Partner Perspectives: OECTA

The interns enjoyed the pleasure of meeting with our esteemed partner, the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA), and gaining insights into the organization’s cross-regional work. Over the course of our meeting with Carolyn Miller, Mark Tagliaferri, and Filomena Ferraro, we had the opportunity to discuss the operational core of the association, as well as its far-reaching impact across Ontario.

OECTA plays an important role in supporting teachers across the province, such as by improving standards in education, providing members with counselling and legal support, and representing them in matters related to collective bargaining. These were topics of particular interest during our discussion as we covered the conditions of varying institutions, teachers’ experiences, as well as evolving approaches to supporting students. 

Subsequently, our conversation covered the varying standards of education facilities across the province, from metropolitan centres in Toronto to northern communities in Sudbury.

Building upon this, we explored ways to better support both teachers and students. It was an incredibly nuanced roundtable regarding the challenges and opportunities within Ontario’s diverse education system. We greatly enjoyed the opportunity to discuss these matters, as it highlighted the significance of quality education for current and future students. Learning about the connection and cyclical nature of teacher safety and training, quality of education, and classroom environments was particularly enlightening.

We would like to extend our gratitude to Carolyn, Mark, and Filomena for taking the time to meet with us and share their perspectives and expertise. We would also like to thank OECTA for their continued partnership with OLIP, and look forward to continuing to learn about this organization!