Professional Development, whether you are a TOC or a contract teacher, is of extreme importance. As a TOC, when you are applying for contract positions, administrators are always interested in seeing how you keep your skills updated. Be prepared to discuss with them some workshops you have attended and plan to attend.
There is funding available to assist Surrey TOCs in participating in Professional Development.
As a Surrey Teacher On Call, you are welcome to attend any of the District Inservice Workshops offered throughout the year. In each staffroom as well as at CISC, you will find a District Inservice Guide which lists all workshops offered after school and information on how to register. Click here to view the summarized version of this Guide.
The Surrey TOC Association may also put on workshops after school of interest to TOCs. Information on these may be sent out to TOCs in a newsletter (found in the STA TOC box in staffrooms, on the calendar pages of this website, and through the ListServ for Surrey TOCs). You could also contact the STA office for information on upcoming workshops.
Many of the LSA's (Local Specialists Associations) and PSA's (Provincial Specialists Associations) offer workshops of interest to their members also. Membership in these SA's would provide you with more Pro-D opportunities.
The BCTF, on their website, also offers numerous Pro-D events throughout the year.
Check the bulletin boards in schools for other Pro-D opportunities as they arise.
For the purposes of Professional Development funding, TOCs are considered a unit, just like any school site. The STA sets up a separate account for the TOC unit--the TOC Professional Development Fund. A Surrey District TOC may apply to the TOC Chairperson for Pro-D funds to cover:
seminars, PSA dues, professional journal subscriptions (not books or teaching supplies), workshops and/or NON-credit courses related to teaching
To be ELIGIBLE to apply, a TOC must have worked more than 20 full time days in the past three months for the Surrey School District. This will be confirmed with Human Resources prior to approval for funding being granted.
TOCs without a contract will be given first consideration for Pro-D funding.
A TOC placed in an indefinite, long-term assignment of more than 50% should apply to their base school for professional development funding. Teachers with a partial contract of less than 50% may apply to the TOC Committee for funding.
Teachers with a partial contract should first apply to their base school for funding. Their application will be subject to consideration of: the availability of funds and the demand for funding by TOCs without a contract. If approved, the Pro-D funds will be prorated according to the percent of the teacher's contract (i.e. a 40% contract means the teacher is eligible for only 60% of the annual funding limit).
Applicants are currently eligible for UP TO $150 per year. This amount may be changed by the TOC Association based on availability of and demands for funding. It is available on a first-come; first-served basis. Once the funds run out, we regret that we would not be able to approve your applications.
All applications MUST be submitted before April 30 of each year. The applications can be found in the STA TOC box which should be in each school's staffroom, from a Pro-D rep in the school, or at the STA office on King George Highway.
HOW TO APPLY FOR PRO-D FUNDS
1. Pick up an application, fill it in. Include a description of hte workshop or seminar. You can also download the application from the TOC ListServ files section if you are a ListServ member. Ask a school secretary to forward it to the attention of the TOC CHAIRPERSON at the STA Office (Courier #000) or drop it off yourself.
2. Applications must be submitted at least three weeks prior to a workshop or seminar IF you want to ensure funding. If you are willing to cover the costs yourself if funding is not available, you may submit later.
3. All applications must be approved by the chairperson prior to attending an event or ordering a subscription if you want to guarantee funding. Once an application has been processed, it will be mailed back to you. It is your responsibility to confirm whether or not your application has been approved before making payment.
4. Once you know that your application has been approved, you should register for the workshop or order the subscription.
5. Make sure you keep ALL ORIGINAL RECEIPTS. After you have attended the approved event, you MUST submit these to the TOC CHAIRPERSON for reimbursement of funds, along with your approved application form. Pro-D funding will NOT be reimbursed without original receipts.
If a TOC, who has received approval for Pro-D funding, is after that approval offered a contract, those Pro-D funds will NOT be withdrawn unless the base school agrees to pay the costs of the event OR the applicant withdraws the request for funding.
TOC Pro-D funds may NOT be used to cover the cost of lost wages while attending a Pro-D event.
If your application is rejected, you have a right to appeal the decision. The appeal must be made within 30 days from the date of the workshop/seminar. Appeals should be sent to the STA office, to the attention of the STA Executive.
