As a candidate for STA executive, I bring 14 years of diverse teaching experiences, having taught in various school settings, including community schools as well as large and small schools throughout the city. My teaching experiences have given me valuable insights into the different challenges and opportunities of Saskatoon schools. My teaching career includes being a classroom teacher, prep release teacher, band teacher as well as a vice principal.

I have a personal connection to education as well, as my children are enrolled in French immersion and my amazing wife is a secondary teacher in Saskatoon. This provides me a perspective with firsthand insights into the educational landscape and challenges faced by educators.

I hold a Master of Education degree and actively participate in advocacy and leadership roles within the education sector, including serving as a non-executive STF councillor (one year), as well as SSR and SSL (3 years). Additionally, I have been involved in setup and volunteering at strike days, advocating for educators at a local and provincial level. Although I am not currently a member of the executive, I think this allows me to offer a fresh perspective, bringing new ideas and insights to the table.

I am dedicated to advocating for teachers’ rights and promoting transparency, better management and accountability within the STA. With my experience, leadership skills and dedication to collective action, I aim to be a strong voice for teachers and students, fostering positive change and supporting the needs of the education community.

Good day colleagues –

My name is Melanie Bevan, and I have enjoyed being an STA councilor for the previous nine years.Today, I humbly seek your support to continue serving as a councilor for the 2024-2025 term year. 

I have served as both an executive and non-executive councilor – roles which helped me to advocate for Saskatoon teachers through different lenses. I am passionate about the unique perspective that comes with teaching in our beautiful and complex city and am eager to return and continue this work.

In my 17 years of teaching math and science, I have taught at many different high schools that brought their own rewards and challenges. This experience combined with my strong belief in the incredible value to society that public education can provide led me to co-chair the Public Relations committee for several years and spearhead various campaigns including the Teacher Project. I am now a member-at- large of the PR committee, and I would love to continue gaining inspiration from the different advocacy ideas I hear at council from around the province. 

At council my priority is to ensure that the voices of Saskatoon teachers are heard. I truly hope to continue this work that I am so passionate about. Thank you for your consideration!

Hello STA Representatives!  My name is Courtney Blatz, and I have been fortunate to have been elected as a non-executive councilor for the past 4 years.  In that time, I have strived to bring a voice to provincial council for the many teachers like me on temporary contracts. 

For the past 11 years, I've worked as a high school teacher with Saskatoon Public Schools, presently at Estey: Home of the Flex Program. Throughout this time, I've been dedicated to enhancing my pedagogical skills and knowledge base. I've gained extensive experience teaching a diverse array of subjects. My academic journey includes a major in Indigenous Studies at the University of Saskatchewan, accreditation in chemistry, and a recently completed Post-Degree Certificate in English as an Additional Language. 

I firmly believe that my passion for serving as a councilor would allow me to contribute significantly to the advancement of our collective goals. With a deep-rooted personal commitment to ensuring equitable and quality education for all students in this province, I bring to the table years of teaching experience and a unique perspective. 

 At council, I work each day to ensure that the voices of Saskatoon teachers are represented in each session and for every resolution.  I hope to continue this work and respectfully ask that you vote for me for 2024-25!

I am a dedicated and passionate Grade 4 teacher committed to the advancement of public education and the empowerment of fellow teachers. I believe in the transformative power of education. Beyond the classroom, I am invested in the community and am passionate about advocating for positive change within the field. I believe that collaboration and solidarity among educators are essential for driving meaningful progress in public education. As such, I am eager to leverage my skills, experiences, and passion for teaching to contribute to the association's initiatives. I am excited about the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded educators and contribute to the Saskatoon Teachers' Association.

My name is Ali Burgess and I teach third grade with SPSD. I received my Master of Education in Educational Administration in November of 2024. I am passionate about women in leadership as well as deepening my anti-racist/anti-oppressive practice, both personally and professionally. I have been an SSR and SSL for about four years with a break in between for my maternity leave. I believe in the work of the STA and am hopeful for the opportunity to serve the association and my colleagues as a member of the Executive Council. 

Hello/aaniin, my name is Tara Dean and over the years I have lived in Treaty 1, 2, 5, and 6 territory.  I have taught high school science in the Saskatoon Public system since 2005, including teaching in the IB programme.  I also have other experience working with at-risk youth and young adults. I thank you for considering supporting me to be a non-Executive Councillor.  I have been an SSR and SSL for approximately 13 years, and have been attending Council as a non-Exec Councillor for 7 years.  I find Council to be a great way to learn what teachers around the province think and are dealing with - sometimes it is very similar to what I am dealing with here in Saskatoon, sometimes it is different. I take my role as a councillor very seriously and try to understand the issues and to speak for what I feel to be best for teachers across the province. I ask questions so that I receive information instead of assuming, and I listen to what people say.  I know that teachers' strength comes from our numbers and from working together for common goals, even when we have diverse voices.  I look forward to bringing my experience, attentiveness, and thoughtfulness to this role in service to our members.  Thank you/chi miigwech.

With 24 years of experience in the middle years teaching field at GSCS, I have established a proven track record as a dedicated advocate for educators and a staunch supporter of well-resourced public education. Over the course of my career, I have served as a respected STA representative for approximately 15 years. Additionally, I have taken on pivotal roles such as executive counselor, acting past president, and chair of the convention committee.

Amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, I took proactive measures by initiating and leading Safe Schools Saskatchewan. This initiative garnered consistent media coverage, shedding light on critical issues within Saskatchewan classrooms. My unwavering commitment to enhancing the quality of education and supporting fellow teachers underscores my passion for creating a positive impact within the educational community.

Greetings colleagues – I appreciate your consideration for the role of non-executive councillor for the 2024-25 school year.  With 30 years of teaching experience across international and Canadian landscapes, including the Netherlands, Alberta and Saskatchewan, and a variety of educational settings in including public, on Reserve, private and International School, I bring a wealth of knowledge and a diverse perspective to the table. I have witnessed the evolution of many aspects of this field and am able to view the issues through a variety of lenses – all with the intent of improving the teaching and learning conditions for Saskatoon schools.  My passion for advocating for quality public education is unwavering, and I am committed to representing the interests and concerns of Saskatoon teachers as an elected councillor. This previous year was my first year as a delegate and I found it fascinating andinvigorating.  I would love to continue this work and thank you again for your consideration this evening.

Brad Jorgenson

Kelsey has been involved with the Saskatoon Teachers' Association in several ways since 2017. This has included time as a School Staff Representative, as well as being on the STA Executive for the past five years.

As an executive member, she has been the Substitute Teacher Representative (2021-2023) and Executive Representative to Substitute Teachers (2023-present). She has also chaired and co-chaired the Superannuation Committee since June of 2021, a project which she is very passionate about. In addition to the committees she chairs, she has worked with the Convention, Executive Expense Allowance, and Executive Professional Learning Committees.

Kelsey loves her work with the STA Executive and is especially interested in substitute teacher rights, superannuation, and member engagement. If she has the opportunity to continue in this role, she would also like to be more involved with the mentorship of new teachers. She is hopeful that she will have the opportunity to continue working with the STA Executive next year.