NLTA Special Interest Councils

Special Interest Councils are professional learning communities dedicated to life-long learning and the ongoing professional growth of NLTA members. Their mandate includes offering a range of professional development programs, including conferences, institutes, focus groups, teleconferences, and e-learning initiatives. Councils communicate with their membership using a variety of current technologies. As part of their mandate, the councils will respond to curriculum and program concerns, develop position papers on critical issues, work with government on curriculum development and advise the NLTA on matters of importance.

Currently there are 17 special interest councils (click on the council name to access their website):

• Council of Special Services (COSS)
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing/Blind and Visually Impaired (DHH/BVI)
• English Language Arts (7-12) Council
• Gender and Sexual Diversity (GSD) Council
• Health Education Council
• Math/Science Council (MSSIC)
• Newfoundland and Labrador Music Educators’ Association (NLMEA)
• Newfoundland and Labrador Counsellors’ and Psychologists’ Association (NLCPA)
• Physical Education Council (PESIC)
• Psychologists in Education (PIE)
• School Administrators’ Council (SAC)
• Second Language Council (SLC)
• Small Schools Council
• Social Studies Council
• Speech Language Pathologists (SLP)
• Teacher Librarians Newfoundland Labrador (TLNL)
• Technology in Education Council (TESIC)

Click here to access the Special Interest Council Handbook

If you are working in one of these specialized areas, you may choose to join the appropriate council. By participating in Special Interest Council programming, you can avail of the latest information on methodologies, trends in particular disciplines, and changes in curriculum as they develop and emerge.

Special Interest Councils advertise their programs through The Bulletin, the NLTA website, school boards, schools and media.

If you are a member of a Special Interest Council, you will be automatically notified of professional development opportunities. Since helping our membership become more effective teachers is always an overriding goal of this Association, the activities of our Special Interest Councils are geared to improving classroom practice.

Please make every effort to be an active member of special interest councils that are of interest to you. If you wish to become a member of one of the existing councils, you have only to contact the president of that council, and you will be sent the necessary membership information. Opportunities also exist for you to become an executive member of one of the councils, thereby allowing you to take on a valuable leadership role within the Association. As a council member, you will be kept current on exciting new learning and discoveries in your field.

If you have any questions, concerns or ideas re the NLTA Special Interest Councils, contact Darlene Johnson, Administrative Officer – Programs & Services by calling 726-3223 or toll-free at 1-800-563-3599, ext. 241.