About LRTA

The LRTA represents over 1200 members and is the third largest Teacher Association in the Province of Manitoba. Our Association is dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights and well-being of our members.

As a member of LRTA, it is important to note that you can call the LRTA Office at 204-929-5782 at any time. Marcela Cabezas, President, can also be reached by email president@lrta.mbteach.org. For issues related to collective bargaining, contact Scott Wood, Vice President: Collective Bargaining at vp-cb@lrta.mbteach.org. For professional development concerns/questions and/or issues related to PPDF, contact Jay McGurran, Vice President: Professional Development at vp-pd@lrta.mbteach.org. We shall provide member assistance with matters ranging from simple inquiries to more serious situations. All matters will be dealt with in confidence. As well, members may call the Manitoba Teachers’ Society at 204-888-7961 and request Staff Officer assistance.

Members should bookmark the LRTA website www.lrta.ca. Information about the LRTA, the LRTA Constitution, Bylaws, Policy Handbook, PPDF Guidelines, updates to the calendar, Rielity Check newsletters and important links can all be found on our website.

Get In Touch

Vice President

Professional Development

vp-pd@lrta.mbteach.org

Vice President

Collective
Bargaining

vp-cb@lrta.mbteach.org

Executive Members

President: Marcela Cabezas, a Spanish and English teacher at Collège Jeanne-Sauvé, began teaching in 2003.

Early in her career, Marcela immediately became involved in the activities of the LRTA. First elected to the Executive as a Member-at-Large in 2006, Marcela went on to serve as Vice President Professional Development for five years. As LRTA President, she provides leadership and advocacy for teacher rights and welfare.

Provincially, Marcela has served on the MTS Professional Development Standing Committee as well as the Equity and Social Justice Standing Committee. Marcela also served as one of three commissioners appointed to the MTS Women in Education Leadership Commission.

Vice President Collective Bargaining:
Scott Wood
is a teacher at Glenlawn Collegiate with over twenty years of teaching experience and has a keen interest in the Humanities.

Scott has been active in the LRTA since 2009. He has worked on numerous Association Committees and has been a member of the LRTA Executive since 2013. In his current role as Vice President Collective Bargaining, Scott is proudly working on behalf of all members to achieve improved working conditions.

Vice President Professional Development: Jay McGurran has been a classroom and student services teacher since 2010. He is currently working full time with the LRTA.

Jay became an LRTA Council Representative in his first year of teaching and has previously served as Member at Large and Nominations and Resolutions Chair on the LRTA Executive. To further advocate for LRTA members, Jay is also a member of Collective Bargaining Standing Committee. He was elected Vice President Professional Development in 2019.

Secretary-Treasurer: Cynthia Taylor currently works at Hastings School in Student Services. She has been with the division since 2002 and has worked in the areas of English Language Arts, Computer Science, Psychology and as Teacher Librarian. Cynthia became active with the Manitoba Teachers’ Society as a member of Equity and Social Justice Standing Committee in 2012 and now serves as a member of the Provincial Executive (2017 to present). She joined the LRTA Executive in 2015 as Public Relations Chair and now serves as the Secretary-Treasurer. Cynthia continues to connect with members in her role and to build upon the diversity of our Association.

Public Relations Chairperson: Karen Myshkowsky has been a teacher in the LRSD since 2013. She currently teaches English, Geography and Alternative Education at Glenlawn Collegiate. An LRTA Council Representative since 2016, in 2020 she joined the Executive to serve as Social Chair, subsequently being named to serve as the Public Relations Chair later that year. Karen has attended the MTS AGM as a delegate three times. She believes the role of Public Relations is fundamental to our profession and provides communication as well as strategy to inform our members of their rights and responsibilities through a variety of different mediums. Karen continues to connect with members in her role and to build upon the diversity of our Association.

Employee Benefits Chairperson: Lindsay McDonald works in Services aux élèves at École St Germain. She began teaching in 2010 and became involved with LRTA shortly after, serving as Council Rep for several years. She was first elected Member at Large in 2015 and has been serving as Benefits Chair since January 2022. Lindsay has served on the PPDF Committee, Social Committee and Nominations and Resolutions Committee. She has proudly represented LRTA at MTS AGM several times.

Resolutions/Nominations Chairperson: Charmaine Rudnicki is an Early Years teacher at Shamrock School with more than 20 years of teaching experience. She supported the LRTA for several years as a Council Representative. In 2016, she began working with the LRTA Executive as a Member-at-Large and she is currently the Resolutions and Nominations Chairperson. Charmaine has been a member of the PPDF Committee for several years and continues to work with the Collective Bargaining Committee to address the concerns of our teachers.

Equity and Social Justice Chairperson: Charlene Sacher is a grade 1-2 multiage teacher at General Vanier School and has been teaching since 2004.
She first became active in the Association as an alternate Council Rep in 2016 and has represented the LRTA as a delegate at the MTS Annual General Meetings as well represented SAGE council groups as an observer. As the Equity and Social Justice Chairperson, Charlene hopes to bring members together through the planning of a variety of activities and virtual events that will allow members to work towards a more sustainable and equitable community.

LRASA Representative: Angela Power began her teaching career 18 years ago. Over the past 9 years, Angela has been a Vice Principal and Principal in four LRSD schools. She is currently in her fifth year as Principal of Niakwa Place School. This is her first year as the LRASA representative.

Social Chairperson: Laurie Tyndall is a grade 5 teacher at École St. Germain. Laurie became active in the LRTA when she started in the division in 2015 and was eager to learn more. This is her first year as Social Chairperson, after taking over for the last few months of the 2021-2022 school year. She is looking forward to learning more about her new role as a member of the executive and is excited to start planning social events.

Éducatrices et Éducateurs Francophones du Manitoba Chairperson: Sharad Srivastava est directeur à l’école Henri-Bergeron et avait commencé sa carrière en 1994. Depuis, il a eu nombreux rôles, ayant enseigné de Maternelle à la 12e année dans les petites écoles à la campagne, dans les grandes écoles secondaires en ville et dans diverses écoles dans la DSL-R. Il adore la langue française et se réjouit des occasions pour plus apprendre comment manier cette belle langue. De plus, il cherche des occasions pour partager ce que les ÉFM peuvent offrir à nos membres pour que tout enseignant de l’immersion française puisse accéder des ressources pour partager notre passion pour la langue française avec les jeunes.
Sharad avait été déjà représentant sur son personnel sur le Conseil des écoles et il a aussi siégé sur le Conseil administratif des ÉFM pendant deux ans et avait été responsable du Comité d’équité et justice sociale.

Indigenous Education: Billie Cross is a teacher on the divisional Indigenous Education Support team and her area of focus is Early Years Indigenous Education. She has been an educator for 17 years and has taught early years, middle years, and high school students. This is her first year as the Indigenous Chairperson for LRTA.

Member at Large: Curtis Lowton (he/him) is a grade 7/8 teacher at Samuel Burland School. He taught in rural Manitoba and northern BC before joining St. Vital School Division in 1999. Curtis completed a two-year term on the MTS Teacher-Led Learning Team (TLLT) where he helped to co-develop professional development workshops on staff teamwork and inclusive classroom practices for 2SLGBTQ+ students. Curtis volunteered as an LRTA council rep and PPDF committee member prior to joining the LRTA Executive in 2022 as a Member-at-Large. Curtis currently serves as a member of the local Equity & Social Justice (ESJ) committee and the provincial Equity & Social Justice Standing Committee. Curtis continues to learn more about equity, advocacy, unionism, and wellness.

Member at Large: Fiona Cook is a grade 4/5 teacher at École Julie-Riel, this is her ninth-year teaching. Fiona became a LRTA council rep in 2015 and was first elected as ÉFM chairperson in 2018. She has been serving as a Member-At-Large and WELCOM chairperson since December 2021. Fiona has served on the Public Relations Committee and the Equity and Social Justice Committee. She has attended MTS AGM several times as a proud LRTA delegate.

Member at Large: Vacant

LRTA Calendar 2022-2023

September
Wednesday, 14thLRTA Executive Meeting
Wednesday, 21stLRTA Council Meeting
Monday, 26thLRTA New Rep Orientation
October
Wednesday, 5th LRTA Executive Meeting
Thursday, 6th & Friday, 7thLRTA Executive Retreat
Wednesday, 12thLRTA New Member Celebration
Thursday, 13thMaternity/Parental Leave Seminar
Monday, 17thLRTA School Trustee Candidate Forum
Wednesday, 19thLRTA Council Meeting
Friday, 21stMTS PD Day
November
Wednesday, 2ndLRTA Executive Meeting
Wednesday, 16thLRTA Council Meeting
December
Wednesday, 7th LRTA
Executive Meeting
Wednesday, 14th
LRTA Council Meeting
Thursday, 22nd through
Wednesday, Jan. 4th
Winter Break
January
Wednesday, 11th
LRTA Executive Meeting
Wednesday, 18th
LRTA Council Meeting
February
Wednesday, 1stLRTA Executive Meeting
Wednesday, 15thLRTA Council Meeting
March
Wednesday, 1st
LRTA Executive Meeting
Wednesday, 15thLRTA Council Meeting
Monday, 27th through
Friday, March 31st
Spring Break
April
Wednesday, 5thLRTA Executive Meeting
Wednesday, 12thLRTA Council Meeting
Thursday, 13thMaternity/Parental Leave Seminar
Wednesday, 19thLRTA Annual General Assembly
May
Wednesday, 3rdLRTA Executive Meeting
Thursday, 11thLRTA Appreciation Dinner
Wednesday, 17thLRTA Council Meeting
Wednesday, 17thMTS AGM Binder Meeting
Wednesday, 24th through
Saturday, 27th
MTS AGM
June
Wednesday, 7thLRTA Executive Meeting
Thursday, 15th
LRTA Retirement Reception
Wednesday, 21stLRTA Council Meeting

Phone

204-929-5782

@preslrta

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Hours

Mon-Fri 8:30AM-4:00PM
September-June

Address

121 Hazelwood Cres
Winnipeg, MB R2M 4E4