Editorial Board

One of the ways the College promotes professionalism in teaching is through our quarterly award-winning magazine Professionally Speaking.

Professionally Speaking is one of many sources our members rely on for information that will help them continue to grow as lifelong learners whether they work in the classroom, in administration or in some other sector of education.

The magazine provides in-depth articles on educational approaches, research issues and resources. It delivers stimulating stories from teachers across the province, news about changes to education policy and answers frequently asked questions about the profession. It also features profiles of remarkable teachers who have made a real impact on the lives of Canadian celebrities such as scientist and environmentalist David Suzuki, actress Sarah Polley, astronaut Steve MacLean, and actor and novelist Ann-Marie MacDonald.

The Editorial Board is responsible for setting editorial and advertising policy for the magazine, which is one of the largest-circulation education publications in North America. The French version Pour parler profession is the only French-language education magazine that all teachers working in Ontario French-language schools receive.

The board reviews and selects submissions for each issue, looking for a balance of articles that will interest the College’s very diverse membership. Each issue of the magazine includes reviews of new resources, guides to web sites helpful to teachers and students, and conference listings to provide quick information to help busy educators find professional learning resources quickly.

Providers of professional development promote their offerings through advertising, and members can inform themselves of new developments in education and the teaching profession through feature articles written by staff, freelance contributors and College members.

Each issue highlights the achievements of teachers whose exemplary practice has earned them provincial or national acclaim, and provides these award winners with an opportunity to share their teaching philosophies and tips with their colleagues.

The College’s commitment to transparency and accountability is reflected in the pages of the Governing Ourselves section of the magazine, where members and the public can read reports about Council and committee activities, from reports on the accreditation of teacher education programs to summaries of the disciplinary hearings that are also a mandatory part of professional self-regulation.

In 2008, Professionally Speaking won a prestigious silver Tabbie Award in the US-based international competition for trade, association and business publications. There were more than 700 entries from around the world.

The award was for the feature design of the cover story Cyberbullying: Threat or Teachable Moment? in the September 2007 edition. The same article won honourable mentions in the feature article category for the design of its opening spread, for its cover digital imagery and for the story itself, written by Beatrice Schriever.

In 2008, the Editorial Board reviewed and approved a survey of 1,005 College members, which replaced the previous State of the Teaching Profession survey in the fall issue. The new member survey focused on information that supports the work of the College committees and College departments. This survey, conducted by phone in July, revealed that the majority of Ontario’s teachers favour instituting a professional designation for teachers. They said this designation will show that teachers have distinct knowledge and skill sets that distinguish them from other professionals.

The Editorial Board also introduced a Mandate section to the magazine to highlight the objectives of the College.

Professionally Speaking/Pour parler profession is an efficient means of reaching our members and has become even more cost-effective. In 2008, the per member annual cost for four issues – including postage – was about $2.05.