The PSTA is currently looking for members to fill a few vacancies on our committees. Our Social Committee has been vacant for a few years and the PSTA Executive would like to appoint someone for this position. We also have two ad hoc committees that are open to all members: the LGBTQ Committee and the Teacher Wellness Committee. If you are interested in joining either of these committees, please contact Scott Woods-Fehr.
Announcements
2020 (Remote) General Assembly
Our first remote General Assembly from a technical standpoint was a success but we want to hear from you. Watch for a survey from our PD Committee to hear what you thought about the format and sessions offered.
We had hoped to offer videos of the afternoon presentations for members to view at a later date, but were unable to save and store copies of the presentations.
Women in Leadership – A McDowell Research Project
Two of our own PSTA Councillors, Amy Korver and Amy Orth have spent the last year researching the experience of female administrators in Saskatchewan. By interviewing female administrators in Prairie Spirit and Prairie South School Division, Korver and Orth were able to better understand the challenges these educational leaders in Saskatchewan face and provide recommendations to address the explicit and implicit gender discrimination from colleagues, parents and students. You can read more about their work in the September STF Bulletin and the read their report on our website when it is available.
STF Launches Member Support Centre
If you called the STF this September, you have hopefully noticed a more direct and prompt response to your questions as the STF launched the new Member Support Centre to address member concerns. After a 2018 survey found 36% of members identified a need to reduce response times and the number of transfers when calling with an inquiry, the federation began designing a more efficient system of case management and call tracking. After one of the five centre’s representatives collect some information they are now better equipped to connect you with the person best suited to address your questions. When you do have to wait on hold, you are now given the option of a call back.
LINC Update
Our current Local Agreement expired on Aug 31st, 2020, but will remain in place until we have negotiated and signed a new agreement. Unfortunately, our negations were put on hold with the closure of schools in Spring. With School Board Elections this November, it is likely negotiations will begin after Christmas break.
In addition to the surveys used last year to gather feedback about the current agreement, we want to learn more about how our members’ of the local agreement has been impacted by COVID and Return to School plans. The LINC team will be sending a short survey to SSLs every 2 weeks focused on one section or theme to gather feedback. We want to know how COVID has impacted prep time, supervision, and blended learning.
In the meantime, our LINC is collaborating with PSSD to review implementation of the agreement, identify areas that have been affected by COVID, and address issues that arise. If you have questions or comments related to the Local Agreement, please contact our LINC Chair, Brian Knowles, or PSTA President, Scott Woods-Fehr.
EDUCATION RE-IMAGINED
We’ve heard from people across Saskatchewan about the changes they think need to be made to the education system, and have worked to ensure that all voices are being included. Community engagement events have taken place across the province, and thousands have participated in our online survey. See what you had to say in the final report.
Introducing…..Concentus
In 2012, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission began an undertaking for the intentional teaching of the rights, duties and responsibilities of a citizen in local, provincial, national, and global communities, to students in the K to 12 school system. In 2016 this established project was restructured as Concentus Citizenship Education Foundation Inc., a CRA registered Canadian charity.
MADE FOR TEACHERS BY TEACHERS!
CONCENTUS provides teachers in PSSD access to an amazing collection of resources which directly relate to the Saskatchewan Social Studies Curriculum!