Professional Development

Professional Development and Autonomy

Professional development is a process of ongoing growth through programs, services, and activities designed to enable teachers, both individually and collectively, to enhance their professional practice. 

The purpose of professional development is to assist members in:  

  1. building and strengthening themselves as a professional body.

  2. establishing and maintaining a professional relationship with students/parents.

  3. initiating curriculum and instructional reform directed to improve teaching and learning.

  4. developing, discussing, revising, and applying educational theories.

  5. improving the quality of professional practice through career-long professional development.

  6.  engaging in professional and collegial conversations.

Professional Development Days 2026-2027:

  • September 8, 2026 - Admin/PD Day/Start Up

  • October 23, 2026 - PSA Day (Provincial)

  • November 27, 2026 - LSA Day

  • January 11, 2027 - School-Based PD Day

  • February 16, 2027 - Educators’ Day

  • April 30, 2027 - School-Based PD Day

Professional Development & Mentorship Forms

Local Specialist Associations (LSA)

The BCTF includes 32 provincial specialist associations (PSAs). PSAs are channels for members to exchange ideas on research, teaching strategies, curriculum development, and other shared interests.  Each local specialist associations is connected to a PSA.

LSA’s host meetings where you will meet to plan locally and identify local needs relating to your LSA. They can be used as bodies to advocate for the needs of the group, to organize professional learning activities, or to explore other interests relevant to members.  Each LSA has a chair who acts as the contact for the group and who calls meetings as needed, please see below for a list of LSA’s that are running and their chairs.

Local Specialist Association Chairs

  • Indigenous Education –

  • Career Ed -

  • Counsellors –

  • Distributed Learning –

  • Early Career Teachers –

  • Environmental Ed –

  • Home Economics –

  • Music –

  • Elementary Literacy –

  • Primary –

  • ELL Teachers –

  • Teachers of Inclusive Education –

  • Teacher Librarians –

  • Trades Exploration –

  • Anti-Oppressive Educators -

  • School Gardens -

Mentorship

The SCTA Mentorship Program is a self-directed, independent program designed to provide essential support and encouragement for teachers. There are opportunities for group meetings and training sessions. The goals of this program are: to provide support and information for teachers, to provide professional development that is based upon the needs of the mentee, to foster collaboration between teachers and to increase the retention rate of beginning teachers in the profession. Participants will be provided with time for consultation, observation, and visitation. Evaluation of the program will be ongoing and devised by the participating teachers. Participants in the SCTA Mentorship Program will submit a summary of their activities and a description of how the program supported their practice, at completion of the Mentorship. 

If you are interested in applying for a mentorship, you can find the form here.

PD Representatives 2026/2027

  • PD and Mentorship Chair – Shannon Lloyd

  • SCTA President – Jacquie Shields

  • Cedar Grove Elem –

  • Davis Bay Elem –

  • Gibsons Elem –

  • Halfmoon Bay Elem –

  • Kinnikinnick Elem –

  • Langdale Elem –

  • Madeira Park Elem. –

  • Roberts Creek Elem –

  • West Sechelt Elem –

  • Chatelech Sec –

  • Elphinstone Sec –

  • Pender Harbour Sec –

  • SCAS –

  • District ISS - Michelle Crosby / Indigenous Ed - Tammy Saigeon, Chelsie Koberwitz, Lindsay Benger

Local Specialist Association Chairs

  • Indigenous Education –

  • Career Ed -

  • Counsellors –

  • Distributed Learning –

  • Early Career Teachers –

  • Environmental Ed –

  • Home Economics –

  • Music –

  • Elementary Literacy –

  • Primary –

  • ELL Teachers –

  • Teachers of Inclusive Education –

  • Teacher Librarians –

  • Trades Exploration –

  • Anti-Oppressive Educators -

  • School Gardens -