Garry Hoffart (2010)

My career started in 1976 with the Foothills School Division at Black Diamond Elementary, aka C. I. McLaren. I was asked to take over the special education class of 14 coed students ranging in age from 6 to 14 years of age. From those humble beginnings I travelled to Spitzee, Cayley, Blackie, teaching classes from Kindergarten to grade nine. During my last years in Foothills I served as an administrator for Blackie and Millarville Schools.

My interest in science and math led me to be associated and connected to A.P.E.E.G.A., Science Alberta, and Canada Wide Science Fairs. These associations helped me in being on the ground floor in developing the Science Fairs in Foothills and area. This also allowed me to develop Science Olympics and Math Fairs. Of course, none of this could have been reached without the support of my fellow colleagues and the parents of the children I had the opportunity to have n my class.

Enjoyment of the outdoors assisted me in developing Outdoor Education programs at the schools where I taught. I took this into the community and ran programs for the Boy Scouts and Venturers taking me to Alberta Wide and Canada Wide Scouting Jamborees.

I enjoyed the banter between my students and getting to know them and their families. I especially enjoyed the use of the English language and in the words of one of my parents, "We appreciate your propensity to properly proliferate your pupils’ progress, your prominent humour which perpetually provides positive and practical ponderings, we take pride in your propriety and professionalism which we can’t possibly or properly pontificate. We wish you much prosperity in great proportion and are proud to call you our pal."

I loved teaching. However, there comes a point in everyone’s career where we pause to reflect on the history of that time. I reached that point and decided that I would like to see some different horizons and seek out new adventures. Foothills were my family for all of these years and I made some wonderful friends, colleagues and compatriots. The staff, the parents and especially the kids in each of the schools that I have been associated with have been truly awesome!

My association with the Palliser Teachers Convention Association was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. This positive experience has led me to become the Vice Chairman of FRTA, a branch of ARTA.

New horizons include working with my two older sons in developing a home construction company that embodies the ideals of sustainable and renewable energy use, varying energy sources and environmental building techniques. I am also interested in travelling and possibly teaching in another part of the world.

I have used these inspirational words from Ella Wheeler Wilcox as my guide for my life and my new horizons, "Tis the set of the sails, and not the direction of the gales, that determines the way we go.".

Shirley Jones (2009)

Shirley was born and educated in Calgary.   She received her B.Sc, B.Ed, Ed. Dip, M.Ed all from U of C.  She taught for Foothills School Division for 37 years, teaching grades from kindergarten to grade 9 and mentored high school students while they studied through distant learning.  She finished her career teaching for the Cayley Hutterite colony.  It was there in 2001, she won an Excellence in Teaching Award.  She also celebrated the graduation of two Cayley Colony girls, who were the first students from an Alberta colony and a colony school to write provincial diploma exams
and graduate from high school.  One more student graduated during Shirley’s tenure.

Shirley volunteered 35 of the 37 years to the Foothills’ local ATA.  She held many positions including:  president, secretary, NSC/EPC chair, and she ended her work with the ATA as a convention board representative.  She also held position on provincial ATA committees: Long Range Planning committee and Teacher Education and Certification Committee.

In her retirement, Shirley is enjoying travel, and volunteers for the Jamaican club.  Close to home, she enjoys doing crafts and also gardens.   Shirley has taken up golf and enjoys spending time with her good friend and companion Spencer.  She is a good friend to many.

Brian Gancheff (2007)

Professional History:

• Graduate University of Calgary 1972

• Began teaching career at Exshaw School 1972-74 Gr.9

• Joined staff at Airdrie Elementary-Junior High 1974.  Taught Gr. 9 and was on elem/junior high physical education team.

• Assigned A.P. Kathryn School February 1977.

• Served as Acting P. in 1978

• Assigned as A.P. at the opening of Muriel Clayton in 1979

• Assigned as P at Crossfield Elem/Junior in 1981

• Assigned as P at Indus School in 1982

• Assigned Interim P at Elizabeth Barrett in 1989

• Assigned P at R.J. Hawkey in 1991

• Assigned P at Conrich in 1998

• Assigned P at opening of Prairie Waters in 2002

• Retired in 2004

ATA History:

• Served on EPC and Convention Committees in Exshaw in 1973

• Served at the local level on EPC, Social, Advisory, and Scholarship and Convention committees from 1976 to 1998 during my 30 years as a member of the Rocky View Local.

• On the Convention Board I served as a member at large for 3 years, Asst. Display Chair for 1 year, Displays Chair for 5 years, President a year and Past President for two years.

Specific years: see note above, but I believe the following is close:

·        1981-84 member at large

·        1984 assistant Display Chair

·        1985-89 Display Chair

·        1990 President

·        1991-1992 Past President

Time serving on the Convention Committee is the most vivid involvement in my professional life. The time spent with fellow colleagues at the Convention as well as the involvement in making this occasion as meaningful for everyone as possible was a real treat. I forged many other friendships with the display representatives and continue to enjoy many of these still. Unfortunately some have passed away and the memories of the times I spent with them will always be special.

Don Ross (2006)

Don began his teaching career in 1971 with Rocky View School Division and remained with this system for 33 years serving as a teacher assistant principal, principal, Director of Human Resources and Associate Superintendent.  Don completed a B.Ed. degree and diploma in Educational Administration from the University of Calgary and a Master’s degree with a focus an educational administration from San Diego State University.

Don has served Local 35 as a school representative, a member of the Economic Policy committee (EPC), a member of the Negotiation Sub Committee (NSC) and Vice President.  He was a Rocky View representative on the Palliser Convention board for 14 years, serving in a variety of capacities including Communications Officer, Displays Chairman, Vice President and 2 terms as President.

He was a member on the Steering Committee for the Western Canadian Educational Administrator’s Conference (WCEAC) for 4 terms and had the privilege of co-chairing the Canadian Association of Principal’s (CAP) 10th annual National Conference.

Provincially he served as the Calgary regional representative on the Council on School Administration (CSA) with the pleasure of serving as the President of this council for 2 terms.  He also had the distinct pleasure of serving as the Alberta representative to the Canadian Association of Principals for 2 years.

Don also served for 3 terms as the council of Alberta School Superintendents’ (CASS) representative on the University of Calgary’s Field Studies (student teaching) committee.

Since his retirement in 2004, Don and his wife Sherri have been spending their winters in their home in Phoenix and traveling with friends and family.     

Barry Pratte (2005)

Barry’s teaching career began in the spring of 1971 upon graduation from the University of Lethbridge.  A single School Division, and more specifically one school, employed him as a teacher for thirty-three years. 

There have been many highlights over my career:

The introduction of an outdoor awareness campout for the grades 6 & 7 students of G.R. Davis School

Coached grade 6 Spelling Bee team to the Provincial Championships

Grade 7 girls volley ball coach for 6 years

Track and Field coach at all levels with special interest in high jumping and racing

Student counselor for 2 years

G.R. Davis ATA representative for 32 of 33 year career

President of local ATA for 3 years

Convention Association President for 2 years

Evaluation chair for convention for 2 years

Past President convention for 3 years

Convention hospitality person for meetings for 5 years

One of his greatest experiences was the opportunity to work on ATA committees for the Palliser District Teachers’ Convention.  Many life friendships with board members were developed over the years and are still maintained today.

Barry retired from full-time teaching in 2004, yet he still enjoys substituting on occasion.  Most of Barry’s spare time now is devoted to his ’Painting and Handyman’ business as he works toward his desire to travel and possibly even teach abroad.

Gail Dennis Moisey (2004)

Gail’s teaching career began in 1958, north of Edmonton, in the Pembina School Division then to the Lacombe School Division.  After marriage and the birth of a son, Gail and her family moved to Winnipeg where a daughter was added to the family in 1962 and Gail returned to her teaching in 1967.  For the next twelve years Gail taught in the primary grades, with the last two years being spent as a Primary Consultant for Kindergarten to Grade Four and Special Education for an urban/rural school district.

During Gail’s years of teaching in Winnipeg, she served under the auspices of CIDA during six summers, as an in-service team-teacher with teachers on the Caribbean Island of Montserrat, and one summer in the same capacity, on the Island of Grenada. 

In 1980 Gail and her husband returned to Alberta and settled in Okotoks where Gail began her association with the Foothills School Division, that continues to the present.  During Gail’s years with Foothills School Division she has served as a primary teacher, Learning Support Teacher, a teaching vice-principal in an elementary school, and a teaching principal in an elementary/junior high school and currently is a teaching principal in an elementary school.  Throughout these years, Gail was a Foothills School Division representative on the Palliser District Teachers’ Convention Board, first as an Assistant Displays Chairperson and then for nine years as the Facilities Chairperson, until 2000, when she retired from the Board. 

In 1990-1992, Gail interrupted her teaching in Foothills School Division and her work on Palliser District Teachers’ Convention Board, to go on an Australian Teacher Exchange assignment in a private school in Melbourne, Australia.

Gail continues to find great enjoyment in being part of the educating of the wonderful young people of Alberta and in working with the dedicated teachers it has been her good fortune to teach with.  Attending Teachers’ Convention each year also continues to be an outstanding highlight of each year as Gail renews friendships with the many teachers she has had the privilege of working with over the past twenty-four years.

Margaret Sugars (2004)

Margaret began her teaching career in Australia where she taught High School for two years before moving to Europe where she lived in Greece, the former Yugoslavia and Austria for five years.

She returned to teaching when she moved to England and taught there for  four years.

In 1976, Margaret began her Alberta teaching career with Lethbridge School District #41 and enjoyed 23 years teaching all grade levels from 3 – 12. For the 1990-91 academic year, Margaret was seconded to the Education Faculty of the University of Lethbridge.

In 1986, Margaret was elected to Provincial Executive Council of the ATA as District Representative for the south-west. It was during the eleven year period on PEC that she had the pleasure of being a member of the Board of the Palliser District Teachers’ Convention.

Since 1999, Margaret has been enjoying her retirement. Her greatest physical achievement since retirement was the almost 800km trek across northern Spain from the Pyrenees to the cathedral city of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain.

In the summer of 2003, Margaret emerged temporarily from retirement and was very proud to be chosen by the Canadian Teachers’ Federation as a Project Overseas teacher to St. Vincent and the Grenadines during the summer of 2003.