FilCan teachers hold confab on foreign trained teacher

FilCan teachers hold confab on foreign trained teacher

Faithfully and firmly committed to its established mission and mandate as a leading and only professional teachers organization of Filipino heritage in Ontario, the Philippine Teachers Association-Canada (PTAC) in partnership with KCC Multiculural Services conducted its 5th annual conference on teacher certification for international educated teachers. The successful event was held on June 4th, 2011 at the Toronto Public Library, Parkdale Branch Auditorium, 1303 Queen Street West, Toronto.

In attendance were 79 participants who are mostly professionally trained – and -former teachers in the Philippines as well from 3 other countries. The conference speakers and resource persons include : Dr. Michael Salvatori, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of Ontario College of Teachers; Maria Angeles Patricio-Fernando, Principal of St. Matthew Catholic School-DPCDSB; Fermer Santos, Vice Principal, Malvern Collegiate Institute-TDSB; Tony A. San Juan, a TDSB teacher and former professor of education in Nigeria and the Philippines; and Marissa Ciacico, a DPCDSB Catholic school teacher. Facilitators were Diana Bacora, a TCDSB high school teacher; Dr. Elvina Santiago, OCT; Loida Gatchalian and Amy Basingan, KCC Multicultural Services settlement counsellors,with KCC executive director Flor Dandal acting as co-seminar director.

Four major seminar topics were covered under the conference theme of: “The Internationally Trained Teacher: Career Building, Prospects and Challenges”. The registered participants, who received a Certificate of Achievement each and grouped into secondary education and elementary education panels, discussed relevant information and strategies in respect of teacher certification procedures, job search and networking, school systems and programs, career prospects and planning, and other education trends and practices.

With 53 Ontario Certified Teachers ( OCTs) and fifty-two other planning- and -on teacher certification process comprising its current membership, the Philippine Teachers Association-Canada Executive Directorate includes : Tony A. San Juan, president; Rose Cruz and Boni Curutan, vice president; Bernadette Gapuz, secretary; Pet Collantes, treasurer; Sam Posadas, PRO; Mila Curutan, Auditor;Noemi Andaya, business mgr.; Rose Apilado, asst. auditor; Rosette Santiago, asst. treasurer; Sonia Pascual, asst. secretary; Jocelyn Bernardo, asst. PRO; Alma Mabazza, asst. bus. mgr. and Directors : Joan Ang, Arthur Apilado, Lily Gacutan, Venus Geraneo, Dr.Ramon Morales, Gigi Nicholas, Amparo Rosario,and Mercy Santos.

– Jennifer S. J. MacLean
(PRESS RELEASE)