PSTA President Nominee Videos

Last week, the PSTA Exec developed three questions for PSTA president candidates. They were asked to submit videos addressing the following questions:

  1. How have you prepared for the role of president? How do you envision your role as president?  
  2. What are the current, most pressing needs of teachers in Prairie Spirit? What impact you do hope to have on the daily lives of teachers in Prairie Spirit?  
  3. Maintaining trust with the board and school division is a crucial part of the role of president, as is advocating for Prairie Spirit teachers. How might you maintain relationships when our interests diverge? 

Link for Chad Williams’ video
Link for Scott Woods-Fehr’s video

Nomination for PSTA President

CANDIDATE FOR PSTA PRESIDENT: Scott Woods-Fehr

Scott Woods-Fehr

My name is Scott Woods-Fehr and I am seeking your vote to represent you as PSTA President for another two years.

Two years ago, I submitted my nomination form for the position of PSTA President. After serving as an STF Councillor on the PSTA Executive for 11 years, I felt I had a good understanding of the role of President and I was ready to apply my experience and skills in a new challenging position. With the support of a strong PSTA Executive and my previous experience, I was excited and prepared to represent Prairie Spirit teachers. And then the COVID pandemic changed everything. Previous questions and requests for support around professional and assigned time, prep time, and leaves were ongoing but suddenly a large portion of requests for support focused on new concerns like blended learning, quarantine leave, safety measures, and vaccination policies.

The PSTA Executive has had many successes in the past two years as we transitioned our General Assembly, Executive and Representative Meetings and elections online. And my tech skills and passion for technology have been assets. I have made the operations of the PSTA more efficient with tech features to increase quality of communication and overall transparency including online claim forms and email money transfers to reimburse members and transparent with an updated website where I have posted our governance documents to make them more easily accessible to PSTA members.

Since my term began in July 2020, I have developed a deeper understanding and appreciation for collaboration between the PSTA and PSSD leaders. I am reminded that the only way the PSTA can accomplish our goals and support teachers is through positive collaboration with our Senior Administrative Staff in the division office. When it was apparent teachers would not be using personal leave days for trips and family obligations, I had the opportunity to work with Superintendent of Human Resources, Jon Yellowlees to develop a Memorandum of Understanding to allow teachers to carryover an additional 2 personal leave days to the next year. The number of days a teacher can carryover is outlined in our LINC Agreement so it was an area we have a shared voice with the Division in the direction and implementation of our Agreement. There have also been times when a decision is outside of the responsibilities of the PSTA and we need to lean on the strength of our positive relationship with Prairie Spirit Administrative Staff and the Prairie Spirit School Board.

I have learned that sometimes even with a positive collaborative relationship, the PSTA is unable to do more than investigate, understand the rationale and share the concerns of teachers we represent. The sudden introduction of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation led to a school calendar change to include an unanticipated holiday where requirements for assigned time and instructional time left few options to address the calendar change. The division had to move a day-in-lieu from this spring to accommodate the new holiday and understandably, many teachers were unhappy with the decision. I did my best to help concerned teachers understand the complexities surrounding calendar development. And I shared concerns of teachers with our Director of Education and Human Resources Superintendent so they understood the impact this change had on teachers and how significant the loss of a day-in-lieu after evenings of interviews is to teachers especially in the context of educating in a pandemic.

As PSTA President, I pledge to continue to maintain the positive and open relationship the PSTA has developed with our board and division staff. At the same time, I will continue to advocate for the needs of teachers with a strong voice. My experience in a variety of K-12 classroom settings, as a special education teacher, and in small and large schools has allowed me to understand the different positions and perspectives of teachers across our division.

The work of the PSTA is incredibly important for the future of our profession and I thank you for putting your trust in me as your representative and hope to have the opportunity to continue to represent you locally and provincially. I hope you will consider my name when you vote for PSTA President.

Nomination for PSTA President

CANDIDATE FOR PSTA PRESIDENT: Chad Williams

My name is Chad Williams and I currently teach grade two at Venture Heights and pre-service teachers in Curriculum Studies at the U of S. I am eager and excited to accept the nomination for Prairie Spirit Teachers’ Association president, and I am seeking your support.

I am currently in my 14th year of teaching, and in my 12th year with Prairie Spirit School Division where I have taught elementary, middle years and high school. I have been fortunate to be a part of K-8, K-12, and 9-12 schools. These experiences are necessary and pivotal in ensuring the president speaks for all teachers in our school division.

In addition to my role as a classroom teacher with PSSD, I currently hold or have held the following positions:

  • PSTA councillor
  • Member of the LINC committee
  • Member of the PD committee
  • Chair of the LGBTQ2S ad hoc committee

I currently sit on the following Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation / Canadian Teachers’ Federation committees:

  • Supporting Indigenous Ways of Knowing in Mathematics Working Committee (STF)
  • Practicum Advisory Committee (U of S – STF)
  • Advisory Committee on Diversity and Human Rights – Alternate (CTF)
  • Professional Growth Network – Saskatchewan Mathematics Teachers’ Society – Past-President (STF)

My experience working closely with PSSD and the STF will ensure we maintain positive relationships and productive dialogue, while supporting and advocating for teachers and students.

As we continue to work closely with PSSD over the next two years, I believe we need to focus on the following:

  • Staff and student well-being
  • Teacher intensification with EDSBY roll out
  • Lasting effects of COVID-19 on teaching and learning
  • Data collection to better prepare for next LINC negotiation
  • Better understand the impact of Learning Facilitators

My experience in teaching, committee work, and professional development facilitation has given me the skills, knowledge, and experiences to be the stronger voice for teachers the PSTA needs as president.

If you have any questions regarding my potential leadership as PSTA president, feel free to reach out via email at chad.williams@spiritsd.ca. I would be happy to continue conversations with PSSD teachers around what matters to you.

Regards,
Chad Williams

Notice of PSTA Presidential Election

PSTA members are invited to submit nominations for the office of PSTA President for the term of July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2024.

The PSTA President’s duties are described in PSTA Policy and Guidelines Section 3.6 President. Please forward completed nomination forms to Returning Officer, Amy Korver by 4:00 pm on Monday, February 28th.

We encourage you to provide a photograph of yourself and a written statement, which will be posted on the PSTA web site leading up to the election.

Nominees will be given an opportunity to record a video response to questions provided by the Returning Officer. Questions will be made available to nominees on March 1st and posted on the PSTA website on March 6th.

The general membership elect the President through a secret ballot. All PSTA members are eligible to vote.

Voting for the PSTA President election will be facilitated by your School Staff Liaisons and occur using Election Runner on March 9th, 10th and 11th.

Please contact  Amy Korver if you have any questions.

PSTA President Nomination Form

2022-2024 PSTA President Nomination Form
2022-2024 PSTA President Nomination Form

PSTA Meetings to Remain Online

The PSTA Executive met December 7th and discussed returning to in-person Executive and Representative Assembly meetings. Unfortunately, the STF is not yet allowing outside organizations to meet in Eamer Hall and there are no spaces available to safely accommodate a Representative Meeting with 80 people so we will continue to meet online and reevaluate again before the March 15th Representative Assembly.

2021 General Assembly Feedback

Last month the PSTA PD Committee sent a survey to gather feedback for the 2021 General Assembly. There were nearly 200 respondents and 65% preferred the remote GA over in-person and 83% were in favor of a keynote speaker for the 2022 General Assembly. The PD Committee has begun planning for the 2022 General Assembly and will be asking for member input in the new year.

STF COVID-19 Information & Response

If you have questions about Vaccine Policies, Quarantine Leave, Double Duty, Duty to Accommodate and COVID-19 Information & Response and Travel Advice, check the STF COVID-19 Information & Response page where you will find information about these topics and more. There is also a series of frequently asked questions and links to other supports and resources available to teachers who are feeling overwhelmed.

Four Seasons of Reconciliation Course Free for a Limited Time

Through a partnership with First Nations University of Canada and Reconciliation Education, the Royal Bank of Canada is offering free registration to the 4 Seasons of Reconciliation program. This self-paced online program offers 10 modules on truth and reconciliation. Upon completion of the online course, you will be awarded a “Certificate of Completion” issued by First Nations University of Canada. 

Free seats to the online truth and reconciliation course are available now until December 31st .

Register before December 31st at https://reconciliationeducation.ca/rbc  to be automatically added to the program. You will have 6 months to complete the course at your own pace.

Prairie Spirit Education Bursary

The deadline to apply for the 2021-2022 Education Bursary is Saturday, January 8, 2022.

The amount of $45,000.00 plus the 2020-2021 carry-over of $653.48 is available to PSSD teachers and PSTA members for Education Bursaries. The priority areas are Administration, Early Learning, English as an Additional Language, Educational Technology and Design, French Immersion, First Nations & Metis Education, Music Education, Practical and Applied Arts and Special Education/Psychology.

Courses submitted for consideration in the priority areas must be part of an approved program. PSTA members may also apply to have courses outside of these priority areas considered for bursaries.

More information and the application form can be found on the PSTA website.