Committees at Work
Editorial Board Committee
The College’s quarterly award-winning magazine, Professionally Speaking, is delivered to 243,204 Ontario Certified Teachers in either English or French. It provides inspiring stories from our members, reports trends in education and regulation, and features in-depth articles, reviews and resources to enhance professional practice.
The magazine also profiles remarkable teachers who have made a difference in the lives and careers of Canadian celebrities.
The Editorial Board is responsible for setting editorial and advertising policy for the magazine. The board reviews all content prior to publication and provides input into future editions, looking for a balance of subject areas that will interest the College’s diverse membership. Each issue highlights the achievements of teachers whose exemplary approach has earned them provincial or national acclaim, and provides these award winners with an opportunity to share their teaching philosophies and best practices with their colleagues. Feedback from College members about the content they find most useful for their work helps the Editorial Board continually improve our publication.
The magazine continues to engage readers with By the Numbers, a one-page infographic with intriguing facts about education. The popular last-page department, Final Exam, where a well-known personality with ties to education answers questions about their own school experiences. The documentary-style Great Teaching videos continue to complement the magazine profiles of the same name, further highlighting award-winning teachers from across the province. Their stories provide recognition for a job well done and an opportunity to share proven techniques that have been met with success.
“Bully-Proofing” (March 2015), “Game Changers” (June 2015) and “Shifting Gears” (December 2015) were cover stories approved by the board in 2015 that were particularly well-received by readers. Other features that generated member interest include “A Greater Good” (September 2015), “Le Parcours de la PAL” (Pour parler profession, September 2015) and “ADHD Now” (December 2015). The College’s latest professional advisory, Duty to Report, was published as an insert in the September 2015 issue and was the focus of the cover story.
The College’s commitment to transparency and accountability is reflected in the Governing Ourselves section of the magazine. Members and the public can read reports about Council and committee activities — from news about the accreditation of teacher education programs to mandatory disciplinary hearing summaries that are part of professional self-regulation.
The board is pleased that the College magazine enjoyed another impressive awards season in 2015. Professionally Speaking collected five Kenneth R. Wilson (KRW) Awards in Canadian business journalism — taking home three golds, two silvers and five honourable mentions.
The Canadian Society of Magazine Editors shortlisted Professionally Speaking for Trade Magazine of the Year at the 2015 Editors’ Choice Awards in Toronto.
It is the ninth consecutive year that Professionally Speaking emerged a winner at the prestigious Tabbie Awards. The Tabbies — the editorial and design awards program run by Trade, Association and Business Publications International — awarded our magazine one bronze, one honourable mention and seventh place in a Top 25 Feature Article category. Nearly 500 entries were submitted from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The Editorial Board continues to provide guidance on relevant education issues that appeal to readers. They encourage discussion and feedback from College members through content such as the Professional Practice section, book reviews and letters to the editor.
