Yellowknife (July 02/04) - The new president of the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association wants to retain teachers and raise the profile of Northern educators as her two-year term begins.

Long-time Yellowknife teacher Amanda Mallon took over the post from David Murphy yesterday.

"It's always a challenge retaining teachers in the North long enough to make a difference," says Mallon, a former Mildred Hall elementary school teacher.

She knows first-hand about the issue across the NWT. She spent the last two-and-a-half years as the teacher induction co-ordinator for Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), helping new teachers with their transition to the North. Mallon plans to work on support systems for new teachers, oversee working conditions and work with her four-person executive to meet her goals.

"We work together as a team," she says.

Outgoing president Murphy is pleased with the newly-elected group. He will take on an advisory role after four years in the position.

"I think it's an excellent group. There's a lot of experience there," he says.

His executive negotiated collective agreements for the NWT, Yellowknife Catholic Schools and Yellowknife Education District No. 1 during his term. Murphy says he leaves the association with a good relationship with Minister of Education Charles Dent and ECE.

David Reid, new principal of Samuel Hearne secondary school in Inuvik, takes on the vice-president's position, while Yellowknife teacher Fraser Oliver is secretary-treasurer. Recent Northerner Robert Jacques won the position of member-at-large. Jacques will be teaching in Wrigley in September.

The group was elected March 20 by the 793 teachers represented by the NWTTA across the North.