On May 8, Bill 31 — which includes amendments to the Ontario College of Teachers Act — received third reading and Royal Assent.

The results are in! College members have elected the eighth Council to govern Ontario's teaching profession. The Council acts in the public's interest by overseeing the College's duties to establish teacher qualifications for certification, setting ethical and practice standards, accrediting teacher education programs, investigating and resolving complaints about members and more.

The teachers featured in our Great Teaching series embody the standards of practice and the ethical standards set out by the College. In this latest instalment, Beth Alexander, OCT, makes science come alive at an all-girls school where creativity, curiosity and building confidence are key.

You're invited to our Annual Meeting of Members on June 6 at the College's office in Toronto. Can't make it? Watch it live streamed instead.

Hear Toronto Star Public Editor Kathy English, Jan Robinson, CEO and Registrar of the Ontario College of Veterinarians, and lawyer Richard Steinecke of Steinecke Maciura Leblanc, discuss what the public expects from regulators.

Also hear from College leaders about the College's work over the last year to protect the public.

In April, the College intervened in a criminal case before Canada's Supreme Court involving a teacher who was charged and acquitted in two courts after using a pen camera to take secret photos of female students.

The College addressed student privacy in learning environments and what constitutes acceptable professional conduct for teachers, which aligns with its legislated responsibility to protect students.

If you answered oui, then you'll be pleased to know that the College is enhancing its French-language services by establishing a protocol to ensure it offers high quality services in both official languages.

The College is the second Ontario regulator to establish such a protocol. It voluntarily entered into an agreement with the French Language Services Commissioner (seen right with the College's CEO and Registrar Michael Salvatori, OCT), which requires the College to investigate any complaint the Commissioner may receive about the quality of services offered in French.

Myth: It takes new teachers longer to find full employment today than it did 10 years ago.

Fact: Today's new teachers have a better chance at landing a permanent job. While there are still a number of unemployed grads in their first year, job prospects are steadily improving. This is especially true for those with French language qualifications.

Learn more about today's job market for Ontario teachers.

Do you have a topic related to the College's work or activities that you would like to present to our Council?

Council invites public presentations at its quarterly meetings and at its annual meeting of members.

Looking for a speaker for your next school council meeting?

The College attends events to raise awareness about its role to protect the public, which includes managing risks to safeguard student safety and promoting the high standards that guide our members.

Have a question? Come talk with us at an event near you!

• Pride Toronto, June 23 – 24, 2018
• Belleville Waterfront & Multicultural Festival, July 14 – 15, 2018
• Burlington Children's Festival,
  August 19, 2018