Skip to content

ATA commends Lakeland teachers for pivots and patience

New teachers coping with COVID

LAKELAND - The president of the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) Local 15 is sharing praise and pride toward teachers and school staff across the Lakeland. She also says that the first term of school this year — on the heels of a COVID-altered final term last year — has put a strain on teachers.

Representing teachers in Northern Lights Public Schools from Plamondon to Cold Lake, Marjorie Charles says teachers are strong front-line workers like the many others who are working through unprecedented and challenging times.

"The number one thing we are hearing is that it's the workload and stressors of teaching and working in a pandemic right now — which isn't unique to just teachers. We know that other professions and other occupations are feeling the same thing," she says. "Our biggest concern this year is our teachers' wellness. Teachers are very tired already. They are worried too. They are feeling that anxiety about not only keeping their students and classrooms safe, but themselves and their families as well."

The ATA Local 15 meets regularly, and Charles says she holds regular discussions with ATA locals across the province on a regular basis.

She said the association, as well as division officials, school administrators, staff and community members are all going through the challenges of the pandemic, facing each hurdle as it comes.

"We are just trying to figure it out one day, maybe one week at a time," she said, explaining that the ATA is encouraging all teachers to be mindful of the stresses and to take mental and physical breaks whenever possible. We are currently in a ATA Local 15 Cares Campaign where we are encouraging our teachers to make sure they are taking that time for themselves, for their wellness. Taking a break ... to take that time for themselves to make them better in the classroom."

The president of the Northern Lights Public Schools board of trustees was also praising the efforts of Lakeland teachers. During last Wednesday's NLPS board meeting, Arlene Hrynyk said the board was grateful to the division's staff. She said the staffing is one of the reasons many students opted to continue in-class learning to start the year, despite the option of online classes due to the pandemic.

"The reason that Northern lights didn't see as many students choose the online initially and chose to go back into the classroom was largely because of teachers and the confidence people have in (teachers) and the  respect and learning provided to them," she said.

Cold Lake trustee Ron Young, a former teacher with 35 years in the classroom, called the current teaching staff "heroes". He said in his decades of teaching, he went through many challenges, and even memorable weather events — but today's teachers are dealing with the most challenging crisis he has ever witnessed.

"I thought that no matter what happened, I could always say, 'Back in 1984, wow, we had two weeks of minus-40 degree weather.' Every classroom teacher is my hero right now, because what you are going through is worse than anything we have ever seen and ever will see," he said.

New teachers

Charles says the challenges are there for veteran teachers and also the ones whose first year of professional teaching has been a COVID year.

"This is there first experience with teaching, and I can't imagine what that must feel like for them," she said, explaining that since the pandemic has cancelled the annual ATA induction ceremony for new teachers, a virtual introduction workshop is planned for the new year.  Welcome packages will also be distributed to new teachers. "I want to make sure that this not the norm... I'm really hoping that we can go back to the good old days and the way it used to be and that this is not the way teaching is all about." 


Rob McKinley

About the Author: Rob McKinley

Rob has been in the media, marketing and promotion business for 30 years, working in the public sector, as well as media outlets in major metropolitan markets, smaller rural communities and Indigenous-focused settings.
Read more



Comments

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks