Why am I running (again) to be President of the Saskatoon Teachers' Association?
Why am I running (again) to be President of the Saskatoon Teachers' Association?
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My 2023 platform, which became my mandate after being elected in the fall of 2023, was that of a big, open and transparent STA. My belief was, and continues to be, that our power springs from the strength and rigour of our collectivity. Collectively, we’ve worked together over the past 2 years to build an STA that is big, open, and transparent—one that strengthens our voice and our power.
Bigger: We’ve expanded member participation in bargaining, revitalized Convention to showcase our members’ expertise, strengthened our substitute teacher community, and deepened relationships with the STF and other Locals.
More Open: We’ve improved direct member communication, involved members in financial decision-making, provided training in Organizing 4 Power, and welcomed broader participation in STA committees and leadership.
More Transparent: We’ve implemented strong governance policies, ensured financial accountability, created record-keeping systems, increased reporting requirements, and improved oversight of STA assets.
But our work is just beginning, and I now ask for your support in continuing this work for a second term as STA President. The next two years will focus on organizing our membership for real power, so that when we speak, we are heard, and when we act, we win. Your colleagues are ready to lead this charge, and I am ready to continue working alongside you to build our collective strength.
I ask for you to vote for me on April 28 & 29 to keep this momentum going. I invite you to also continue reading for a deeper exploration of how we have worked together over the past two years to build the foundations of a big, open and transparent STA.
How exactly are we bigger, more open and more transparent?
How exactly are we bigger, more open and more transparent?
Big
Opened local bargaining (LINC) structures to actively involve members at every stage, from working groups to surveys and town halls.
Recentred Convention on members’ expertise, highlighting their talent and knowledge in breakout sessions.
Strengthened the Substitute Teacher Committee to build community and capacity.
Deepened relationships with the STF and other Local Associations, fostering collaboration, resource sharing, and acts of solidarity. STA now has full representation at STF Council and Leadership events.
Open
Collected non-work email addresses and established communication channels to keep all members informed.
Engaged members in balancing the mid-year budget review (March 2024) and implemented policies for ongoing financial security.
Supported any member interested in Organizing 4 Power training and extended the same opportunity for the upcoming *Rules to Win By* training.
Encouraged flexible committee participation, recognizing teachers’ workload while valuing all contributions.
Officially welcomed Substitute Teachers to join committees, run for Executive positions, and serve as Councillors.
Transparent
Strengthened governance with clear policies and a renewed constitution to ensure transparency and accountability, including:
Conflict of interest guidelines
Budget overage controls
Creation of new budget lines
Executive oversight on contract signings
Mandatory price quotes for large purchases
Record retention policies to safeguard STA documentation
Established a centralized STA Google Folder and @saskatoonteachers.ca emails to ensure accurate record-keeping for all committees.
Implemented reporting requirements for the President and Committee Chairs at Executive and Assembly meetings for greater financial transparency.
Created a Financial Review Committee to involve members from the start of the budgeting process.
Ended alcohol reimbursements for Executive and Committee Meetings; introduced a drink ticket system for sanctioned STA events.
Initiated STA technology asset tracking, with serial numbers recorded in QuickBooks for accountability.
Evaluated and renegotiated long-term contracts over the past two years,, achieving approximately $68,000 in annual savings. These funds have been reinvested to stabilize our contingency fund, enhance and modernize STA operations, and provide direct member support.
Beyond this, we have also taken steps to modernize and increase our operational efficiency, including:
Local Bookkeeping & Digital Payments: Transitioned bookkeeping services locally and shifted from cheques to online banking, reducing member reimbursement times from weeks to hours.
STA Credit Card Implementation: Secured an STA credit card to prevent conflicts of interest related to personal credit card rewards and to remove financial barriers for the President’s role, ensuring equitable access to leadership.
The work we set out to do together two years ago isn’t finished: we have only just begun. I ask you to continue building this movement with me: strengthening our team, expanding our capacity, and fighting for our future. Over the next two years, we will focus on organizing our membership to speak with one voice and act collectively. Your colleagues have been training for this, and they’re ready to begin. I ask for your vote on April 28 & 29 so we can continue building your voice and power together.
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