The ATA News , February 17, 2026 ❚ 7 Private school funding petition falls short of goal Mark Milne ATA News Staff T he clock on the petition on public funding for private schools has run out. The grassroots movement started by Calgary teacher Alicia Taylor last October did not meet its required quota of 177,000 signatures by the February 11 deadline. The petition aimed to force a provincewide referendum on whether the Government of Alberta should end its practice of allocating public funds to accredited independent (private) schools. The petition gathered just over 126,000 signatures. “We mobilized over 2,000 people who wanted to get involved in advocating for better funding for public schools,” said Taylor in a news conference announcing the outcome. Taylor said that many of the people who signed the petition were unaware that public funding goes to independent schools. She said most of the people to whom canvassers spoke were outraged. “We gave a voice to the people of Alberta who understand that a strong public education system is foundational to a prosperous, equitable society,” Taylor said. “These Albertans know that public education drives economic growth, while fostering informed, engaged citizens.” Taylor encourages all Albertans to continue in their advocacy efforts to support public education by contacting their MLA, getting involved with government or a political party, and asking candidates about their plans for public education during our next provincial election. “We need people who value public education to continue to be engaged,” Taylor said.
Conventions reaffirm our autonomy as professionals and strength as a profession
F or more than a century, the Alberta Teachers’ Association has worked for the common good of public education. That work continues today, grounded in a simple truth: progress happens when teachers are respected, trusted, supported and heard. This month, teachers’ conventions began, and these events remain one of the strongest expressions of professional trust in Alberta. At a time when professional learning is increasingly prescribed and constrained, conventions remind us that teachers and school leaders know what learning they need. Rooted in autonomy, collaboration and growth, they are spaces worth protecting. They are also spaces to reconnect with colleagues, to maintain and build collegiality, and to remind ourselves of the collective strength of the teaching profession. This school year has demanded extraordinary commitment and courage from you. The strike was both a difficult and an extraordinary moment in our history. It asked a great deal of all of us, and of our families and communities. Being ordered back to work by Bill 2, with our charter rights overridden, was not how anyone wanted that chapter to end. It was frustrating, painful and, for many, deeply discouraging.We should never shy away from those emotions. We need to talk about that experience. Those
conversations will not always be easy, but they must be respectful and honest. We owe it to one another to reflect on what happened, to learn from it and to use that learning to shape what comes next. We cannot pretend the past did not happen, but neither can we allow it to define our future. It is tempting, after a difficult chapter, to disengage from the conversation, but now is not the time to pull back. The concerns teachers raised last year have not gone away—in many cases, they are deepening. Staying engaged is how we protect our profession, our students and public education itself. The collegiality we renew and strengthen at conventions can help sustain our collective engagement and remind us that we are in this together. We must keep our eyes on the horizon while learning from the past. Our advocacy does not end because the government passes a bill. The voice of teachers is bigger than any single piece of legislation, and stronger than any attempt to silence it. As you take part in conventions this year, I encourage you to stay connected and embark on those conversations with your Association, with one another and with the purpose in mind of what brought you into this profession. Let conventions be a time not only for professional learning, but for reaffirming the strength of our profession. Our work is not finished; it will and must continue.
Don’t ignore the toll a complaint can take
PITFALLS AND PRECAUTIONS
of shock, anger, distrust and even grief. These reactions are not unusual; they are a response to a process that is stressful and deeply personal. Should you find yourself the subject of a complaint, we advise you to first, call the ATA’s Regulatory Affairs team, and second, look after yourself. It is critically important to attend to both your physical and emotional well-being.That may mean leaning on friends, family or pets for comfort, or seeking more formal supports such as counselling or therapy, which are often available through your collective agreement. In some cases, the impact is so significant that medical treatment or a leave of absence may become necessary, and these are supported by entitlements under your collective agreement. ATA staff in Teacher Employment Membership Support are available to help you understand what services and protections are available. Having accurate information empowers you to take care of yourself. No matter where you are in your career— whether you are a first-year teacher, a seasoned administrator or somewhere in between—you should never ignore the emotional toll of this process. As a wise mentor once told me, “You could be gone tomorrow, and they will have a replacement by the end of the day. It’s up to you to look after yourself.” On a more hopeful note, I recently received a holiday card from the teacher whose journey I have just described. Surrounded by family and pets was the vibrant, passionate teacher I had first met. She had taken care of herself—and it showed. If you have received a complaint from the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission, contact the ATA’s Regulatory Affairs unit for support as soon as possible by calling 1-800-232-7208 or emailing regulatoryaffairs@ata.ab.ca.
SUPPLIED
Alicia Taylor addressed the media on Feb. 11.
ATA offers retirement planning sessions ATA News Staff If you are an early service teacher, retirement planning may feel far away, but the choices you make now can impact on your long-term financial security. Starting your active planning now gives you more flexibility, stronger growth potential and a clearer understanding of how your pension fits into your overall career plan. The ATA’s Teacher Employment Membership Support (TEMS) program area offers virtual retirement planning sessions designed to help members at the beginning of their career learn about pension plans, personal savings and additional retirement income sources available to teachers. Topics such as debt reduction and early-career financial planning are also covered. The next information session, “Understanding Your Pension,” will be held on March 18 at 7 p.m. Your pension partner/spouse is invited to attend with you so you both gain a clear understanding of the planning considerations that will support your future.
Gordon King Representation Officer
A teacher was facing a frivolous complaint from a parent. The Alberta Teaching Profession Commission (ATPC) did not gather information from the teacher during the mandatory preliminary inquiry stage. Unfortunately, without the teacher’s perspective and account of the matter, the ATPC launched a lengthy investigation into the complaint. It dragged on for nearly two years—two years to deal with a frivolous complaint. When the process finally concluded and correspondence arrived from the commissioner, the teacher asked me to be with her as she opened the email. She asked me to read the results. She wanted support for whatever came next.When I read aloud the wonderful words,“no further action,” she was so overcome with joy and relief that she broke down and wept. The weight of prolonged anxiety and stress finally lifted. She said through tears that she was “finally free to live her life.” It was a bittersweet moment. Over the course of the complaint process, I had witnessed our member change dramatically. She went from being a vibrant, enthusiastic person to someone who struggled to get out of bed, clouded by self-doubt and anxiety. The experience took a visible toll on her mental and emotional well-being. Facing a regulatory complaint can be daunting and dispiriting, especially for those unfamiliar with the procedures involved.Whether a complaint stems from a conflict with a parent, colleague or community member, it often triggers feelings
To learn more about retirement planning sessions, contact TEMS staff at 1-800- 232-7208. Register for the March 18 session here: https:// abteach.cc/pensionsession.
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