Leadership #2: Leadership in the Teachers Union
Teachers Union Leadership:
Site Representative, Negotiations Team, and State Council Representative
Overview: A well-run teachers union, working in conjunction with a well-run school district can create great results for the community they serve. The communities of Santa Monica and Malibu have been well served by the cooperative atmosphere that has traditionally existed between the school district administration and the teachers union. While day-to day issues sometimes reflect more typical employee/employer relations, the overall atmosphere is one of trust and belief that the ‘other side’ is working towards the same set of goals.
As site representative, my responsibilities are to conduct meetings of staff on site twice a month (or on an as needed basis). I attend one Representative council meeting a month at the Union hall, then report back to my staff on site. I handle any and all grievances and carry copies of the contract with me at all times. Informally, I meet with the Principal on a regular (almost daily) basis, where issues both positive and negative are discussed. Principal treats me as though I am a teacher-leader.
As Negotiations Team Member, my responsibilities were to meet one day a month with Union negotiating team to plan negotiations strategy, then meet one day the week following with the school district team. Negotiations for last contract (began in August 2012 and were ratified in April 2014. Through my direct involvement we were able to solve both the problem of a much-needed raise for our members (who had not had a raise in 7 years) and a union pledge of greater employee contribution to the district provided Health plan.
As State Council Member, my responsibilities were to serve on the powerful Political Involvement Committee as Initiative Subcommittee chairman and vote on the policies of the California Teachers Association in the general assembly. The State Council meets 4 times a year for an entire weekend. My activities at State Council are reported out to my local at subsequent Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teachers Association Representative council meetings.
Reflection: Besides teaching and working with students, the thought of giving up my roles as a union leader are the most potentially bittersweet. Working with the CTA has given me profound insight into the mechanizations and workings of politics and how much influence politics has on public education. If I am allowed to become an administrator, I will probably never be as close to the pulse of California politics as I have been in the Union.
CPSEL Connection
Standard 1: Facilitating the development, articulation, implementation and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the school community.
1.1: Develop a shared vision
1.2: Plan and implement activities around the vision
1.3: Allocate resources to support the vision
Standard 2: Advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.
2.1: Develop school culture and ensure equity
Standard 3: Ensuring management of the organization, operations, and resources for a safe, efficient and effective learning environment.
3.1: Ensure a safe school environment
3.2: Create an infrastructure to support an effective learning environment
3.3: Manage the school learning support system
3.4: Monitor and evaluate the program and staff
Standard 5: Modeling a personal code of ethics and developing professional leadership capacity.
5.1: Maintain ethical standards of professionalism
5.3: Model reflective practice and continuous growth
5.4: Sustain professional commitment and effort
Standard 6: Understanding, responding to, and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal and cultural context.
6.1: Engage with the policy environment to support school success
6.2: Interact with stakeholders
