Teachers’ Conventions: Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Being Absent from a Convention to…
Questions of Particular Interest to …
Attend an Alternate PD Activity
Q: Can I attend a conference other than the ATA convention if it runs during the same time as my teachers’ convention?
A: Yes, if your convention attendance committee gives you permission to be absent from your assigned convention.
Q: What criteria must be met for an event to be considered an alternate PD activity?
A: The event must be an organized, extraordinary PD opportunity not available at any other time. More detailed information about alternate professional development activities is available.
Q: How do I obtain permission to attend an alternate PD activity?
A: Individual teachers must apply in writing to the chair of the convention attendance committee explaining the specifics of their request.
Q: What if I disagree with the convention attendance committee’s decision about my request to attend an alternate PD activity?
A: You can appeal the decision. Check with the person who communicated the decision to you to find out the specifics of the appeal process. In most cases, appeals are handled by the convention board at its next meeting.
Q: Where can I find out more about the process to be followed if I must be absent from my convention?
A: Consult the Protocol for Convention Attendance for more detailed information.
Q: Are my convention fees refundable or transferable?
A: No.
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Attend a Convention Other than the One Assigned
Q: I live a long way from the convention to which I am assigned and very near to another convention. Can I attend the nearer convention?
A: If distance is the only consideration, no, you must attend your regular convention. Many teachers travel several hours to attend their convention. However, if there are urgent, compelling or compassionate circumstances that prevent you from attending your regular convention, you may, at the discretion of your convention association, be allowed to attend a convention that is closer to you.
Q: What do I have to do to attend a convention other than the one to which I am assigned?
A: First, you must seek permission from your convention association to be excused from the convention to which you are assigned. Next, you must get permission from the convention that you want to attend so that you are eligible to register. Finally, you must pay the out-of-district registration fee for the convention that you have asked to attend. These fees range from $57 to $150.
Q: Are my convention fees refundable or transferable?
A: No.
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Supervise a Field Trip
Q: My school has arranged a field trip for students and I am assigned to take them to Mexico. Does supervising this field trip qualify as an alternate PD activity?
A: No, field trips, although worthy enterprises, are not considered alternate PD activities. The Convention Attendance Protocol stipulates that teachers are to avoid scheduling activities that conflict with their convention dates. Furthermore, schools and school jurisdictions are not to direct teachers to carry out activities that prevent them from attending their assigned conventions.
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Attend a Sports Event
Q: The school team that I coach has an Alberta School Athletic Association (ASAA) tournament starting on the Friday of convention. Can I miss convention to go with my team?
A: Yes. As soon as you learn that your team has qualified for the ASAA event, you should fill out a form seeking approval to travel to the tournament with your team.
Q: Where can I find the permission form?
A: An Absence Request Form
can be downloaded from this website. Completed forms should be faxed to the ATA, to the ASAA and to your convention association.
Q: I coach a community team and want to go to a tournament or participate in the Winter Games instead of attending my convention. Does coaching a community team qualify as an alternate PD activity?
A: No. Coaching a community team is not a professional development activity and does not meet the criteria for an alternate PD activity. However, your collective agreement may provide personal leave, which you may be able to access for this time.
Q: What happens if I disagree with the decision of the attendance committee?
A: You can appeal the decision. Check with the person who communicated the decision to you to find out the specifics of the appeal process. In most cases, appeals are handled by the convention board at its next meeting.
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Attend to an Illness or Family Emergency
Q: If I am sick, going for surgery, have a medial appointment with a specialist, have a family emergency, have had a death in the family or can’t travel because of bad roads, do I have to go to my convention?
A: No.
Q: What if I am not sure of my rights covered in the collective agreement?
A: If you have any questions about your leave and the provisions of your collective agreement, contact Teacher Welfare at 1-800-232-7208 or (780) 447-9400.
Q: What arrangements should I make to be absent?
A: You should contact whomever you would normally notify if this situation occurred on any other teaching day.
Q: Will I be subject to discipline if I go for a medical appointment, stay home sick or attend a funeral instead of going to my teachers’ convention?
A: No. Your collective agreement covers your absence from convention in the same way that it covers these sorts of absences for regular work days.
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Take Care of Other Professional Obligations
Q: Nothing in the convention program interests me. Can I stay at home or work at school instead?
A: No. Your employer provides you with salary, benefits and pensionable service for the two days of the annual ATA teachers’ convention. As a result, you have a legal obligation to attend your convention. Furthermore, under the Teaching Profession Act and the Code of Professional Conduct, you have a professional obligation to attend your assigned convention. If you fail to attend, you may be subject to discipline by the profession and/or by your employer.
Q: I am really behind at school. Can I work at school and catch up instead of attending my convention?
A: No. If you fail to attend, you may be subject to discipline by the profession and/or by your employer.
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Part-Time Teachers
Q: What portion of my teachers’ convention am I required to attend?
A: You are required to attend the same portion of your convention as the portion of a full time position that you work for your school board. For example, if your contract stipulates that you are employed at 0.5 FTE (full-time equivalent), then you must attend half the convention (one day). Similarly, if you are employed at 0.75 FTE, then you are expected to attend 1.5 days of the convention.
Q: Does it matter what parts of the convention I attend?
A: No. You can attend whatever parts of the convention you wish as long as you make up the proportion required. For example, if you contract requires you to attend for one day, you could attend on Thursday rather than Friday (or vice versa) or you could attend Thursday and Friday mornings. In some cases, your contract may specify that convention attendance on both days is included in your FTE. Check your contract.
Q: If I work part-time, can I attend the full convention if I wish?
A: Yes, you are welcome to attend both days.
Q: Do I have to attend convention if I don’t teach on Thursday or Friday?
A: Check your contract to ensure that you meet your employment obligations. From an employment point of view, if you don’t usually work on those days, you do not need to attend convention. However, from a professional point of view, you are encouraged to attend at least as much of the convention as corresponds to the portion of a full time position that you teach.
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Substitute Teachers
Q: I am a substitute teacher. Can I attend a teachers’ convention?
A: Yes.
Q: Will I get paid for the time I spend at the convention?
A: No, not as a teacher on a daily contract. However, your ATA local may subsidize your convention attendance. Check with your local office.
Q: How much does it cost to attend convention?
A: The costs vary from convention to convention. Some convention associations allow substitute teachers to attend at no cost, while others may charge for a convention program booklet.
Q: Where do I get a convention program booklet?
A: You may be able to get a convention booklet from the school at which you do most of your substitute teaching. In other cases, you may have to go to your ATA local office.
Q: How do I find out more?
A: Check out the website of the particular convention that you plan to attend. A directory of convention association websites is available.
Q: Although I am not a certificated teacher, I “substitute” in a school because they can’t get certificated substitute teachers. Can I attend teachers’ convention?
A: No, only certificated teachers who have been substitutes this school year and are active members of the ATA are eligible to attend a teachers’ convention.
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Teachers on Leave of Absence
Q: I am currently on a leave of absence. Can I attend my teachers’ convention?
A: Yes. During a leave, you are still an active member of your ATA local. As a result, you are entitled to attend your teachers’ convention. Be sure that you have paid your ATA dues for a teacher on leave ($4 per month for each month of leave). Note that your convention association may ask you for identification and may charge you a nominal fee for the program booklet.
Q: I am on medical leave. Can I attend my teachers’ convention?
A: It depends on your situation. Contact the ATA at 1-800-232-7208 for assistance.
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Superintendents/Chief Deputy Superintendents
Q: I am a superintendent (or chief deputy superintendent). Am I eligible to attend a teachers’ convention?
A: You are eligible to attend if you are currently an Associate Member of the ATA and have paid the $100 fee.
Q: How do I register to attend a convention?
A: Contact the president of your convention association and explain that you are an associate member, have paid the Out of District fee and are now entitled to attend the convention and to receive a program booklet.
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Central Office Staff
Q: I am a member of central office staff who has opted for non-membership or associate membership in the ATA rather than the highest level of membership available to me (usually active membership). Am I eligible to a teachers’ convention?
A: No. Attending a convention is a privilege for active ATA members and for those who have elected the highest level of membership available to them.
Q: Can I do anything so that I can attend?
A: The only way to become eligible to attend a convention is to appeal to the Minister of Education to change your membership election so that you are once again an active member of the ATA.
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Education Students/Student Teachers
Q: I am an education student or a student teacher. Am I eligible to attend a teachers’ convention?
A: In most cases you are eligible to attend. However, arrangements differ from one convention association to another and from one university to another. Check your convention association website for details.
Q: What do I need to do if I want to attend a convention?
A: You need to become a member of the Education Students’ Association, Education Undergraduate Society or other education student organization at your university or faculty of education. Joining one of these groups automatically makes you a student member of the ATA. Even if you are a student member, you may be asked to pay for a program booklet.
Q: Where do I obtain a program booklet?
A: It depends on the university in which you are enrolled and the convention you plan to attend. Sometimes program booklets are sent directly to the student local and/or university. Check with your student local or convention association.
Q: Which convention should I attend?
A: Each student local arranges with one of the convention associations to accept education students. In general, University of Alberta students attend the convention organized by the Greater Edmonton Teachers’ Convention Association, University of Calgary students attend the convention organized by the Calgary City Teachers’ Convention Association, University of Lethbridge students attend the convention organized by the South Western Alberta Teachers’ Convention Association, Red Deer College students attend the convention organized by the Central Alberta Teachers’ Convention Association and Teacher Education North/Grande Prairie College students attend the convention organized by the Mighty Peace Teachers’ Convention Association.
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Federal/Charter/Private School Teachers
Q: I am employed by a federal, charter or private school. Am I eligible to attend a teachers’ convention?
A: You can attend if (1) you are an associate member of the provincial ATA (cost $100), (2) you apply to and are accepted by the convention association whose convention you want to attend and (3) you have paid the out-of-district convention fee.
Q: What if I don’t have an associate membership in the ATA?
A: You can apply for one by filling out and submitting an Associate Membership Application Form.
Q: Does it matter which convention I attend?
A: You can attend whichever convention you wish provided that you apply before the deadline and that the convention has space.
Q: How much does it cost to attend a convention?
A: Costs vary depending on the convention association. Contact the Convention Association for specific fees.
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Out-Of-Province Teachers
Q: I live in a province or territory other than Alberta and I want to attend a teachers’ convention in Alberta. Am I eligible to attend?
A: Yes, provided that you are a member in good standing of your provincial or territorial teachers’ organization.
Q: Does it matter which convention I attend
A: No. You can attend whichever convention you wish, provided that the convention has room. If you are turned down by one convention association on the grounds that there is no room, you are welcome to apply to a different convention.
Q: What do I have to do to attend?
A: Consult the convention association directory to decide which convention you wish to attend. Then obtain and submit an Out-of-District Attendance Application Form by the deadline specified by the convention association. You will be required to pay an attendance fee.
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Teachers Who Are About to Retire
Q: I am planning to retire this year before my convention takes place. Am I still eligible to attend the convention?
A: Because different convention associations collect convention fees at different times during the year, it is possible that, before retiring, you paid your fees for the entire year. If that is the case, you are welcome to attend teachers’ convention in the year that you retire.
Q: What do I need to do to ensure that I am eligible to attend?
A: You should advise your convention association that you plan to attend the convention. You will then receive a program booklet, name tag, key tag or some other accreditation that will enable you to access the convention site.
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Teachers Who Have Retired
Q: I am a retired teacher who would enjoy attending a convention to visit with some of my colleagues. Am I eligible to attend?
A: You may be eligible but you will need to check with the convention association organizing the convention that you would like to attend. Keep in mind that many conventions are crowded and that first priority must be given to active members who have paid their convention fees. Some conventions offer social activities outside of program hours for retired teachers. If you have substitute taught for one day, you are an active member of the ATA for that year and, as a result, are eligible to attend a teachers’ convention. See the Q & A for substitute teachers (above) for more information.
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Non-Teachers
Q: Are teacher assistants/educational assistants/spouses of teachers/children of teachers eligible to attend teachers’ conventions?
A: No. Conventions are closed events designed for ATA members who hold the highest level of membership available to them and for a few invited guests. Central office and school administrators do not have the authority to direct teacher assistants or educational assistants to attend teachers’ conventions.
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