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Professional Learning Committee
Professional Learning Committee
Committee Members
- Jennifer Muir-Birtles, Chair ETFO-YR
- Jennifer Smalley Higgs, President Ex-Officio
- Debra Besner, Armadale PS
- Tatiana Davydova, Milliken Mills PS
- Sarah Gibson-Neve, Oscar Peterson PS
- Donna Holmeshaw, MacLeod’s Landing PS
- Kelly McDowell, Glad Park PS
- Marilena Murgan, Rick Hansen PS
- Christine Sonevski, Glad Park PS
- Daniela Tessaro, Johnny Lombardi PS
Workshop Registration Policy:
ETFO-YR Fair Distribution Policy (email registration with no required payment):
- For all registration requests received by 3pm on the (anticipated) 6th (sixth) day after the flyer has been picked up by the Board courier, names will be drawn by lottery; otherwise registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. The cut-off date for the lottery shall be clearly indicated on the flyer
- For professional learning workshops (with release time), preference will be given to those members who have not already attended a release-time workshop in the current school year.
- Successful applicants and applicants on the waiting list will be notified.
PL FUNDING
ETFO-YR provides funding for the Professional Learning of its members, according to ETFO-YR Policies on Financial Assistance to Members. Funding Assistance is available in 2 different categories: ETFO-sponsored PL, and non-ETFO PL. Funding for ETFO-sponsored PL can be applied for once per school year (July 1 – June 30) and covers registration up to $300 (no expenses or supply coverage). Non-ETFO funding assistance is limited: up to $300 to cover the cost of registration only (no expenses or supply coverage), and you can receive non-ETFO funding assistance once every two (2) years.
PLEASE NOTE that in both categories, the application for funding assistance must be received by ETFO-YR BEFORE the PL activity is completed. Also, please be aware that ETFO-YR will not provide funding assistance for AQ courses with a registration cost of less than $500.
PLEASE NOTE that ETFO-YR:
- shall not provide PL Funding Assistance for PL Opportunities offered by the OPC;
- shall not provide funding assistance for any AQ courses with a registration cost less than $500; and
- shall not provide funding assistance for AQ courses where members receive or are provided with a subsidy from another organization (this includes AQ’s where members can apply for the OTF AQ subsidy).
Funding Assistance for ETFO-Sponsored PL:
Print the (2024-2025) Application for Financial Sponsorship to Attend ETFO PL form
Send the completed form to the ETFO-YR office in Aurora by Board courier, email jmuirbirtles@etfo-yr.on.ca or by fax (905-727-2637), ATTN: Jennifer Muir Birtles. Your application will be processed and a letter will be sent to you by Board courier indicating the status of your application. Your application will be processed and a letter will be sent to you by Board courier indicating the status of your application.
Funding Assistance for non-ETFO-Sponsored PD:
Print the (2024-2025) Application for Funding Assistance to attend a non-ETFO-Sponsored PL form.
You will need to submit this completed form, along with a copy of the conference/workshop registration (showing price, date, title, etc.). Please note that the application form MUST be signed by your principal (he or she MUST indicate what, if any, monies you are receiving from the school, even if the answer is $0) in order for your application to be processed (this proves that you have asked the Board for PD funds).
Send the 2 forms listed above to the ETFO-YR office in Aurora by Board courier, email jmuirbirtles@etfo-yr.on.ca or by fax (905-727-2637), ATTN: Jennifer Muir Birtles. Your application will be processed and a letter will be sent to you by Board courier indicating the status of your application. Your application will be processed and a letter will be sent to you by Board courier indicating the status of your application.
New ETFO-YR Member Lunch Programme
ETFO-YR Stewards have the opportunity to treat new ETFO-YR members to lunch. Information about the programme, and the application form can be found in the Local Stewards Binder Insert.
ETFO-YR Workshops
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Larry Schwartz, Teaching Tough Topics workshop
Info/Registration Details
Monday, March 3, 2025
ETFO Professional Relations Services Workshop:
Harassment vs. Conflict and Difficult Conversations
Info/Registration Details
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
MLL Workshop – Presented by Soula Katsogianopoulos
Info/Registration Details
Friday, April 11, 2025
ETFO-YR’s Call for Presenters Workshop: Tricks of the Trade for Core French Teachers
Info/Registration Details
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
ETFO-YR’s Call for Presenters Workshop: Digital Artistry Unleashed: Stop-Motion Animation for Every Classroom
Info/Registration Details
Provincial Events
Professional Learning Events
Anti-Poverty Conference (WP)
March 26-27, 2025
The Anti-Poverty Conference is designed to educate women members about the powerful intersection of anti-poverty work, unionism, and the broader labour movement. A focus on advocacy will be incorporated to support members with different approaches to anti-poverty work. Participants will also learn strategies to address poverty issues within their learning communities.
Registration closes Jan. 22.
Resisting Resilience
Psychological Hazards in the Workplace
March 28-29, 2025
This conference will help members recognize the difference between developing healthy resilience and tolerating unhealthy working conditions.
Participants will be empowered to advocate for improvements in their own workplaces.
Visit events.etfo.org to learn more and apply by January 27.
Women’s Collective Bargaining Issues, Level II
March 19-20, 2025
Are you interested in learning more about the collective bargaining process and how you can get involved?
This two-day conference helps women members build on the skills and knowledge from Level I, further exploring their personal bargaining interests and gaining more practical experience in negotiation.
Registration opens Jan. 13 and closes Jan. 27 at 9:00 a.m.
FSL Conference: Fostering Inclusive and Engaging FSL Learning Environments
March 21-22, 2025
ETFO’s French as a Second Language conference will explore FSL teaching and learning that is inclusive and demonstrates care. Participants will explore how to support the multiple identities of learners and the diverse experiences they bring to FSL learning environments.
Registration closes Jan. 17 at 9:00 a.m.
Putting Young Minds First: An ETFO Symposium on Student Mental Health
April 12, 2025
ETFO’s symposium on student mental health will bring together members who are engaged in work to support students with mental health needs within the school system and those who are engaged in advocacy to improve the services available. Participants will hear from expert panelists and discuss needs and gaps in support.
Registration opens Feb. 3 and closes Feb. 17.
Provincial Workshops
Women’s Health and Safety Conference
January 23, 2025
ETFO Provincial Office
This conference supports the leadership development of women members to gain insights, skills, and confidence dealing with health and safety issues in the context of sex and gender.
Members will learn about occupational health and safety advocacy and be empowered to exercise their rights in the workplace to support safer worksites for everyone.
To learn more and apply, please visit events.etfo.org.
The application deadline is December 6, 2024.
PRS Matters – Privacy in the workplace: Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities
Become a Presenter on the Road!
Presenters on the Road (POTR) offers quality workshops in partnership with ETFO locals across the province. All workshops are developed by members for members.
We are looking for new workshops to expand our existing POTR catalogue. Have a great idea you want to share? Learn how to apply.
For more information, please contact Tara Zwolinski.
ETFO PLEY
Rethinking outdoor learning, new on etfopley.ca
ETFO’s Professional Learning in the Early Years (PLEY) website offers a wealth of professional learning materials in a fresh, user-friendly design.
The latest resources is a new PLEY Chat on rethinking outdoor learning. It features members talking about how outdoor learning provides a rich and dynamic context for children to learn and grow, fostering their development across multiple domains, nurturing a connection to nature and offering a springboard to engage in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.
Dive into a diverse array of videos, peruse our photo gallery, and embark on virtual classroom tours.
Visit etfopley.ca today!
Assessment website new content alert!
We’ve added some great videos to the Assessment for Learning section of the ETFO Members Sharing in Assessment website.
The new videos complement the numerous assessment tools and professional materials available to members on this user-friendly and easy-to-navigate site. Visit etfoassessment.ca today.
ETFO AQ
ETFO AQ Course Registration
Winter 2025
ETFO AQ courses provide classroom resources, instructional strategies, and tools for educators.
Check with your board about any subsidies that might be available to you for AQ courses, which cover a range of topics such as mathematics, environmental education, teaching students with communication needs (autism spectrum disorder), as well as courses related to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Knowledge to support teachers as they integrate Indigenous Knowledge across various curriculums.
Winter registration opens on October 22. Visit etfo-aq.ca to register.

ETFO Resources
Educator Blogs
- The power of positive reflection
by Brenda MacNaughton - The importance of questions: Part 1
by Rashmee Karnad-Jani - What would support for English language learners look like if we built better schools?
by Colleen Elep