Faced with constant opposition from government and employees, teachers had no basic contractual rights, no guarantee of a minimum wage and no mechanism for appealing dismissals.

The organizing zeal of John Walker Barnett, the first full-time general secretary-treasurer of the Alberta Teachers' Alliance, became the stuff of legend.

The Teaching Profession Act was passed in 1935, giving the Alberta Teachers' Association its legal foundation.

Over the next 10 years, the government approved legislation giving teachers a process for appealing dismissals, a pension plan and the right to bargain collectively.

The ATA features a range of specialist councils created to foster professional development of teachers interested in common curriculum or specialty areas.