Minutes of Council Meetings
Minutes of the Council Meeting of the Ontario College of Teachers Held In Person at 101 Bloor Street West, Toronto and Via Videoconference on October 5, 2023
Present: Diana Miles (Chair); Linda Lacroix, OCT (Registrar); Abena Buahene (via videoconference); Douglas Gosse, OCT; Elaine Lajeunesse; Jonathan Rose; Imran Syed, OCT; Maria Vasanelli, OCT; Tammy Webster, OCT; Valerie Williamson, OCT
Regrets: Jonathan Davey
Guests: Danny Anckle; Paige Bennett, OCT; Christine Forsyth; Melissa Gaffen, OCT; Robert Pellerin, OCT (via videoconference); Emile Ramlochan (via videoconference); Anne Resnick; Hanno Weinberger, OCT
Staff: Jamie Robertson, OCT; Anna-Marie Nielsen, OCT; Bill Powell; Demetra Saldaris, OCT; Fred Towers; Jean-François Schaan; Kim Bauer (Recorder)
1. Call to Order/Welcome
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. and welcomed all those who were present in-person and online. She extended a special welcome to the chairs and vice-chairs of statutory and regulatory committees who were joining the meeting either in-person or online.
2. Agenda
It was moved by Douglas Gosse, seconded by Imran Syed, and
CARRIED,
That the Agenda for the October 5, 2023 Council meeting be approved.
Preparation time of one half-day was confirmed.
3. Conflict of Interest
No conflicts were declared.
4. Minutes
4.1 Meeting, June 8, 2023
It was moved by Douglas Gosse, seconded by Elaine Lajeunesse, and
CARRIED,
That the Minutes of the June 8, 2023 meeting of Council be approved.
4.2 Special Meeting, July 19, 2023
It was moved by Valerie Williamson, seconded by Jonathan Rose, and
CARRIED,
That the Minutes of the July 19, 2023 Special Meeting of Council be approved.
5. Chair, Registrar and Financial Reports
5.1 Chair’s Report
The Chair of Council presented her report and responded to questions. She thanked all those who had contributed to the development of the College’s five-year strategic plan and highlighted two of the College’s foundational priorities: to be recognized as the independent regulator of the teaching profession, and to renew a commitment to have a collaborative, system-wide prevention model with a focus on reducing investigative and disciplinary matters.
The Chair also recognized the role of the Registrar and CEO in leading substantial operational and regulatory changes in response to the Minister of Education’s letter of April 17, 2023.
5.2 Registrar’s Report
The Registrar focused her review of the report by providing updates on the College’s sexual abuse prevention program, the new transitional certificate and the development of course guidelines for the additional qualification on the Holocaust and Countering Antisemitism.
Following the Registrar’s presentation, she and other members of the College senior leadership team responded to questions.
5.3 Financial Report
The quarterly financial report to June 30, 2023 was received.
6. New Business
6.1 Review and Approval of College Strategic Plan
The Chair of Council and the Registrar reviewed the development process for the College’s five-year strategic plan.
It was moved by Douglas Gosse, seconded by Maria Vasanelli, and
CARRIED,
That Council approve the Strategic Plan: 2024-2028 for the Ontario College of Teachers, as tabled at the October 5, 2023 meeting of Council.
6.2 Transition to Teaching Report – 2022
The Registrar reported that the Transition to Teaching (T2T) survey has been updated to a new, more comprehensive format, and that 2022 was the last year the survey was conducted in its current format. The T2T survey gathered information from members of the College within their first five years as a member of the teaching profession, however, the Focus on Teaching (FOT) survey invites participation by all College members in good standing, regardless of their number of years of teaching experience. In response to a question, the Registrar confirmed that the FOT survey results will continue to provide qualitative information that will expand on the information received through the previous T2T survey.
The Registrar noted that a general overview of the 2023 Focus on Teaching survey results will be provided to Council at the December 2023 meeting, and that a full report on the survey results will be available in the first quarter of 2024.
6.3 Professional Advisories Update
The Director of Standards of Practice and Accreditation, Anna-Marie Nielsen, presented information on the process and timelines related to professional advisories, both for the cyclical review of existing advisories and the development of new advisories.
7. Subcommittee Reports
7.1 Audit and Finance Subcommittee
On behalf of the Chair of the Audit and Finance Subcommittee, the Chair of Council presented the subcommittee’s report.
7.2 Selection and Nominating Subcommittee
The Chair of the Selection and Nominating Subcommittee, Elaine Lajeunesse, presented the subcommittee’s report. She highlighted the focus of the report in three main areas: updating the competency matrix for members of Council, proposing regulatory amendments regarding appointment term lengths, and recommending appointments and reappointments for governance roles.
Following her report, the Chair and other members of the subcommittee responded to questions.
It was moved by Douglas Gosse, seconded by Valerie Williamson, and
CARRIED,
That Council approve the proposed revisions to the Council competency matrix, as outlined in Document 60, Attachment 1.
It was moved by Elaine Lajeunesse, seconded by Imran Syed, and
CARRIED,
That Council request that the Minister of Education amend O. Reg. 563/21 (General) as recommended in Document 60, Attachment 2.
It was moved by Douglas Gosse, seconded by Tammy Webster, and
CARRIED,
That Council approve the recommendations for Council, committee and roster member appointments and reappointments, as outlined in Document 60, Attachment 3a.
8. Committee Reports
8.1 Accreditation Committee
The Chair welcomed Paige Bennett, Chair of the Accreditation Committee, and invited her to present the committee’s annual report.
The Chair of the Accreditation Committee reviewed her report and responded to questions.
8.2 Standards of Practice and Education Committee
The Chair welcomed Danny Anckle, Vice-Chair of the Standards of Practice and Education Committee, and invited him to present the committee’s annual report.
The Vice-Chair reviewed the committee’s report and responded to questions.
9. Correspondence
Six items of correspondence were provided for information.
10. Future Meeting Dates
The Chair noted that the next meeting of Council will be held virtually on December 7, 2023.
11. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
