Opportunities to Exercise your Citizenship
By Blake West, President, Kansas National Education Association
We work together as citizens of our profession through KNEA to transform public education. As we begin the New Year, I’d like to suggest one resolution that could make a difference in your professional life AND our schools for years to come: exercise your citizenship.
Opportunity #1 – Advisory Councils
Beginning in January 2008, KNEA members are invited to join one or more of our new Advisory Councils – online communities of interest where members discuss important topics, share ideas for KNEA and get expert assistance from KNEA’s professional staff. Why would someone want to get involved in these online communities? Here are brief descriptions of the topic areas that may answer that question.
Communications – When major issues arise, what are the key talking points that members need to know? How can we communicate more effectively with members and the public? This area will include these and other topics about effective communications to make KNEA and our locals strong and effective.
Human and Civil Rights – How can KNEA and members work to close achievement gaps? What strategies will encourage more minorities to consider a teaching career? These are among the topics and questions to be discussed as KNEA works to ensure a great public school for every child.
Instructional Advocacy – What support is needed for teachers to ensure the success of regular education and special needs students in our classrooms? How can we help beginning teachers succeed and thrive in the profession? This Council will tackle questions like these as we foster a strong teaching profession and quality public schools.
Membership – What benefits are of greatest value to members? How can we encourage all potential members to join the professional family of KNEA? For KNEA to succeed at the local and state levels, a strong membership base is essential. This Council will provide local leaders and members more tools to build that strong base.
Professional Negotiations – What working conditions make the greatest difference to your success as an educator? Are there compensation strategies to help our members make education a more rewarding career? This area will focus on ways to make sure our profession can attract and retain educators in all roles to maintain and enhance the excellence of Kansas public schools.
What to do? By the time we return to work in the New Year, the KNEA Web site will include a link to a short online sign-up form so members can participate. Since this is a members-only area, we’ll verify membership and issue a user name and password. We’ll send instructions on how to log in AND how to participate shortly after the sign-up form is completed. So watch www.knea.org for the link to Advisory Council sign-up and participation.
Opportunity #2 – Be an active voter
KNEA members can be involved as voters and activists for local, state and national candidates. Also, we can make sure to elect and support committed leaders within our own Association…
Politics and our members – One strategy to make a difference in the 2008 elections is to let candidates and current policy-makers know we care about their decisions, we’re watching their work and we’ll be voting based on what they do now!
The three-year plan for funding our schools is drawing to a close and we believe legislators need to recommit to our schools with a long-range plan to fund 21st century schools. Also, we must increase salaries to overcome the growing teacher shortage. Let your state representatives know you are watching and WILL be working to elect candidates who support our public schools.
In 2007, quite a few bad ideas surfaced as the No Child Left Behind Act came up for renewal. We need members from across the state to stay connected with our DC congressional delegation to let them know their actions deeply affect OUR classrooms and the quality of public schools. Partner with KNEA to stay on a message – we need to fix AND fund NCLB. Policy-makers who won’t help make that happen do a disservice to Kansas families and students.
KNEA has an outstanding track record of working with friends of public schools in both political parties. NEA is also expanding strategies to encourage both Republicans and Democrats to become more active in their parties and influence the education platforms as we move toward the 2008 presidential election.
Significant strides have been taken to invite presidential candidates in BOTH parties to work with NEA. In the February edition of Issues, we’ll share some important information about how one Republican candidate has responded positively to those overtures and the potential implications for a national bipartisan focus on great schools for every child.
A Strong KNEA –This edition of Issues includes candidate statements. Study these and cast a vote to show your support for a strong association. When local delegate elections are held, consider running to serve at the summer 2008 NEA Representative Assembly, too.
Of all the New Year’s resolutions you may be considering, I hope involvement in YOUR profession is near the top of the list. The difference it can make in your professional life is tremendous. The difference it can make in the educational opportunities for our students is even more profound.
Have a happy, involved New Year!
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