Awards and professional development were highlights of summer 2005 for Parkland Teachers

(14-Sep-2005) Perhaps you have already read about the enriching professional development opportunities enjoyed by Parkland Teachers at the Alberta Teachers' Association's (ATA's) 57th Annual Summer Conference in Banff (posted below on 14-Sep-2005), but there was much more to the story. On Monday, August 8, at the opening session of the conference, Parkland Teacher's Local 10 won a prestigious award for excellence in public relations.

Parkland Teachers' Local 10 won the special project award of excellence for its Provincial Election submission. Through public forums on education issues, newspaper advertisements and print materials, the local created an awareness campaign aimed at increasing voter turnout for the 2004 provincial election. The judges applauded Parkland Teachers for their proactive approach to engaging community members and politicians in discussions about educational issues: "This is a very impressive entry. Doing is better than saying! Well done!" The recognition was particularly gratifying because Parkland Teachers' Local 10 won this same honour at the 2004 Summer Conference. The 2004 special project award of excellence was in recognition of a World Teachers' Day initiative in October 2003, which compelled the judges to acclaim the local's "creative approach" to promotion of an important international event.

In addition to working to raise public awareness of issues and events related to the field of education, Parkland Teachers are also diligent about improving their own practice through professional development workshops. In August, a group of area teachers spent two days at Barnett House in Edmonton receiving training as Healthy Interactions facilitators. Healthy Interactions is an interest-based conflict resolution program, co-sponsored by Parkland School Division and the Alberta Teachers' Association. Teachers present included Linda Haney (Forest Green), Jennifer Schmidt (Duffield), Karen McAmmond (Woodhaven), Laurie Semler (Stony Plain Central), Beth Rosborough (Keephills), Peggy Bly (Greystone Centennial), Kevin Majeski (Meridian Heights), and Catherine Boggs (Greystone Centennial). Parkland Teachers' Local 10 applauds these member educators for their efforts on behalf of the profession.