First time a woman has held the top job in union's 118-year history
For the first in its 118-year history, the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU) has a woman at the helm.
Joan Ling, executive staff officer for pensions, benefits and services, was appointed the new executive director by the provincial executive.
Ling joined the NSTU staff on Aug. 1, 2000, in the member services department working in the areas of contract interpretation, benefits' administration, negotiations, grievances and pensions. Since 2007, she has co-ordinated group insurance services, pre-retirement seminars and pension services.
Before joining the NSTU staff she was an elementary and business education teacher and administrator in Cape Breton, including being a former vice principal of Sydney River Elementary.
Ling served as a member of the NSTU provincial executive from 1994 to 1998 and chaired its working committee for substitute teachers and professional services committee. As a former president of the Cape Breton District Local, she chaired the Cape Breton-Victoria transition team and held various executive positions with the Local.
She replaces current executive director, Bill Redden who is retiring at the end of July.
NTSU represents more than 10,000 public school teachers, community college faculty and professional support staff in Nova Scotia, and teachers who work for the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
