Nomination for PSTA President

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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

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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
Download Now!

PSTA Meetings to Remain Online

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

How changes to Section 6.1 of our LINC Agreement will affect payday

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One update to the PSTA LINC Agreement (2020) was made to reflect how teachers are paid now. In the past, you might remember receiving your paystub and cheque in your school mailbox. Section 6.1 of the previous LINC Agreement stated, “Cheques shall be issued electronically on the last school day on or before the 25th of each month” so your cheque would be in your mailbox before break began so you wouldn’t have to wait until returning to work.

The updated Section 6.1 now states, “Pay will be issued electronically on or before the 25th of each month” because we receive our pay electronically and can be deposited on or before the 25th of the month.

This change to our LINC Agreement means that you will not receive your December pay early like previous years. December 25th is a holiday so you will see your December pay deposited on December 24th.

Nominations are open for the position of STF Councillor

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The PSTA currently has an STF Councillor vacancy. STF Councillors sit on the PSTA Executive and represent teachers within the STF. They also attend annual meetings of Council where they learn about educational issues in Saskatchewan, elect the STF Executive, and discuss and debate resolutions to guide the Federation.

On behalf of the PSTA Nominations/Electoral Committee, I invite any PSTA member interested in joining the PSTA Executive to submit a nomination form for STF Councillor.

Nominations are now open. An election will be held on October 19th at the Representative Assembly. PSTA members are invited to submit nominations to fill a councillor vacancy on the current PSTA Executive. The term will be from Oct 19, 2021-June 30, 2022.

The deadline to submit a nomination form is October 19, 2021.

Download Nomination Form

Send Nominations to:
Chief Returning Officer, Amy Korver and PSTA President, Scott Woods-Fehr.