After COVID forced the cancellation of our conference for the last two years, it was such a relief to finally be able to put on an in-person event once more! Nearly 450 of you showed up. And rest assured that we are already hard at work planning for 2024.
At the AGM this year, elections were held to fill the positions of President and Vice President for two year terms. Congratulations to Tianay de Andrade, who was elected to the role of President. She teaches in Mission, BC. Congratulations as well to Sean Blake, who was elected to the role of Vice-President. He teaches at the Rutland Learning Centre in Kelowna, BC. Both have served on the Executive for a number of years, and will continue to contribute to your association in their new roles. Their terms begin July 1st.
On the Saturday following the Conference, the Executive met for the post-conference follow-up and to begin planning in earnest for 2024 and beyond. It is during this meeting that appointments are made for various Executive positioins. DJ Pauls was appointed Conference Coordinator, Karen Gadowsky was appointed Speaker Coordinator, Christine Thygesen was appointed Registrar, Mike Shaw was appointed Publications Manager, and Samara Stratton was appointed Editor. All appointed positions are for a term of one year, and take effect on July 1st.
The BCAEA engages in a number of activities for its members, including holding a conference in Vancouver every February, publishing a newsletter twice a year, maintaining a provincial alternate programs directory, and providing a list serve. We also provide $16,000 annually in awards for eligible students and grants for eligible teachers.
The BCAEA is famous for the annual Challenge & Change conference (and the Schmooze, of course!). We are delighted to have held an in-person conference once again in 2023.
The Association provides grants and awards to member teachers and awards and bursaries to member-sponsored students totalling $16,000. Just one of the perks of membership!
Attend our annual conference and automatically get a one year association membership. If you didn’t attend the conference, you can still pay the fee and join the PSA.
The Association publishes the conference brochure each fall, and a newsletter in the fall and spring. Members choose to receive these as either an electronic or paper copies.