Note: The Mercury is embracing a unique opportunity to explore education from the perspective of two local residents who have just recently been elected to senior roles in provincial and national educational administration.
The first of this two-part series sees us visiting with former Estevan Comprehensive School educator Colin Keess who assumed the role as president of the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation this past summer.
Next week we'll take another look at education administration from the trustees' perspective as we visit with Estevan's Janet Foord who was recently selected to a similar role with the Saskatchewan School Boards Association and a seat at the table with counterparts from all across Canada.
On Nov. 1, The Mercury made contact with Keess at the STF's head office in Saskatoon and we began by asking him why he wanted to be involved on this side of the teaching/administrative game.
Keess pondered it for a moment, then said, "I've always been involved in teacher advocacy, beginning with a term as a representative in the Shamrock School Division (East Central Sask.). Since then I've been on the provincial body for nine years. Once on the executive I felt it would be interesting to go through the chairs, if it were possible, and here I am."
It was noted that Keess was at the forefront of teacher rallies and demonstrations a couple of summers ago. These events, including limited work-related actions and withdrawals of service were part of a difficult negotiating period that eventually led to a new contract signed between the Ministry of Education and the provincial teachers represented by the STF.
Keess admitted that the discussions were difficult at times, but the educators showed resolve and "now it's time to take care of other important things. We get to represent about 12,000 teachers and as an advocate for them, I am finding that I am travelling to several locations as we promote education and teachers in all manner of ways. I was just up north recently, getting a good feel for what happens there. We have to be concerned with what is happening on a number of fronts, like perhaps French immersion teachers or teachers for specialized areas where the supply can be spotty."
Dealing with local teacher associations is also part of the job while keeping in an almost constant contact with the Education Ministry and their evolving initiatives. So far Keess says, the working relationship has been positive.
STF doesn't get too overly involved in professional development trends since that is the role for local school divisions, but the federation does have a strong outreach program that takes them to other Canadian federations to learn what's going on in each provincial jurisdiction, picking up the national issues that will relate to Saskatchewan and will require involvement. Keess said that often takes the form of speaking out on equity issues, First Nations inclusion, literacy and poverty.
What he finds surprising about this still relatively new job is "how incredibly busy I've been. I knew it was a pretty demanding job from what I've observed others do, but involvement in project teams, travelling, consultation. I have to say It's been busier than I thought it would be."
But at the same time, the former body builder, teacher and administrator said, "We have some pretty remarkable people delivering a great product. I'll give you one quick example. On the northern trip, I hit 11 schools in three days including one school at Bear Creek; student enrolment of six, they hold their classes in a trailer. Out of the six, two were absent, so I saw a remarkable teacher and four little girls doing some great work in spite of the circumstances and situation. You can take heart when you see and hear things like what I saw and heard. They (teachers) do the job, no matter what!"
With that in mind, Keess said that if public education becomes an issue, he knows he can speak with some confidence when he says "it's being well cared for." And teacher training at the University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan is doing the job and such advanced programs as virtual classrooms will be pulled off with an expertise that few will be able to match.
In the meantime, the STF still needs to husband a big budget, run herd on a significant pension fund that he says is well maintained with tons of diligence provided by financial caretakers "who are doing risk analysis every day up on the fourth floor here in our office."
Sliding back to the outreach model, Keess said the STF is also very proud of its overseas projects, especially the sponsorship partnership they have with India, which entails two STF members making their way to the country every year under the Project India banner while Indian teachers come here.
"It's a long standing relationship with them and without a doubt there is a universality with children component that we're privileged to be involved with, privileged to be in a position to be giving back. We have senior administrative staff heading out to India in January."
Keess said that while he has the STF's so-called top job, he's cognizant of the fact that he is simply "the board's voice."
He said he's happy to be involved in this fall's public relations campaign that is designed to give the public a taste of the classroom realities. The blog is Thisistheclassroom.ca
The themes change, but Keess said it's important to let the public know that education is open for public consumption, willing to share the message of changing demographics in the province and how educators are responding to the challenges, whether it be English as additional language classes, coping with more kids "a real good problem to have," or the challenges of finding good facilities.
"STF has a role to play," he said in conclusion.
Keess said he has been seconded to the provincial body, allowing him to take a formal leave-of-absence from his teaching duties at ECS for the year and then the decisions will evolve from there.
He and his wife Leigh are residing in Saskatoon but are maintaining their home in Estevan.
"We will be back in Estevan, it's our home. And yes, I do miss the kids and the school. I did manage to get back there once since I started this job and got to see the kids for all the right reasons, and I see how things are so positive there, and I do miss it," he said.
It's difficult for the teacher to pull himself out of the classroom, no matter how exciting the new job may be.
