Mary Fowler, a teacher and president of the Durham Teacher Local, has been re-elected to the provincial Executive of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO). Fowler first served on the ETFO provincial Executive from 2017 to 2021 and 2022 to 2023.  

“Every day, I’m privileged to witness the professionalism and commitment of ETFO members. In environments that are too frequently hostile, teachers, designated early childhood educators, and other education workers rise to the challenge of educating future generations,” says Fowler. “We must forge a future together, as a collective, to face down the challenges in the workplace and political environment.”

Fowler began her teaching career in 2009 at the Durham District School Board. She has taught core French and French Immersion in grades 1 and 3. 

She served as a steward from 2010 to 2016, and was a member-at-large, treasurer, second vice-president, and first vice-president of the Durham Teacher Local before being elected president in 2019. 

Provincially, Fowler was a member of the ETFO Political Action Standing Committee, has graduated from Union School, CB Academy, and Sisters in the Struggle, and was a mentor in the ETFO women's mentorship program. She is a governor of the Ontario Teachers' Federation, and has represented ETFO members as a delegate to both Ontario Federation of Labour and Canadian Labour Congress conventions.

ETFO represents approximately 83,000 members, including public elementary teachers, occasional teachers, designated early childhood educators, education support personnel, and professional support personnel. Visit BuildingBetterSchools.ca.