FREDERICTON (NBTA)— The New Brunswick Teachers’ Association (NBTA) is pleased to announce three significant leadership changes effective August 3, 2021.

Connie Keating, the incoming NBTA President, is a teacher with over 25 years of experience in the public education system. Keating has taken a leave of absence from her classroom position at Petitcodiac Regional School to serve a two-year term as the elected spokesperson for the NBTA. This follows a variety of leadership portfolios she has held at the local, provincial and national levels, including involvement with the Canadian Teachers’ Federation. Her work —both in the classroom and beyond— has informed her perspective on the many issues facing teachers and the complexities of today’s classrooms. Keating’s term begins as outgoing NBTA President Rick Cuming returns to his teaching position at John Caldwell School in Grand Falls.

Ardith Shirley is the newly appointed NBTA Executive Director. Having served as a classroom teacher, vice-principal, principal and facilitator for the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation, she became an NBTA staff officer in 2007. Since then, she has provided leadership to the association in the areas of professional learning, assessment, teacher professional conduct & standards and equity. Shirley has also served as the NBTA deputy executive director since 2019. She has a B.A. from St. Thomas University, a B.Ed. and M.Ed. from the University of New Brunswick (UNB), and a Certificate in Executive Coaching from Royal Roads University. She is currently a Ph.D. student at UNB with a focus on leadership in not-for-profit environments.

Kimberley McKay has been appointed to the role of Deputy Executive Director. McKay has been a member of the NBTA staff since 2009 and served as acting Deputy Executive Director from January to August 2020. Prior to joining the Association staff, McKay served as teacher, vice-principal, principal, and district education supervisor within New Brunswick education. Her areas of expertise include induction of early career teachers, curriculum development, organizational governance, and facilitation of professional learning. McKay’s educational background features a B.Ed., DAUS, and an M.Ed. from UNB. She is currently a PhD candidate at UNB with a dissertation focused on member engagement in teacher organizations.

When asked about these changes, Keating stated, “The NBTA welcomes both Ardith Shirley and Kimberley McKay to these leadership positions as Larry Jamieson, our longstanding Executive Director, transitions to retirement. The teachers of New Brunswick have entrusted them with guiding the operations of our professional association at a time in history when all public education stakeholders are faced with addressing the lingering effects of Covid-19 on our schools. Through developing relationships with our members and the NBTA’s strategic partners, we can collectively identify opportunities to support our teachers and principals as they, in turn, respond to learner needs during the pandemic recovery years.”

The NBTA is a professional, non-profit organization of approximately 6,500 teachers. The Association offers support and service to members in the areas of professional stewardship and responsibility, economic services, professional learning, and advocacy.