The ATA Educational Trust

Teachers helping teachers since 1978

The ATA Educational Trust is a registered charitable organization, closely affiliated with the Alberta Teachers' Association and supported by annual donations from local teacher associations, retired teachers and other individual groups or persons wishing to improve the teaching practice in Alberta public schools.

Each year the Trust offers three categories of awards (1) $500 bursaries, (2) $300 conference grants and (3) $1,000 to $3,000 project grants.

In addition, the Trust offers, through the University of Alberta, the Orest and Francina Lazarowich $1,000 Bursary in Technology Education for third-year education students enrolled in the U of A's CTS program.

On this page:

$500 Bursaries
$300 Conference Grants
Project Grants of up to $3,000 each
Project Reports
How the Trust Is Managed
Donating to the Trust
History of the Trust
Contacting the Trust

$500 Bursaries

Through its bursary program, the Trust encourages teachers to update their knowledge and improve their teaching skills by taking courses. Bursaries are paid after the recipient has completed the course and submitted proof of the amount paid in tuition fees and proof that the course has been completed.

Each year, the Trust awards a number of bursaries valued at $500 each to certificated Alberta teachers wishing to take courses related to their teaching responsibilities. To qualify for a bursary, applicants must be planning to take a course in the upcoming summer or school year.

Applying for a Bursary

To apply for a bursary, follow these steps:

Download and fill out the current bursary application form posted between January 1 and May 1 for downloads. Only one form will be accepted from any applicant in a given year.
Mail the completed form, by the May 1 deadline, to The ATA Educational Trust, 11010 142 Street NW, Edmonton AB T5N 2R1. Faxed or e-mailed applications will NOT be accepted.

How Applicants Are Selected

The name of each eligible person whose application has been received by the May 1 deadline is entered in a draw. All applicants are advised of the draw results by mail before the end of June. The bursaries are paid after the recipient has completed the course and has submitted proof that the tuition has been paid and that the course has been completed. Recipients will be invited to attend an official award presentation arranged by their ATA local in the fall.

Bursary Recipients in 2009/10

Bailey, Brandon, Chinook Local No 29
Bearance, Deborah, Foothills Local No 16
Belik, Melanie, Chinook Local No 29
Burzminski, Deanna, Medicine Hat Catholic Local No 39
Burzminski, Robert, Medicine Hat Catholic Local No 39
Cheung, Sharlyne, Edmonton Public Teachers Local No 37
Clark, Brandi, Edmonton Catholic Teachers Local No 54
Clark, Sarah, Foothills Local No 16
Dabbagh, Jason, St Albert Protestant Separate Local No 73
Dietze, Kirby, Livingstone Range Local No 14
Doan, Belma, Red Deer Catholic Local No 80
Fischer, Catherine, Calgary Public Teachers Local No 38
Forfylow, Andrea, Foothills Local No 16
François, Julie, Edmonton Catholic Teachers Local No 54
Gaudet, Gerry, Rocky View Local No 35
Hailes, Lisa, Edmonton Catholic Teachers Local No 54
Hamby, Gord, Calgary Public Teachers Local No 38
Hayden, Michelle, Calgary Separate School Local No 55
Hogan, Billie, Calgary Public Teachers Local No 38
Hood, Charlotte, Calgary Separate School Local No 55
Howden-Weaver, Lori, Edmonton Public Teachers Local No 37
Isberg, Lori, Foothills Local No 16
Jackson, Graham, St Albert Protestant Separate Local No 73
Kabyn, Michelle, Unité locale francophone No 24
Kastelan-Sikora, Kristina, Edmonton Catholic Teachers Local 54
Low, Candace, Calgary Separate School Local No 55
Linden, Joanne, Edmonton Public Teachers Local No 37
Mennear, Ryan, Wetaskiwin Local No 18
Michaud, Craig, Edmonton Public Teachers Local No 37
Murray, Marianne, Calgary Separate School Local No 55
McCowan, Daina, Calgary Public Teachers Local No 38
Ohama, Elaine, Calgary Public Teachers Local No 38
Olson, Candice, Calgary Separate School Local No 55
Opgenorth, Leanne, Edmonton Public Teachers Local No 37
Paddock, Brett, Calgary Public Teachers Local No 38
Pawsey, Richard, St Albert Protestant Separate Local No 73
Payne, Jeremy, Calgary Public Teachers Local No 38
Petkus, Jenell, Chinook Local No 29
Rebus, Shauna, Edmonton Catholic Teachers Local No 54
Ring, Colleen, Edmonton Catholic Teachers Local No 54
Speer, Shelley, Sturgeon Local No 27
St Denis, Maurice, Pembina Hills Local No 22
Tenove, Lorianne, Calgary Separate School Local No 55
Tindall, Melanie, Calgary Public Teachers Local No 38
Ursulan, Cathy, Grasslands Local No 34
Vining, Chris, Northern Lights Local No 15
Wallace, Kim, Unité locale francophone No 24
Wiens, David, Calgary Separate School Local No 55
Wild, Adriana, Calgary Separate School Local No 55
Wright, Lisa, Edmonton Public Teachers Local No 37

$300 Conference Grants

Each year, the Trust awards a number of $300 grants to help defray the costs associated with attending an ATA specialist council conference. Eligible expenses include registration, accommodation, fuel, food and (if applicable) the cost of a substitute teacher. Only expenses not covered by other grants will be considered for compensation.

To qualify for a grant, applicants must

register or plan to register for an ATA specialist council conference.
take full advantage of other sources of funding available. (The Trust is a charitable organization that seeks to help those most in need.)
not be conference organizer.
not have received a Trust bursary or grant in the past three years.
have completed and submitted a specialist council conference attendance grant application form to the ATA Educational Trust by September 30. Download and fill out the application form . (Only one form will be accepted from any applicant. The 2010 form will be posted in January for download.)

In October, the names of all eligible applicants will be entered into a draw and a set number of names will be selected at random. School jurisdictions, ATA locals and specialist councils will be notified of the results.

The September 30 deadline will be strictly applied

Successful candidates will receive a claim form in October. Once they have attended the conference, they will need to submit the form along with original receipts for the expenses incurred.

Conference Grant Recipients in 2009/10

Adair, Kimberly, Second Languages and Intercultural
Barron, Victoria, Special Education
Bernier, David, Global Environment & Outdoor Education
Bowen, Jamey, Science
Brown, Charity, Fine Arts
Carter, Maureen, Council on School Administration
Coates, Morgan, English Languge Arts
Couillard-L'Abbé, Linda, Social Studies
Crosbie, Scott, Career and Technology Studies
Davis, Darrell, Social Studies
Escobar, Madeleine, Mathematics
Fenton, Lynne, Career and Technology Studies
Fierheller, Anne, Social Studies
Fortin, Nicole, Le conseil français
Fowler, Lindsey, Early Childhood Education
Fraser, Angela, English Languge Arts
Freeman, Cara, Special Education
Geis, Jason, Social Studies
Gibeau, Lorelei, Council on School Administration
Holmes, Roxane, Early Childhood Education
Horvath, Jeff, First Nations, Métis Inuit Education
Hubbard, Melissa, Outreach Education
Hudson, Sharon, Guidance
Kennedy, Penni, English as a Second Language
King, Rhonda, Career and Technology Studies
Knowlton Cockett, Polly, Global Environment & Outdoor Education
Lamy-Rittammer, Marylene, Le conseil français
Laratta, Doris, Second Languages and Intercultural
MacBeth, Donna, English Languge Arts
Mah, Hilda, Alberta School Libraries
Martin, Keith, Science
McCullough, Rebecca, Mathematics
McNeil, Kathleen, Outreach Education
Mensah, Delasi, Career and Technology Studies
Milanowska DuChene, Eva, English as a Second Language
Miller, Mary-Claire, Career and Technology Studies
Moline, Twila, Middle Years
Muennich, Gary, Health and Physical Education
Mykituk, Shirley, First Nations, Métis Inuit Education
Nelson, Anna, Council on School Administration
Nicholson, Amber, Religious and Moral Education
Plouffe-Chandler, Dominique, Le conseil français
Power, Nicole, Early Childhood Education
Rees, Marina, Fine Arts
Ritacco, Enza, Fine Arts
Rome, Leslie, Guidance
Ronan, Colleen, Special Education
Rootsaert, Dean, Health and Physical Education
Ryder, Ulanda, Science
Schroyer, Bernadine, Outreach Education
Sellin, Gordon, Science
Simbirski, Susan, Second Languages and Intercultural
Smith, Michelle, Guidance
Stewart, Alida, Health and Physical Education
Tchir, Ted, Global Environment & Outdoor Education
Tremblay, Luc, Mathematics
Turriff, Waverly, English Languge Arts
Usher, Barbara, Alberta School Libraries
Walsh, Colin, English as a Second Language
Wyatt, Gordon, Social Studies

Project Grants

Each year, the Trust awards a number of project grants ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 each to help individuals or groups develop practical classroom materials for Alberta teachers. The materials and resources produced through these grants are placed in the ATA library where they can be borrowed by interested teachers.

Any individual or group involved in education and planning to undertake such a project during the next school year is eligible to apply.

Submissions in the area of special education, global and environmental education, Francophone, native and early childhood education, are of particular interest to the Trust.

Applying for a Project Grant

Grant applicants must submit a detailed proposal, on or before May 1, that includes the following material:

A cover page that provides the following information:
1. The name of the project.
2. The name, address, home phone number and email address of the applicant(s).
3. The name, address, telephone number and fax number of the school or institution with which the applicant is associated.
4. The name of the applicant's ATA local, if the applicant is an ATA member.
A detailed two-page description of the project, which must contain the following information:
1. Objectives and justification: Explain what the project will achieve and how it will benefit teachers and students in Alberta Schools.
2. Method: Present a logical plan that details how the project will be carried out. The plan should explain who will be involved, where, when and how.
3. Final Report: Describe the teaching resource or final report that will be produced as a result of the project.
4. Budget: List all other possible sources of revenue and all anticipated expenses. Include explanatory notes, if necessary. Among the expenses that the board has deemed eligible for reimbursement in the past are books, manuals, computer discs, software, cassettes, videos, stationery, various supplies, office equipment, and fees paid to a typist, computer or video specialist, cartoonist or speaker. In some cases, honoraria and release time have been reimbursed. Expenses that have never been reimbursed are air travel, accommodation, tuition fees, computers, office furniture and multi-user software licensing fees.
Any background documents that support or clarify the proposal. These documents will be returned.
A letter of support from a direct supervisor.

Please download the attached form for specifics.

Applicants should send three signed and dated copies of their proposal to the ATA Educational Trust (11010 142 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5N 2R1). To be considered, applications must be received on or before the close of business on May 1st. Faxed applications will not be accepted.

How Applicants Are Selected and Awarded

After reviewing the applications that meet the eligibility criteria, the Trust board selects those that, in its view, will be of most practical benefit to teachers, parents and/or students in the province. Based upon the budget submitted by the applicant, the board then decides how much to award to each successful applicant. The maximum that the board will allocate to a single project is $3,000.

All applicants are notified in early June as to whether or not they were selected to receive a project grant. Successful candidates are asked to confirm in September that they have accepted the amount offered and that they are proceeding with the project. In the fall, ATA locals (or the Trust board, in the case of nonmembers) will organize special events at which successful candidates will receive a framed award certificate along with a cheque representing 40 percent of the total grant amount. The remaining 60 percent will be paid (up to a year later) after the recipient has completed the project and submitted the following items:

A detailed statement of the expenses incurred, accompanied by receipts equaling or exceeding the total amount of the grant. Expenses incurred before the grant was awarded are not eligible.
Two original copies of the final report or teaching resource that has been produced. These materials must acknowledge the financial support of the Trust.

Project Grant Recipients in 2009/10

Recipients	Project	Amount
Helen Haugjord, Whitecourt Central School, Northern Gateway Local No 43	World Culture Club	$400*
Marni McClinton, Mayfield Elementary School, Edmonton Public Local No 37	TNT: Tape and Teach! A Dynamite Way to Teach Complex Special Needs (ASD) Early Education Children	$1,000*
Kelly Thomas, Glenwood School, Westwind Local No 12	Where are they Now? Reasons for Success Among First Nation Students at the Glenwood School	$1,176*
TOTAL		$2,576

* Advance on grants

Project Grant Recipients in 2008/09

Recipients	Project	Amount
Miss Kimberly Hordal Afton School of the Arts Edmonton Public Schools	Get Groovin’ – Fun Fitness for Kids	$1,200*
Susan Dreyer and Kirsten Peters Capitol Hill School Calgary Board of Education	Discovering New Possibilities, Connecting Literature and Found Material to Fine Arts Experiences	$1,200*
Marie-Blanche Mitchell Holyrood School Edmonton Public Schools	Film Series: Character Education – Production of DVD and Teacher Guide —DVD now available	$1,200*
TOTAL		$3,600

* Advance on grants

Project Grant Recipients in 2007/08

Recipients	Project	Amount
	General Fund
Tracy Ratzlaff Linsford Park School (Leduc) Greater Black Gold Local	Conflict Consortium 2007-2008 —In Progress— (extension granted to August 31, 2009)	$2,500*
Theresa Lewis, Monterey Park School, Calgary Public Teachers	Pedagogical Documentation Inquiry Project: Teachers, Student Teachers, and Children Learning Together —In Progress— (extension granted to August 31, 2009)	$1,200*
	Helen Tkachenko Fund
Marilena Shipka Father Leo Green School Edmonton Catholic Local	Using New Technologies to Promote Citizenship and the Democratic Process —In Progress— (extension granted to August 31, 2009)	$1,000*
TOTAL		$4,700*

* Advance on grants

Project Grant Recipients in 2006/07

Recipients	Project		Amount
		General Fund
Shirley Jorgensen Leduc Storefont School Greater Black Gold Teachers’		Youth Force: Student Engagement Through Community Service —Final report completed—	$2,412
Mary McNabb A H Dakin Elementary Edson		Teaching Smarter, Not Harder: Brain Compatible Planning and Strategies for Classroom Teachers —Teaching guide and DVD available—	$2,530
Ginette Hulsmans Banff Elementary School		Classroom Seating for Children with Attention Deficit and for Improvement in Handwriting —Research report available—	$2,662
Melinda McNie W P Wagner High School Edmonton		“Return to Learn” At Risk Drug Intervention Support (ARDIS) Project report available	$2,016
Mireille Prévost		Philibert and Louise Brugeyroux Fund
Francophone school boards PD Provincial Network		Development of Screening and Assessment Tools for francisation —Project cancelled by PD Network in April 2007—	($3,000)
TOTAL			$ 9,620

Project Grant Recipients in 2005/06

Recipient		Project	Amount
		General Fund
Donna Armstrong, Medicine Hat		Connecting Communities Through the Visual Arts —Teaching guide and DVD available—	$2,500
Barbara Burns, Athabasca		The Art of Organization: A Teaching Resource for Art Teachers —Large binder (300 pages) + DVD available—	$3,000
Cathy Cameron, Red Deer		Professional Partners in Mentorship —New manuals available.—	$914
Joan Jeary and Anne McKeough University of Calgary		Reading with a Writer’s Eye: Strategies for Modeling on Expert Writers —Research report now available.—	$2,453
Lorel Trumier, Edmonton		Children of the World Without Borders —No teaching resource available.—	$640*
Craig Whitehead, Livingstone Range		Creating Inclusive School Communities for Hutterite Students: An Educators’ Guide —Guide available.—	$2,793
		Philibert and Louise Brugeyroux Fund
Marjolaine Leblanc, Calgary	Comment exploiter la chanson en salle de classe au niveau secondaire? —Teaching resource (binder + manuals) available—		$2,992
TOTAL			$15,292

Project Reports

Over 120 teaching resources and project reports produced with funding from the Trust are available from the ATA Library. Interested teachers are encouraged to borrow these materials by phoning the library at 447- 9400 (in Edmonton) or 1-800-232-7208 (elsewhere in Alberta).

How the Trust Is Managed

The Trust is managed by a board of seven trustees (see below), named by the Association, who meet two to three times a year. The ATA supports the day-to-day operation of the Trust by providing office space and staff. The Trust operates with complete autonomy and reports once a year to the Provincial Executive Council of the ATA. The Trust's annual report and audited financial statements are presented to the Annual Representative Assembly of the ATA in May of each year.

Board of Trustees for 2009/10

Les Champ (chair), a teacher with Calgary School District No 19
Chris McCullough, teacher with Red Deer Catholic Regional Division No 39
Madeline Fischer, Alberta Retired Teachers' Association representative
Gaylene Schreiber, executive staff officer with the Alberta Teachers' Association
Noeleen Kinsey, independent parent representative
Donna Armstrong, Medicine Hat School District No 76
Elaine Willette-Larsen, teacher with East Central Alberta Catholic School

Donating to the Trust

Annual financial contributions from ATA locals and individuals are needed to assist in realizing the objects of the Trust. Donations to celebrate a colleague's successful career in education, or in memory of a favorite teacher are encouraged. Receipts, for income tax purposes, are issued for individual donations.

History of the Trust

1977	The ATA Educational Trust is initiated with a bequest of $13,700 to the Alberta Teachers' Association from the estate of an Alberta teacher, Frederick William Powell, who taught at Dewberry High School in Vermilion.
1978	Under the guidance of Dr Bernie Keeler, Executive secretary of the ATA, the new trust is registered as a charitable organization. A Board of trustees is appointed and a Deed of Trust is established. The first donations are accepted.
1981	The Alberta Committee for the International Year of Disabled Persons donates $33,857 to the Trust and the trustees create the Look Beyond Education Fund. This fund and the interest earned on it are used for the next 14 years to finance educational projects and to develop teaching resources for special education teachers.
1985	The friends and relatives of the late Violet L Fishbourne donate $20,000 to the Trust to assist elementary teachers in the classroom. The Trust uses this donation to create the Vi Fishbourne Memorial Fund, which funds classroom projects in the area of reading and writing at the primary level.
1988	Friends and colleagues of ATA Executive Secretary Bernie Keeler make donations to the Trust on the occasion of his retirement.
1990	The Trust receives the first in a series of donations from a private donor in memory of Philibert and Louise Brugeyroux to fund projects on Francophone education.
1992	The friends and relatives of ATA Staff Officer Allan Jamha make a significant donation to the Trust in his memory.
1993	The Trust receives several donations in memory of Joseph Durand, a former executive secretary of the Alberta Retired Teachers' Association and a former board member of the Trust.
1997	The ATA's Global Education Project, upon its disbandment, transfers to the Trust a donation of $20,000 from Helen Tkachenko.
2000	The Trust establishes the Helen Tkachenko Global Education Fund. Ms Tkachenko helps select the first project to be paid from her fund.
2003	$65,000 has accumulated under the fund started by Ms Brugeyroux in memory of her parents. She passes away in 2003 after a long illness, without setting clear guidelines for the fund.
2004	The Board approves the first project to be paid out of the Philibert and Louise Brugeyroux Fund.
2007	Friends and former colleagues of Nik Hrynyk, former Associate Executive Secretary of the ATA, make a number of donations to the Trust in his memory.
2007	Orest and Francina Lazarowich make a donation to the Trust to fund a new bursary in technology education that will be offered each winter to a third year education student enrolled in the University of Alberta CTS program.
2008	The Trust receives a $105,000 bequest from the estate of Ruth Whaley (1916-2007).
2009	The Trust receives over $22,000 from the Pierre and Madeleine Monod Foundation.

Contacting the Trust

Further information about the Trust and its award programs is available from these ATA staff members assigned to the operation of the ATA Education Trust:

Koni Macdonald, Trust administrator, at (780) 447-9494 or 1-800-232-7208, ext 494.
E-mail: koni.macdonald@ata.ab.ca.
Didi Heer, Trust Controller, at (780) 447-9437 or 1-800-232-7208, ext 437.
E-mail: didi.heer@ata.ab.ca.
Gaylene Schreiber, ATA Trustee, at (780) 447-9432 or 1-800-232-7208, ext 432.
E-mail: gaylene.schreiber@ata.ab.ca.