Governing Ourselves informs members of legal and regulatory matters affecting the profession. This section provides updates on licensing and qualification requirements, notification of Council resolutions and reports from various Council committees, including reports on accreditation and discipline matters.
Annual meeting of members
2009 a year of building, Registrar tells Annual Meeting of Members attendees
2009 was a year of building for the College, Registrar Michael Salvatori, OCT, told attendees at the annual meeting of College members in June.
“Just as teachers build their students’ confidence, skills, knowledge and attitudes, we continued to build our support for members,” said Salvatori, who was appointed by Council last year. “We are committed to acting in the public interest. Our work in 2009 proves that.
“From our research into teacher supply issues to our work to streamline certification and qualification procedures, we kept our focus on issues significant to Ontario’s teaching profession now and well into the future.”
Among the highlights, the Registrar said the College:
- served almost 5,000 more members than it had in 2008
- created a Find an AQ search engine on its web site to help members expand their subject knowledge and classroom skills
- decided to buy – with Council’s approval – new facilities to give members equity and stabilize long-term costs
- committed to reducing the College’s environmental footprint
- improved its bilingual service to French-speaking members in information technology and in its publications
- hired five additional people in Investigations and Hearings to handle the increase in volume
- operated within a budget of $32.3 million, including a surplus of just under $1 million, which Council used to moderate member fees this year.
The College’s leadership underwent dramatic change in 2009. An election was held to choose the College’s fifth Council. Liz Papadopoulos, OCT, who returned to Council after a three-year hiatus, was selected as Chair. Ruth Ann Penny, OCT, was chosen by her Council peers as Vice-Chair.
In addition to Salvatori’s appointment as Registrar, Council appointed Joe Jamieson, OCT, as Deputy Registrar.
The Council Chair told attendees she was “very pleased” that Council had established a professional designation indicating that each College member is an Ontario Certified Teacher.
“The OCT designation – trademarked and launched by the College in the fall of 2009 – tells our students, parents and the public that our ethical standards and standards of practice guide and inspire the work of teachers every day.”
Papadopoulos said that the College “fine-tuned a groundbreaking update to teacher certification” in 2009 that will improve educator preparedness for the classrooms of tomorrow.
She also highlighted Council’s request of the provincial government to enable the College to impose publication bans on discipline hearings to protect the identities of victims and vulnerable witnesses.
Keynote speaker Kathy English of the Toronto Star
In a spirited keynote address, Toronto Star public editor Kathy English likened the purpose of journalism to the College’s role to serve the public interest. Journalism’s primary purpose is to “provide citizens with the information they need to be free and self-governing.
“Journalists see themselves as playing a role in society, a role in democracy. From that follows accountability journalism, serious investigative journalism that prevents corruption and keeps the powerful in check.”
She said that where the College upholds ethical standards of care, respect, trust and integrity, the media and specifically the Star follow ethics that involve accuracy, truth, fairness, independence, impartiality and the rights of individuals to privacy.
To see a video of the Chair’s and Registrar’s remarks or Kathy English’s keynote address, go to www.oct.ca . To see the College’s 2009 annual report, go to www.oct.ca.