They hold key leadership positions at the Ontario College of Teachers and influence many aspects of the teaching profession, including your teaching certificate, discipline and your education.

But just what exactly do the College Chair, Vice-Chair, Registrar and Deputy Registrar do?

The Chair and Vice-Chair are elected positions of the 37-member College Council, which develops and approves policies to regulate the teaching profession. The Council elects a Chair and Vice-Chair at the first meeting following an election.

Council appoints the Registrar and Deputy Registrar. The Registrar draws his authority from the Ontario College of Teachers Act, performs the duties set out in the Act, regulations and bylaws, and co-ordinates the work of College staff. The Act indicates that the Deputy shall have the powers of the Registrar.

Keep reading to meet your College Chair, Vice-Chair, Registrar and Deputy Registrar. You’ll learn more about their duties and responsibilities and how that affects you.

Chair of Council

Liz Papadopoulos, OCT, an elementary teacher with the Toronto DSB, is enjoying her second consecutive term as Council Chair. She was selected by her peers to head the sixth College Council in July 2012.

In the role of full-time Chair of Council, she presides over Council, represents the College at major stakeholder functions and promotes public awareness of the College’s mandate. Along with the Registrar, she signs all Certificates of Qualification and Registration.

She is required to chair the Executive Committee and is also active on the Investigation, Human Resources and Quality Assurance committees. She reports to the annual meeting of members, meets with the Minister of Education and attends orientation sessions for all new Council members.

“It is an opportunity to contribute to a profession that I love,” says Papadopoulos, who also served as a College Council member from 2000 to 2006. “Maintaining relationships, communication and organization — that’s a huge part of the job.”

With 37 members, Council work dominates a Chair’s duties. She provides information so they can make informed decisions and devotes hours of planning for Council meetings. Her schedule is filled with speaking engagements at faculty tours, to parent associations and teacher federations.

“The standards that the College established for the profession, by the profession, should be celebrated,” she says. “The College has evolved by consulting broadly. We don’t make decisions in a vacuum. I think it’s important for the teaching profession to know that. We are always researching and looking at better ways to do things.”

Vice-Chair of Council

Marc Dubois, OCT, is a high school teacher with the Conseil scolaire de district des écoles catholiques du Sud-Ouest. He is currently serving his second term on Council — his first as Vice-Chair.

The Vice-Chair’s main duties are to assume those of the Chair when she is unavailable. These include chairing Council or Executive Committee meetings, or representing Council on behalf of the Chair at other functions. Traditionally, the Vice-Chair is also a member of the Steering Committee for Council meetings.

Dubois, who began teaching in 1990, says he appreciates the opportunity to occasionally step into this leadership role.

He also enjoys singing. “Not only do I sing, but I really like to harmonize,” Dubois said in his election speech. “I put my name forward for election as Vice-Chair because I felt my past experiences in the profession and in my community, as well as those I had as a member of the fifth Council — like harmony in a song — would be an asset to Council and the College. I also felt that my language abilities [fluently bilingual in French and English] would be of benefit.”

The Vice-Chair role allows Dubois the opportunity to meet a diversity of people, including members of the profession, the public and other organizations. Plus, he enjoys working more closely with his colleagues on Council and with College staff.

“It’s an interesting complement to my life as a full-time classroom teacher,” he says.

CEO and Registrar

Having served in varied roles in education in Ontario — French second- language teacher, principal, curriculum co-ordinator, university professor — Michael Salvatori, OCT, finds his role as Registrar of the College one of the most rewarding in his career.

The College Registrar, as chief executive officer, manages the day-to-day operations of the College. Among the responsibilities of the Registrar are the issuing of teaching certificates and maintaining the public register of members. The Registrar also has the authority to appoint investigators in the complaint process and to accredit additional qualification courses offered by providers throughout the province.

Four departments provide member services and support the work of the Council committees under the leadership of the Registrar’s office: Corporate and Council Services, Membership Services, Investigations and Hearings, and Standards of Practice and Accreditation. The Registrar is responsible to the College Council, so maintaining professional relationships with 37 Council members is also part of the job.

A typical day is hard to define as the opportunities and responsibilities are varied adding to the richness and stimulating nature of the role. It’s a balance of overseeing the operations of the College internally and outreach activities.

Salvatori’s capacity to work in both English and French allows him to represent the College in meetings with leaders in the education and regulatory sectors, such as Ontario’s deans of faculties of education and the directors of education of French-language school boards. He presents often, such as speaking at a research conference about diversifying the teaching profession to meet the needs of diverse learners. He is currently chair of a national and international conference of regulators helping to ensure the College’s place as a leader in the regulatory sector.

“I’m proud to be a teacher and proud of the work we do,” says Salvatori, appointed Registrar in 2009. “Our teachers act ethically. They keep students safe. They are committed to student learning. And it’s a privilege to work in an organization that regulates in the public interest.”

Deputy Registrar

Joe Jamieson, OCT, appointed Deputy Registrar in 2009, spearheaded the last two College professional advisories: Use of Electronic Communication and Social Media and Safety in Learning Environments. He chaired the successful 2012 College conference, an event that will be held every two years. He also assists with the College’s Registration Appeals Committee.

As Deputy Registrar, he is responsible for oversight of the financial operations of the College and major corporate initiatives. The Deputy Registrar shares in leadership, outreach and administrative duties, and can act as Registrar.

In his role as Deputy Registrar, Jamieson nurtures and maintains stakeholder relationships. He attends to the needs and inquiries of Council and committees, providing insight and advice. He makes presentations about topics like professional boundaries and social media, and school safety and learning environments. He also speaks to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered students.

“I welcome the opportunity to interact with members,” he says. “It puts a face to the College and it helps members understand the privilege and purpose of self-regulation. It gives me a chance to teach, which is still deep in my bones.”