WTA Executive

Gregg Walker

President

Gregg is grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Winnipeg Teachers’ Association President for another year. He has 17 years of experience serving the Association in various roles from council representative, to Executive Member-at-large, to Treasurer, to Vice-President, and now President. He is most proud of his diligence and duty of care in serving the Association’s membership. He looks forward to continuing to work hard to advance the needs of Winnipeg teachers in this time of uncertainty regarding our professional status and workplace conditions. His journey as a teacher began 20 years ago, working in the Winnipeg School Division teaching Social Studies at Grant Park and Kelvin High Schools.

Gregg believes in the power of education, and that teachers are the experts in what students need to thrive as learners. Through advocacy of teaching, teachers lift our profession’s status, and in the process, we leave an indelible footprint on our communities. Teachers become invaluable as more people recognize our contributions and create opportunities for our students. And that is why he wants to continue advocating for his colleagues. Thank you for your support.

Email: president@wta.mbteach.org

Kristen Fallis

Vice President

Kristen is a long serving member of the WTA Executive and was elected to the position of Vice President in 2022. She is the chair of the Bargaining and Public relations committees for WTA, and the Co-Chair of the Workplace Safety and Health committee with WSD. She also sits as a Member-at-Large on the MTS Provincial Executive, where she currently chairs the Group Benefits Standing Committee and MPSE Trust.

Kristen has been an employee of WSD for over ten years. Throughout that time, she was a Council representative for WTA and a member of the Executive since 2015. She strives to empower members with understanding of their collective agreement and when to utilize supports from the WTA and MTS.

Prior to being in the WTA office full time, Kristen taught Music and Performing Arts for K-9 students. She enjoyed showing students that music can be fun while understanding complexities of beat, rhythm, form, and enjoying performing for others. When she’s not in the office, you can find her on a running path with her dog, Jazz, or in the Exchange District taking in an arts performance.

Email: vpres@wta.mb.ca

Kristy Frohwerk

Secretary

Kristy has been the WTA Secretary for the past 4 years, a WTA Executive member for the past 7 years, and a WTA Council Representative for 6 years. She has attended 12 MTS AGMs, served as the chair of the AGM committee, monitoring committee and co-chair of the DSA committee. Kristy previously served on the 50th Anniversary Committee and as a Member-at-Large of Executive.

Kristy has enjoyed her time on Executive, learning alongside colleagues and doing work on behalf of members. She looks forward to the opportunity to serve as a Table Officer and the Secretary of the WTA in the 2023-2024 year.

Email: kfrohwerk@wta.mb.ca

Beth Burrows

Member-at-Large

Beth is currently a term teacher in the WSD. A proud graduate of the Kenanow Education program in The Pas (BEd), and University of Manitoba (BA), they were inspired to pursue a career in education after waking up and realising that the random trivia they’d collected over the years needed to be passed onto the next generations, and Education fit the bill. Prior to working in the WSD, they worked at Marymound, in 7-Oaks, LSSD, KSD, and the OEA where they began their Education career teaching Science. They live in Selkirk with their mom and teen, who help them rodeo the dog, cats, and fish they cohabitate with, as well as try and grow flowers and veggies, keep the floor swept, and manage the laundry. Being a part of an organisation such as the WTA is one small way that they can contribute to making the world a little better, especially when being able work with the amazing people they’ve met so far!

Email: bburrows@wta.mb.ca

David Harack

Member-at-Large

David has been passionate about supporting his fellow colleagues through his involvement with the WTA since he began teaching in 2002. He has dedicated time to chairing and sitting on various committees to better the workplace for teachers, including Group Benefits and Teacher Welfare to name a few. He has been teaching for the past 21 years at Tec Voc High School and has always been helpful with teachers seeking advice either through his direct knowledge or by directing them to the appropriate resources. David credits his mother with his decision to become an educator. She taught for many years and made many positive differences in people’s lives, and she inspired him to do the same. An easily approachable and personable man, David has been, and continues to be a strong advocate for better working conditions for his colleagues in his role within the WTA. In his free time David enjoys spending it with his partner Lori, their 2 Goldens Dexter and Sunny, especially at the Lake.

Email: dharack@wta.mb.ca

Jeff Kirkpatrick

Member-at-Large

A grade 5 and 6 teacher at Carpathia School, Jeff Kirkpatrick has been with the division for 10 years as a teacher. He was a late bloomer with regards to becoming a teacher and was an Educational Assistant for 9 years prior to returning to University where he graduated from the W.E.C. program from U of W. Jeff has been a WTA Rep for Carpathia for the last few years as he became more passionate about union affairs when he read about how collective bargaining was changing to provincial bargaining due to Bill 45 and WSD hadn’t yet ratified their contract.

He has become an advocate for union issues and wants to add his voice to the WTA executive. He is learning about Union leadership and relations through MTS Labour School and is building a better understanding of our local union with his work on the finance and benefits committees.

Jeff is committed to building a better awareness of how the WTA is helping our membership and building more engagement with our members. He wants to advocate for our members at higher levels and push our government to fund education adequately.

In his spare time Jeff can be found working in his home studio making pottery, playing board and tabletop games, as well as engaging in discussions at the local brewhouse.

Email: jkirkpatrick@wta.mb.ca 

Jennie Matteis

Member-at-Large

Jennie is a retired Teacher and is a currently a Substitute teacher for the Winnipeg School Division. She taught for 30 years before retiring and was a member of the WTA Executive Table Officer team for 5 years, and a Member-at-Large for 20 years. She has a wide variety of chairing and sitting on WTA committees. She enjoys working for the members and trying to make a difference.

Email: jmatteis@wta.mb.ca

Jon Romu

Member-at-Large

I am currently starting my 23rd year of teaching in the division at Kelvin High School. I am a Biology, Physics, and Science teacher and the Head Baseball Coach. This is my second year on the WTA Executive where I am currently the Reception Committee Chair. I was the Head Football Coach at Kelvin High School from the 2001-2019 seasons when I stepped down to do other leadership opportunities inside the school; Valedictorian Committee Chair, Student Athlete Code of Conduct Committee. My teaching philosophy is like a Whitney Houston song, “I believe the children are our future, Teach them well and let them lead the way, Show them all the beauty they possess inside, Give them a sense of pride to make it easier, Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be.” This is reflected in my classroom and my way of teaching. Students should be able to have fun, express their thoughts and opinions, and be given an opportunity to show their strengths and succeed.

As an Executive, I have the opportunity to make a difference in the classrooms of educators who often feel bogged down by bureaucracy and the politics of the day. Teachers should be freed to spend their time teaching curriculum and enhancing and shaping the futures of their students.

In my spare time, I enjoy driving my kids to their various sporting events, fishing, painting miniatures, and sipping scotch.

Email: jromu@wta.mb.ca