Beyond Teacher Pay

Administrator Sees Another Side of NEA

By Walker McGinnis, middle school principal, Huntsville, Alabama

I started my teaching career and NEA membership in 1970. When I became an administrator in 1978, I devoted what time I had to our local and state administrator associations. Quite frankly, the NEA does not enjoy a favorable reputation among school administrators in Alabama. Basically, the view is that the NEA is a liberal union that focuses on teacher pay.

My perception of the NEA changed dramatically in 1999. That year, I was asked to serve on the NEA IDEA Special Education Resource Cadre. I was asked to join the Cadre because of my knowledge of Section 504  and my being an administrator. Actually, I was a bit worried because of my lack of formal training in special education (IDEA), but my contributions with 504 helped provide "balance." Since then I have learned a great deal about IDEA.

At first the cadre focused on special education/Section 504 issues and training of members at regional conferences accross the USA. Now we are expanding our reach quite a bit and getting into many areas. I think right now we have some 18 presentations we can give on various educational areas.

Since joining the Cadre, I have attended numerous training sessions at the NEA headquarters in Washington, D.C., and have had the chance to meet and work with many fellow Cadre and staff members.

I am impressed with the commitment the NEA has to public education and teachers. I have traveled extensively across the United States explaining Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 to educators on behalf of the NEA. I've learned firsthand the many areas that the NEA influences -- either directly or indirectly -- that benefit classroom teachers and students.

I am proud to be associated with an organization that puts the emphasis on support where it should be placed. I wish my fellow administrators had the opportunity to see what I've seen these past six years. The NEA's focus extends far beyond "teacher pay."

About the Author
Walker McGinnis, a middle school principal in Huntsville, Alabama, has spent 36 years in education. His first eight years teaching English and coaching football, soccer, wrestling in both middle and high schools. The next twenty-two years serving as assistant principal in middle and high schools. For the past six years, he has been the principal of a Title I middle school. During his tenure there, the school has started offering high school Latin to eighth graders and has seen gains in the Adequate Yearly Progress. McGinnis is retiring August 1, 2006, and he is running for a seat on the Huntsville City Schools Board of Education.