are grateful for everything you do for your communities. They care about students as much as you do, and if we work together, we can ensure that Alberta continues to have a robust public education system.
We wish you a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable summer!