The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Substitute teaching is a specialized craft and an upcoming conference presented by the Alberta Teachers’ Association is being designed specifically for the needs of these specialists.

Taking place over the course of a Friday evening and all day Saturday, the virtual conference is free to attend and is sure to appeal to all substitutes, said Shelley Magnusson, ATA staff advisor to the Substitute Teachers Committee.

“We have a very eclectic lineup of speakers and sessions, and I’m hoping that all substitute teachers will be able to find something that appeals to them in this conference,” Magnusson said.

While the annual Substitute Teachers’ Conference is an excellent opportunity for networking and professional development, its sessions are also geared toward the unique role that substitutes play.

The conference will open with a keynote address from certified inclusion specialist Marni Panas, who will speak about inclusion in the classroom and the difference a teacher can make in how a child feels about themselves.

“I’m really looking forward to hearing Marni Panas speak,” Magnusson said. “I’ve heard her speak many times before and it’s always new and interesting to hear voices on inclusion.”

Among the many topics covered during Saturday’s breakout sessions will be staff wellness, financial wellness, physical literacy and using Indigenous games to achieve learning outcomes.

Since the conference is virtual, there are no limits to the number of attendees at any given session, and Magnusson encourages teachers to drop in for just one or two sessions if they’d prefer to do so rather than attend the entire event.

“I encourage anybody who is thinking about attending the conference to give it a good look,” she said. ❚

CONFERENCE DETAILS

Date: Oct. 22–23
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Registration deadline: Oct. 15

Session details and online registration are available at https://cutt.ly/2021STC.