Laurel Macpherson (image credit - CFJC Today)
NEW PRESIDENT

Macpherson retakes the helm of KTTA after departure of Martin

Jan 27, 2025 | 4:51 PM

KAMLOOPS — There has been a change at the top of the Kamloops Thompson Teachers’ Association (KTTA). Darcy Martin stepped down as president on Friday (Jan. 24) to take a new job with the Gold Trail School District.

Thankfully for Laurel Macpherson, president of the KTTA is a job she knows well, serving in that role from 2019 to 2022. As the Teachers Association conducts the transfer from Martin to Macpherson, the priorities remain clear.

“We have basically the same issues that we deal with all the time. However, there are new different issues that we have to work with and we have to work with recent changes with SD73 as well. However, I have been involved in those meetings,” said Macpherson.

The change comes during ongoing challenges within the local district as it works to recoup a multi-million dollar accounting error, which includes recent changes to teachers teaching on call (TTOC).

“It’s uncertain times for SD73 and just in regards to how the plan will work and we can get back on track because not providing the kind of support to teachers that we have been able to in the past is tough,” added Macpherson.

Macpherson stated there is a slow ‘trickle down’ effect, highlighting the need for changes to be only temporary.

“We can just assure teachers that we are monitoring the situation and we are hoping that this is a temporary solution, and going forward, that teachers will be back in their jobs the way they always have been because what they do is very important,” said Macpherson.