St. John School District teachers oust the WEA
Posted by Diana Cieslak - September 18, 2009In an historic move, teachers of the St. John School District in Eastern Washington voted to disaffiliate their local teacher’s association from the Washington Education Association (WEA) and the National Education Association (NEA). St. John teachers sought the assistance of Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE), an affiliate of the Association of American Educators, to educate them about negotiation options, legal and liability insurance, benefits such as medical insurance as well as other needs of teachers.
This is the second school district in Washington to have made such a move. The Sprague-Lamont School District teachers decertified their union in 2005 to establish a local only teacher union. On a national scale, about a dozen school district staffs have been successful in booting out the state and national unions’ control of their local association, the most recent being in Riley, Kansas.Led by Missy Kjack and Marianne Gfeller, the disaffiliation means that teachers in this school district are no longer forced to financially support the WEA and NEA in order to have a voice in the bargaining process.“It is liberating to declare our independence from the big teacher unions,” said Ms. Gfeller, who teaches at St. John Elementary School. “Our politics just did not mesh with the politics of the WEA, and we couldn’t see throwing any more money to their causes.”Teachers in St. John each paid a total of $744 last year to the WEA and the NEA.“We’re proud St. John teachers didn't accept a status quo that violated their professional standards,” stated Cindy Omlin, Executive Director of Northwest Professional Educators. “We're happy to provide teachers with support services that empower them to establish local only teacher unions that unite teachers on local issues and student needs instead of being divided along political lines.”“Having worked with NWPE, it was clear to us that we can provide for our local needs without the high cost of sending dues to WEA or NEA,” Gfeller remarked. “It is great to have the support of a like-minded organization which believes that when teachers are free from union control, both teachers and students benefit, and the quality of education is improved.”As members of NWPE, St. John teachers will receive liability protection that is double the coverage offered by the WEA. NWPE annual dues are a fraction of union dues.
“In this litigious society, it is absolutely necessary to have good liability insurance,” added Gfeller. “We also appreciate the savings that comes with membership in NWPE.”
Thoughts? Add Comment -
Ryan said on Sep 18 2009 at 8:37pm
And at a rate of one every 5 years or so, Washington will be non-union in 3474.
Jeff said on Sep 18 2009 at 9:39pm
Ryan, not everything grows incrementally. 'S-curve' growth is very common in markets, technology and other (paradigm) shifts.
All it takes is a few happy 'early adopters'...
...to show what is possible and CHANGE begins to spread virally (teachers know teachers, who know teachers...)
I doubt that most teachers in America want 3/4 of a grand each year, going to promote the NEA agenda. Right off the bat, the incentive is a self-determined pay raise. But it looks like the real benefits may go far beyond a few dollars.
G Jiggy said on Sep 19 2009 at 9:24pm
I can't find the words to express my admiration for the teachers who made this move. The NEA and WEA are the largest obstacles to teaching and educating our children in the country while fleecing the teachers of a significant amount of cash.
My hat is off to you. I wish others would free themselves form NEA WEA tyranny.
Saltherring said on Sep 20 2009 at 7:56am
You've unlocked the chains of oppression and are now free of the Marxist WEA and NEA. Enjoy your freedom and use it wisely.
km said on Sep 20 2009 at 7:11pm
Saltherring: "Marxist WEA and NEA"? Not even as a joke. They are, indeed, very liberal. But, as a life long Republican who has been active in both WEA & NEA, I've never seen anything that would even hint at such hyperboly.
G Jiggy: "NEA and WEA are the largest obstacles to teaching and educating our children...." In Washington state, the single most effective reform in education was the establishment of an enhanced certification program (referred to as "interships) in which candidate teachers go through a year long practice teaching experience before being certified to teach. I"ve had student teachers in both traditional student teaching and internships and the candidates for the enhanced "internships" are far superior. That reform was achieved by a consortium of the Washington Education Association, the University of Washington, and five school districts, one of which was mine. And that's only one example.
maggie said on Sep 22 2009 at 4:23pm
I was the only teacher in my building who did not belong to the local and national orgination. It did not bother me AT ALL. How do you teach children to think for themselves if you are a sheep yourself.
I want to be a part of this thinking group. I am now retired but continuing to be a part of children though my new book about a great entrepreneur. Go Washington State
km said on Oct 10 2009 at 11:48am
maggie: I'm puzzled by your reference to "sheep". In 37 years of teaching and 36 years of union work, I've seen nothing in the behavior of my members that would warrant such a characterization. Policy are discussed, debated, argued, and hashed over in quite a spirited manner before being passed or rejected. I have seen some myopic thinking and behavior, but I confess that I find such behavior in my Republican organizations, as well. Like you, I am now retired, though I'm not a writer. About whom have you written? Go Huskies.