The BC Alternate Education Association is a Provincial Specialist Association of the BC Teachers Federation. Our purpose is threefold:
1. To promote and advance alternate education throughout the province;
2. To act as a clearing house for ideas and a source of trends and new developments; and
3. To recommend and advise the BCTF on matters affecting alternate education and alternate education teachers.
The BCAEA engages in a number of activities for its members, including holding a conference in Vancouver every February, publishing a newsletter twice a year, maintaining a provincial alternate programs directory, and providing a list serve. We also provide $14,000 annually in awards for eligible students and grants for eligible teachers.
Every February we put on the Challenge & Change Conference. The 2016 conference had 37 informative sessions, as well as a keynote on the neurobiology of trauma and attachment.
Learn MoreThe Association provides $14,000 in Awards and Bursaries each year to elegible students and grants to member teachers. Just one of the perks of membership, check out what we have to offer!
Learn MoreAttend our annual conference and automatically get a one year association membership. If you didn’t attend the conference, you can still pay the fee and join the PSA.
Learn MoreThe Association publishes the conference brochure each fall, and a newsletter twice a year. Members receive these communications either electronically or as a mailed paper copy.
Learn MoreAt the AGM each year elections are held to fill positions on the Executive. President and Vice President are normally elected in odd years, and Treasuer, Secretary, and Newsletter Editor are elected in even years. This year we had to elect a Vice President for a one year term because of an anticpated retirement at the end of June. Unfortuntaly, retired teachers cannot act as President or Vice President. All newly elected Executive members assume their duties on July 1.
Leanne Hagglund teaches in Vancouver, and was elected VP after a previous stint as our newsletter editor. Note that this election is for one year to get back in sync with the normal rotation.
Tianay de Andrade teaches in Mission and was elected as Treasurer at the recent AGM. As a new face on the Executive, we look forward to her fresh perspective. Her term is for two years.
Liz Louwersheimer from Abbotsford is the newly elected Newsletter Editor and has served in various positions on the Executive over the years, most recently as secretary. Her term is for two years.
Jim Lawson is a familiar face on the BCAEA Executive, having served in many different capacities, including Newsletter Editor and President. The new Secretary, he is from Port Alberni and his term is for two years.