Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Local educator comes up short in bid for BCTF executive post

The recent Annual General Meeting of the BCTF tackled a number of issues of concern for the province's teachers as they gathered in Vancouver for a week of study sessions, workshops and speeches.

Beyond that aspect of the convention, there was the more political agenda of the BCTF gathering, that of the election of members to the executive committee for 2014.

Among those standing in nomination for a position were Prince Rupert teacher Joanna Larson, who was seeking another term as a Member at large to the Executive at the conference.

Ms. Larson, who served in that position through 2013, was a frequent contributor to the discussion of the week both at the AGM and through a variety of social media options, the latter a format that the BCTF has embraced as a way to deliver its message to a wider audience.

As the election hour approached the Prince Rupert hopeful was seeking the support of BCTF members through her twitter feed.


However, despite a very well received campaign, Ms. Larson's bid came up short this year, as the BCTF elected and then introduced the new slate of members for 2014.

At the AGM, Topley teacher Jim Iker, of the Burns Lake District Teachers Unon was re-elected for a second one year term as president of the BC Teachers' Federation. Not a surprising development, considering that the BCTF is currently engaged in labour negotiations with the province.

In a press release issued following the executive announcements, the BCTF affirmed their current bargaining strategy, which recently delivered their executive with a strike option as they continue their negotiations with the Government of British Columbia.

Prior to the gathering, Janet Steffenhagen who writes a blog for the BC Confederation of Parent Advisory councils offered up a look at some of the resolutions and discussion topics to be addressed at the AGM.

We have more on Education in the Northwest on our archive page.



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