SOTA Executive

I have been teaching for 12 years, the last eight in Seven Oaks. I joined the SOTA Executive six years ago and have served in several capacities: Member at Large, Public Relations, Economic Welfare, Vice-President, and currently as your President. I have also been involved in a great deal of SOTA Executive initiatives. I find Association work challenging and rewarding, and working on behalf of teachers has always been my priority. Outside of Association work, I enjoy shopping, starting home renovations (but not finishing them), stained glass crafts, reading, spending time with friends and family, trying new restaurants, seeing live bands, golfing badly, and relaxing at our family cabin in Pleasant Valley.

president

I have been a member of the Seven Oaks Teachers’ Association Executive since 2005. In that time I have worked hard to gain experience in all aspects of Association work; as SOTA Secretary, a Member at Large co-chairing the Resolution Committee and a member of the Economic Welfare Committee and Table Team. This year, as Economic Welfare Chair, I have attended MTS Metro Meetings and Provincial Bargaining and Education Finance Seminars as my work has been focused on developing an opening package for our next round of bargaining. Whether I am at formal meetings with Superintendents, Trustees, and Provincial Colleagues or informally in staff rooms across the division, I am always advocating on behalf of the teachers of Seven Oaks. I am honoured to be continuing this work next year as SOTA Vice President. During my leisure time, I enjoy golfing, working in my garden, and discovering the many great restaurants Winnipeg has to offer.

vice-president economic welfare

This will be my second year as SOTA Past-President. I returned to the classroom in September 2009 at Edmund Partridge Community School where I teach grade seven. I have been fortunate to serve as your Past-President this past year and have enjoyed the challenging discussions that continue to keep our Association strong and united. I am looking forward to working for you again in the 2010-2011 school year.

past president

I have been a teacher in Seven Oaks for 29 years. I was a classroom teacher for 18 years, teaching both at the high school level (Garden City & Maples), and junior high level at Ken Seaford. These last 11 years, I have been a resource teacher at Ken Seaford and Leila North Community School. It was at Leila North where I became interested in serving as a SOTA Head Councillor. The hard work that your Executive has exhibited in serving you the members over the years intrigued me and after attending AGM one year, I was very interested in becoming an Executive member. I am presently serving on Executive as your Treasurer and my intentions are to continue to serve you the members in this capacity in the up-coming school year.

treasurer

When Marusia joined Seven Oaks School Division she began at R. F. Morrison teaching Ukrainian, French, and English in the English Ukrainian Bilingual Program. Having the opportunity to teach a variety of grade levels she stayed there for 26 years. Presently Marusia is enjoying her new home at Victory School as the Learning Support teacher. It’s time for her to give back to an organization that has been there for her. She looks forward to working with and for SOTA members.

secretary

I started my career in Seven Oaks in 1989. I was lucky to have had the opportunity to teach in the beautiful Hub of the North, Thompson, for 5 years before signing on with Seven Oaks School Division. I have taught several grades but I truly enjoy teaching “the little ones”. I have been Head Councillor at Riverbend School for the past three years. This position has enabled me to better understand what my Association has done for me and my colleagues and what it continues to do. I look forward to this opportunity to work with an enthusiastic and hard working Executive.

professional issues

I have been teaching for 27 years, and have been involved with a Teachers Association for the entire time. I started teaching in Evergreen School Division where I was the school’s divisional P.D. rep for the two years I was there. Upon starting in Seven Oaks, I was one of the school’s divisional P.D. rep’s my first year. For the 24 years that have followed, I have been a SOTA Councillor. For 7 of those years, I served on the SOTA Executive as Treasurer. Out of the remaining years, most of them have been served as the school’s Head Councillor. I also served numerous years on the Negotiations Table Team, and on Resolutions. In Seven Oaks, I have taught at Elwick, Victory, Margaret Park, ÉSOMS, and Edmund Partridge.

member at large

I am currently teaching at H.C. Avery School as a guidance counsellor. I have been teaching for 34 years at various schools and levels in Seven Oaks including such areas as music, special education and guidance. My experiences with SOTA have included being a Head Councillor and a school representative for many years at the beginning of my teaching career. I look forward to being a part of the SOTA Executive and contributing to the ongoing positive support and advocacy to SOTA members.

member at large

I have been teaching for 31 years, all but two have been with Seven Oaks School Division. I have taught at West St. Paul and Governor Semple and am currently at Collicutt School. Over the last several years I have had the privilege to serve on the SOTA Executive. I have served as EIE Chair, PD Co-Chair, Co-Chair of Professional Issues and most recently as Chair of Resolutions. In my “spare time” (whatever that is) I referee volleyball and am involved with a taiko drumming group – Fubuki Daiko Kagemusha.

member at large

Hello everyone! I am a new teacher to the Seven Oaks School Division. I am recent University graduate, and had the pleasure of having my final practicum placement at O.V. Jewitt within the Seven Oaks division. I am currently teaching at Edmund Partridge Community School as both a physical education teacher, and as a grade 6 classroom teacher. I am serving on a number of school committees, and have been coaching several of the sports teams at Edmund Partridge. I have just been introduced to the opportunity of being on the SOTA executive, and have had a small taste of SOTA by attending the Resolutions Committee meetings. I am really looking forward to the chance of working with the Executive.

member at large

My name is Jeff Anderson and I have been teaching in Seven Oaks School Division for the past 24 years. In 1986 I started at James Nisbet School teaching grade 5. I was there for 5 years and then I moved to Ken Seaford Junior High where I taught Grades 7, 8, and 9 over the next 6 years. During that time I was very involved in coaching particularly with the Maples High School Hockey Team. As well during that time I began my Masters Degree and acted as head councilor and PD chair for the school. In 1997 I moved to West Kildonan Collegiate where I taught for the next 5 years. During that time I continued to be a School SOTA Representative and eventually served on SOTA Executive where I was the PD Chair for two years. I completed my Masters Degree in 2001 and in 2002 I moved to École Seven Oaks Middle School as Vice Principal, a position I held until 2008. In 2008 I was appointed principal of Governor Semple School and I am currently in that role.

member at large

Hello everyone. I have been teaching for seven years in the division. I am currently at O.V.Jewitt School teaching a multi-age 4-5 class. Our school is K-8 and I have enjoyed coaching at my grade level as well as coaching the middle years students. I became involved with SOTA three years ago when I started attending council meetings. Last year I had the privilege of being at the MTS annual general meeting, thus getting to know the enthusiastic executive members. I am happy to be working with such wonderful and dedicated people on your executive and hope to work towards supporting all of our members. Thank you for the opportunity and warm welcome!

member at large