New School Year, New Resources (OTF Report)
Is there any time in the school year that is more hectic than the fall? Arguably, all seasons are jam-packed, but the start of a school year seems to be especially busy. At OTF, autumn brings a whirlwind of activities and events. No sooner had the entrance bell rung than, as OTF president, I was welcoming federation presidents from across the country and representatives from the United States arriving to attend Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Building Blocks for Education Summit (www.bb4e.ca).Particularly fascinating were a keynote speaker who detailed the intricacies of Finnish education and one from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) who provided a global overview of public education. It was a privilege to participate in small group workshops where I was able to advance the status of the teaching profession and promote professionalism and teacher autonomy with administrators, bureaucrats, politicians, and parent groups from across Canada.
Promoting the profession and public education is a key part of OTF’s mandate. By the time you read this, OTF will have hosted a hospitality suite at the Ontario Liberal Party’s annual convention. OTF coordinates suites at all major party conventions on behalf of all of its affiliates, including ETFO, and has been doing so for decades. It allows affiliate leaders, members who are delegates, and party politicians to discuss issues one-on-one and in small, informal groups. If there is a convention coming to a city near you, OTF will be there!
In a previous column, I highlighted the Safe@ School bullying prevention initiatives that OTF has been involved in over the last three years. Included is the online professional learning community that allowed a cadre of teachers to develop resources on issues of homophobia, racism, and sexism. The work is now complete and the final report has been submitted to the Ministry of Education. You can now download these free resources from the website safeatschool.ca. A special thanks to ETFO members who participated in this innovative work model!
Teacher-designed and developed materials created by It’s About Time project participants will soon also be online at the OTF website, posted in the Professional Learning section. This project, funded by the Ministry of Education, provides release time for teachers to work together to develop curriculum resources or other projects.
And finally, it is with great pleasure that I share OTF’s Teachers’ Gateway to Special Education,teachspeced.ca, an amazing online resource and repository launched recently. It is comprehensive, well organized, user friendly, and free! With funding from the Ministry of Education, OTF has drawn together a wealth of information, strategies, and supports into a practical guide for teachers. There is also room for you to share your expertise – teachers know what teachers need!
There is much to share about OTF’s professional learning opportunities this year, but the best way to stay in the know is to regularly visit our website, otffeo.on.ca, where you will find information – including the PD Calendar – about conferences and projects that you can access.
