Photo: Vitusha Oberoi

Photo: Kathryn Gaitens

Photos: Anne de Haas

Photo: Kathryn Gaitens

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS’ FEDERATION OF ONTARIO

43

Engaging Our Members

the opportunity to explore legal, professional and 
health issues that may affect women both profes-
sionally and personally. Resources and strategies 
were provided to assist with addressing these 
challenges.

PRS Training for Women 

Leaders: Beyond the Basics

This four-day program was offered to 40 women 
leaders. The first two days explored different 
types of leadership with discussions about lead-
ership strengths and identifying barriers and 
bias. Participants looked at allegations and 
boundaries, and through discussion and sce-
narios became familiar with how to deal with and 
avoid allegations, as well as members’ rights and 
responsibilities and ways to offer support. In the 
second session, members explored the differenc-
es between harassment and conflict. They were 
provided opportunities to facilitate conversations 
using case studies as well as an in-depth look 

at perceptions of mental health and reshaping 
views. Members then created a personal leader-
ship plan highlighting the supports they need to 
move forward in the union.

Expanding Our Knowledge and 

Skills: PRS Leadership Training 

for Local Released Leaders

Staff offered a four-day training course for 
released leaders from teacher, occasional teacher 
and DECE locals. This year’s sessions focused 
on dispute resolution skills and building positive 
team relationships. Significant time was devoted 
to discussing the impact of mental health illness. 
Participants examined strategies for dealing with 
mental health issues in a PRS context, and at cre-
ating return-to-work plans involving mental health 
matters. Presentations on performance appraisal, 
allegations, professional boundaries, CAS and seri-
ous student incidents from a PRS perspective also 
formed part of the four-day agenda.