Welcome to the Elementaryteachers Federation of Ontario
Welcometo ETFO
2015-2016
Welcome to the ElementaryTeachers’ Federation of Ontario
ETFO is your professional and protective organization. Together we represent over 78,000 teachers, occasional teachers, designated early childhood educators (DECEs) and education workers employed in the public elementary schools of Ontario. You are an active member of ETFO provincially and you are also a member of one of the 76 ETFO locals across the province.
In welcoming you to ETFO, this book was developed to provide you with helpful information as you begin your teaching career and outline the work of your organization as well as the services available to you. ETFO strives to develop programs and services that both protect and enhance the working lives of members in these challenging times for education. We also work continuously to provide a welcoming environment that celebrates the diversity of our members and the students in our care. In addition to our internal work in support of members, ETFO reaches out to the broader community to foster a climate of social justice in this province and beyond.
Workplace Protection + Professional Development + Social Activism = ETFO
ETFO’S STATEMENT AND DEFINITION OF EQUITY:
It is the goal of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario to work with others to create schools, communities and a society free from all forms of individual and systemic discrimination. To further this goal, ETFO defines equity as fairness achieved through proactive measures which result in equality, promote diversity, foster respect and dignity for all.
Published by the
Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
136 Isabella Street Toronto, Ontario M4Y 0B5
Copyright 2015 by Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.
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Contents
WELCOME TO THE ELEMENTARYTEACHERS’ FEDERATION OF ONTARIO
Welcome to Teaching!...... 8
ETFO Human Rights Statement ...... 8
ALL ABOUT ETFO
The Objects and Priorities of ETFO ...... 9
ETFO’s Place in the World of Education . . . . .10
ETFO: At the Provincial Level ...... 11
ETFO: At the Local Level ...... 14
YOU, THE NEW MEMBER
Beginning Occasional Teachers ...... 16
Designated Early Childhood Educators (DECE)
Are Members of ETFO ...... 17
ETFO Member Information ...... 17
ETFO Stewards ...... 18
Getting Involved – Locally and Provincially. . .18
Your Local/School/Classroom/Board Information . . . .20
Your Collective Agreement ...... 21
Your Union Dues ...... 21
ETFO ADVISORIES
Current Advisories to Members ...... 22
ETFO POSITIONS
2014 Collective Bargaining ...... 26
ETFO NEW MEMBER SUPPORTS
New Members Section of the ETFO Website . .27
Online Resources for Occasional Teachers . .28
Survive and Thrive...... 28
ETFO Online AQ Courses ...... 28
ETFO Blogs and Websites ...... 29
ETFO Publications ...... 31
ETFO Workshops for New Members ...... 33
Edvantage ...... 33
TIPS FOR NEW MEMBERS RE: ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA
Practicing Caution —
Guidelines for Electronic Communications . . . .34
Defamatory Websites and Social Networking Pages .36
The Hidden Dangers of Electronic Communications .37
Electronic Communication and Social Media. ..39
Videotaping in the Classroom ...... 39
OTHER TIPS FOR NEW MEMBERS
Classroom Advice —
The Individual Education Plan (IEP) – What You Need to Know ...... 42
Classroom Management...... 44
Elementary Progress Report Card and Elementary Provincial Report Card Continued Implementation Update ...... 45
EQAO Testing ...... 47
Getting Started Checklists ...... 49
Occasional Teaching – Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) ...... 50
Parent/Guardian Communication ...... 53
Preparing for an Occasional Teacher...... 55
SCHOOL Advice —
New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP) . .. .56
Maintaining Professional Relationships
Among All Educators ...... 57
Positive School Team ...... 58
Building and Maintaining Positive Professional
Full-Day Kindergarten Team Relationships . . .59
PROFESSIONAL Advice —
Allegations Involving CAS and/or Police – What to do if it happens to you ...... 61
Balancing Career and Personal Life ...... 62
A Member’s Duty to Report under the
Child and Family Services Act ...... 64
Professional Boundaries ...... 65
Professionalism and Ethics ...... 69
Sabrina’s Law – An Act to Protect Anaphylactic
Pupils...... 70
Tutoring and Conflict of Interest Guidelines
for Members ...... 72
Volunteering...... 73
PRS Matters Bulletins: Advice for Members . . .75
ETFO MEMBERSHIP:
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Rights and Privileges of Membership
(Article V ETFO Constitution)...... 77
Code of Professional Conduct
(Article VI ETFO Constitution) ...... 78
Disciplinary Procedures
(Article VII ETFO Constitution)...... 79
ETFO:
THE PROVINCIAL ORGANIZATION
ETFO on the Web ...... 80
The Annual Meeting ...... 81
Representative Council...... 81
Standing Committees ...... 81
Awards ...... 82
ETFO and the Labour Movement...... 82
ETFO PROVINCIAL: SERVICES AREAS
Equity and Women’s Services (EWS) ...... 83
Communications and Political Action (CPA) . . .84
Professional Learning/Curriculum Services (PL/CS) . .85
Professional Relations Services (PRS) ...... 86
Collective Bargaining ...... 87
ETFO Leadership Development ...... 88
WHO’S WHO IN EDUCATION ...... 89
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
FOR NEW MEMBERS
Duties of Teachers...... 92
Criminal Allegations ...... 94
Child Abuse ...... 94
Parent Concerns ...... 94
The Ontario Human Rights Code ...... 95
Long-term Disability ...... 96
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board ...... 96
Occupational Health and Safety ...... 96
Pensions ...... 97
Employment Insurance ...... 97
Employment Insurance – Maternity and Parental
Benefits...... 98
A Member’s Guide to Pregnancy and
Parental Leave ...... 98 ln Conclusion ...... 98
APPENDIX
A Teacher’s Pledge...... 100
Glossary of Acronyms used in Education. .. . 101
136 Isabella Street,Toronto, Ontario, M4Y 0B5
Telephone 416-962-3836 Toll-free 1-888-838-3836 Fax 416-642-2424
Website:
WELCOME TO THE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS’ FEDERATION OF ONTARIO!
ETFO is the largest teachers’ union in Canada. We are a unique organization representing teachers, occasional teachers, designated early childhood educators (DECEs) and education workers in the elementary public schools of Ontario. I am proud of our members – over 76,000 strong.
When you accepted your position with your board, you became one of those members, joining in their collective strength, enthusiasm and commitment to each other and to their profession.
As a member of ETFO provincially, you also became a member of your local – one of 76 throughout the province. The foremost goal of both your provincial ETFO and your local is to serve the needs of all members.
Our members are dedicated and principled professionals. They care deeply about the conditions in which they work,
the children in their care and the society in which they live and their students will mature. ETFO’s resources, both human and financial, are directed to developing and implementing programs to meet those concerns.We strive to serve our members in both professional and protective capacities.
As a federation, we offer a wide range of personal and professional development as well as leadership and training opportunities. As a union, we offer collective strength through our bargaining and advocacy efforts. We consider ourselves a union of professionals.
As your union, we work to provide a welcoming environment that celebrates our diversity and encourages the participation of all our members.
We developed this book to show you some of the resources and services that are available to you as a member of ETFO.
Equally important is the information about opportunities for your involvement in ETFO and in your local.
You may remember that ETFO members led the way during a difficult fight against Bill 115, one of the most regressive pieces of anti-collective bargaining legislation ever seen in Canada. You should feel great pride in working alongside colleagues who, without hesitation, vigorously defended democratic rights for all working people in Ontario – including the students who will need those rights when they enter the workforce in future.
The current round of collective bargaining has been almost as difficult as the last. Central bargaining for teachers and occasional teachers during this round have been made unnecessarily difficult and lengthy by demands from the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) that, if implemented, would turn back the clock on working and learning conditions.
In response to OPSBA’s demands, ETFO members rose to the challenge. They provided a 95% strike vote in November 2014 to support ETFO’s bargaining goals. They began work-to-rule job action in May 2015 that derailed EQAO in public elementary schools and made classrooms places where student-centred learning prevailed over data-driven testing. Thousands attended rallies and made their voices heard online and in the media with a collective message: ETFO members will not allow the dismantling of policies and programs that have made Ontario’s public education system one of the best in the world.
As we continue to engage in central bargaining with the government and trustee associations, you become an ETFO member at a challenging time. But remember – you are never alone. No matter where you work in the province, ETFO is as close as your telephone or internet connection.
We are glad you have joined us. Welcome to ETFO!
Sam Hammond, President, Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
» Welcome to Teaching!
When you chose teaching as a career, you became part of a larger community of dedicated professionals committed to making a difference.
Whether you are a teacher, an OT, a DECE or an ESP or PSP, you will find the first few years on the job exciting, exhilarating, challenging and exhausting all at the same time. In the end, we trust you will find teaching a rewarding career choice.
The first year can be confusing as you are bombarded with information. What do you need to know? Is this important? Where can I find the right answers? Sometimes you don’t even know what questions to ask.To assist you, ETFO has developed this resource to help you find your way through the maze of information.
Good luck. Welcome to your new profession and welcome to ETFO.
MEMBERSHIP IN ETFO
When you signed on as an elementary teacher, an early childhood educator or an education worker in your board you became a member of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario. ETFO is your protective and professional organization. ETFO is your union.
» ETFO Human Rights Statement
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario is committed to:
• Providing an environment for members that is free from harassment and discrimination at all provincial andlocal Federation sponsored activities;
• Fostering the goodwill and trust necessary to protect the rights of all individuals within the organization;
• Neither tolerating nor condoning behavior that undermines the dignity or self-esteem of individuals or theintegrity of relationships; and
• Promoting mutual respect, understanding and co-operation as the basis of interaction among all members.
Harassment and discrimination on the basis of a prohibited ground are violations of the Ontario Human Rights Code and are illegal.The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario will not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code, at provincial or local Federation sponsored activities.
» ETFO FNMI Statement
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario acknowledges and thanks the First Peoples of this territory and other Indigenous peoples for sharing this land in order for us to continue our work today.
All About ETFO
» The Objects and Priorities of ETFO
Every organization has objectives that define its purpose and guide its work.The objects of ETFO are contained in the Constitution (Article Ill).
THE OBJECTS OF THE FEDERATION SHALL BE:
3.1to regulate relations between employees and employer, including but not limited to securing and maintaining through collective bargaining, the best possible terms and conditions of employment;
3.2to advance the cause of education and the status of teachers and educational workers;
3.3to promote a high standard of professional ethics and a high standard of professional competence;
3.4to foster a climate of social justice in Ontario and continue a leadership role in such areas as antipoverty, non-violence and equity;
3.5to promote and protect the interests of all members of the Federation and the students in their care;
3.6to co-operate with other organizations, in Ontario, Canada, and elsewhere, having the same or like objects; and
3.7to promote and defend the health and safety of members in the workplace.
While the programs and services of ETFO are designed with these objects in mind, each year at the Annual Meeting the membership sets the priorities of ETFO for the upcoming school year.
THE PRIORITIES OF ETFO FOR 2015-2016
• To protect the collective bargaining rights of allmembers.
• To defend publicly-funded public education.
• To serve the needs of the membership.
• To provide for the professional development of
members.
• To promote social justice in the areas of peace, anti-poverty, non-violence and equity.
• To support international assistance and co-
operation.
• To promote the care and protection of the
environment.
• To actively engage members in the Federation.
• To promote and protect the health and safety ofmembers.
» ETFO’s Place in the World of Education
Education International
About 30 million members
401 teacher organizations in 171 countries
Canadian Teachers’ Federation
approx. 200,000 members
Ontario Teachers’ Federation
approx. 160,000 memberss
l’Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco- ontariens
approx. 10,000 members
Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
Fédération des enseignantes et
des enseignants de l’élémentaire de l’Ontario
over 78,000 members
Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association
approx. 45,000 members
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation
approx. 60,000 members
WelcometoETFO2015-2016
» ETFO— At the Provincial Level
THE ONTARIO TEACHERS’ FEDERATION
ETFO is one of four affiliates that make up the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF). The other three are l’Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) and the Ontario
Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF). ETFO
has representation on the OTF Board of Governors and the OTF Executive. OTF is the official voice of all teachers in Ontario in dealings with the Ministry of Education on the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.
THE ETFO EXECUTIVE
The Executive at the provincial level consists of 14 members: the president; the first vice-president; two vice-presidents, one position open to women only; the ETFO representative to the Ontario Teachers’ Federation; and, additional executive members as necessary to complete an executive of 14. Four of these additional positions are open to women only.
The members of the Executive are elected to two-yeart erms by the delegates to the Annual Meeting.
The Executive meets regularly and is responsible for carrying out the business of the Federation, receiving reports and recommendations from committees, authorizing legal support for members in employment related cases and carrying out a variety of other responsibilities.
ELEMENTARY TEACHERS’ FEDERATION OF ONTARIO 2015-2017 EXECUTIVE
President
Sam Hammond
Hamilton-Wentworth Teacher Local
First Vice-President Susan Swackhammer Grand Erie Teacher Local
Vice-Presidents
Karen Brown Campbell
Elementary Teachers of Toronto Local
Nancy Lawler
Bluewater Teacher Local
OTF Table Officer
Diane Dewing
Upper Canada Occasional Teacher Local
Executive Members Gail Bannister-Clarke Peel Teacher Local
Tracy Blodgett
Trillium Lakelands Occasional Teacher Local
Adelina Cecchin
Greater Essex County Teacher Local
Nathan Core
Waterloo Region Occasional Teacher Local
Kelly Holley
Algoma Teacher Local
David Mastin
Durham Teacher Local
Monica Rusnak
Ontario North East Teacher Local
Greg Weiler
Waterloo Region Teacher Local
Deb Wells
Limestone Teacher Local
WelcometoETFO2015-2016
2015-2017 Executive
[Photos]
[Photos]
Administrative Leaders
The administrative leaders work with the staff of the Federation to implement the programs and services approved by the Executive and the Annual Meeting.
[Photos]
Victoria Réaume
General Secretary
Sharon O’Halloran Deputy General Secretary
Anne Rodrigue Deputy General Secretary
» ETFO—At the Local Level
You are a member of the local in your board. There are 76 locals in ETFO across the province. For the most part, each local is also a bargaining unit with a boundary corresponding to that of an employing school board. However in some of the school authorities there may be two or more bargaining units combined within a local. ETFO is the bargaining agent for all bargaining units.
Each local has a president, executive members, committees and other positions to meet the needs of the
membership in the local. Please visit the ETFO website to find your local’s information.
[MAP OF NORTHERN ONTARIO ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PUBLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARDS]
1Ontario North East
2Algoma
3Rainbow
4Near North
5AKeewatin-Patricia
5BRainy River
6ALakehead
6BSuperior-Greenstone
WelcometoETFO2015-2016 15
[MAP OF SOUTHERN ONTARIO ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PUBLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARDS]
7 Bluewater
8 Avon Maitland
9 Greater Essex County
10 Lambton Kent
11 Thames Valley
12 Toronto
13 Durham
14 Kawartha Pine Ridge
15 Trillium Lakelands
16 York Region
17 Simcoe County
18 Upper Grand
19 Peel
20 Halton
21 Hamilton-Wentworth
22 Niagara
23 Grand Erie
24 Waterloo Region
25 Ottawa-Carleton
26 Upper Canada
27 Limestone
28 Renfrew County
29 Hastings-Prince Edward
WelcometoETFO2015-2016
You, the New Member
» Beginning Occasional Teachers
Most teachers begin their careers as occasional teachers. Ontario’s new teachers across the province are increasingly relying on occasional teaching assignments as their introduction to the teaching profession.
Occasional teachers are a veryimportantpart of the school system.They are fully qualified teachers who are as legally responsible as any other teacher.They facethe added challenges of being called at a moment’s notice, following another teacher’s day plan anddealing with a multitude of unknowns in each teaching assignment.
A daily occasional teacher may be in a different school every day.Teachers who are absent for extended periods of time are replaced by long-term occasional (LTO) teachers.
An occasional teacher fulfills all of the responsibilities of the teacher that is absent. In most cases, this means that the occasional teacher has the same yard duty,
hall duty, classroom assignments and preparation time as the teacher being replaced. Check with your local occasional teacher collective agreements for the requirements around duty and preparation time, and provisions for the role of long-term occasional teacher.