Professional Obligations and Workload

All Alberta teachers must meet the Teaching Quality Standard (TQS) throughout their careers. 
To determine whether they are meeting their professional obligations under the TQS, they must 
use their reasoned professional judgment.

Teachers are responsible for delivering curriculum outcomes to students. In most cases, how 
teachers meet those outcomes is within their professional scope of practice. In relation to the 
TQS, teachers have a professional obligation to foster effective relationships; engage in career￾long learning; demonstrate a professional body of knowledge; establish inclusive learning 
environments; apply foundational knowledge about First Nations, Métis and Inuit; and adhere to 
legal frameworks and policies.

Teachers’ workloads are at an all-time high. With significant competing interests and 
expectations, and a finite amount of time and energy, teachers may need to make choices. During
difficult times, they may need to re-evaluate their priorities. In this process, they should 
determine what are must-dos and what are merely nice-to-haves.

An example of a must-do is delivering the curriculum and doing the associated assessments. In 
reviewing their professional practice, a teacher should consider, for example, whether outcomes 
can be addressed with five assessments rather than the seven they are currently using. This type 
of prioritization is critical to managing workload.

An example of a nice-to-have is additional voluntary service. Teachers take on extracurricular 
activities because they enjoy them and are devoted to them. However, giving up free time has an 
impact on all aspects of teachers’ lives. With limited time and potential workload issues, they
may need to re-evaluate their participation in extracurricular activities. There may also be times 
in a teacher’s life or career when they can give more or less of themselves.

Teachers have the power and authority to make choices in many areas, including managing their 
workload. They should not feel guilty about re-evaluating their priorities, as their primary role is  to
provide instruction and assess student learning. While teachers individually make these 
decisions, they should do so with the understanding that it is OK to set boundaries.
​
If you have questions about managing your workload or deciding whether an activity is a must do
or a nice-to-have, contact Teacher Employment Services for advice.

WORTH SHARING
Teacher workload is at an all-time high, and teachers may need to renegotiate their work 
commitments. Setting boundaries and protecting one’s time should be a normalized individual 
decision of teachers. #WEAREATA