Rockwood NEA:
Solid As a Rock

A Missouri local puts high membership to work for young and veteran teachers—and turns new hires into new Association activists.

Photo by Christian Gooden

NEA Local Affiliate:
Rockwood (Missouri) NEA (RNEA).

The Magic Number:

RNEA is one of Missouri NEA's 12 "solid rock" locals, each of which has a membership totaling at least 80 percent of potential. "That's the magic number," says outgoing RNEA President Cathy Westbury, a middle school counselor. "We're at 85 percent, which commands respect when we speak on behalf of our 1,200 teachers. When the district wants to talk to teachers, it realizes it must talk to RNEA."

Just No Competition:

Rockwood school board members and administrators talk only to RNEA, not a competing Missouri organization that forages for teacher dues. Small wonder—this NEA local affiliate shares the high-achieving district's child-centered philosophy and works to quickly solve problems where they happen, starting with candid discussions between principals and trained RNEA building representatives.

Bargaining Without a Law:

There's no teacher bargaining law in Missouri and local labor-management relations "aren't always a love feast," acknowledges Westbury, but none of that stops the Rockwood district from doing the intelligent thing. The school board voluntarily negotiates a Master Agreement (a binding union contract) with RNEA and reassures newly hired teachers that it's perfectly right and natural to be an Association member.

Signing 'Em Up Early:

RNEA recruits most of its members at an annual joint district-Association new teachers' luncheon that features pasta, presents, and pieces of wisdom from district officials, RNEA leaders, and young building reps. This year, "I talked about the value of membership, the power of 85 percent, and the fact that we settle problems at the building level, before they go to Central Office," notes Westbury. Before the food cooled, 54 of 56 newbies signed Association cards.

Another Generation's Turn:

Westbury, a veteran, says it's really the younger luncheon speakers who moved pens to paper. She's yielding her presidency to fifth-year teacher Allison Seitz, because "it's time to give this local to the younger teachers." The newer folks are ready to take charge because RNEA has involved many of them in Association work from their first days in the classroom.

Building reps keep their ears open for comments about new teachers doing good things, like community work. "When we hear they have potential, we ask them on a local committee to do something low-level, like help screen school board candidates," says Westbury. "That's Organizing 101—if you don't ask, they don't show up."

A Path to the Presidency:

Seitz, a seventh-grade language arts teacher at Rockwood South Middle School, got early leadership experience through her preservice involvement in the NEA Student Program. When Seitz started with the district, RNEA eased her into union advocacy through a "shared" building rep position. From there, she advanced to local secretary, bargaining chair, and then local president—at age 27.

Philosophically, younger and veteran teachers "are no different," this local leader stresses. "All good teachers come to the profession with the same qualities!"

A Matter of Support:

RNEA is determined to give quality teachers, regardless of age, the support they need to survive and thrive. The local and district have jointly created a "Teachers Assisting Peers" program, apart from the evaluation system, to strengthen teachers in their first five years. RNEA has also won inclusion of new teachers in building staff development once reserved for veteran teachers, negotiated stipends to help promising practitioners obtain National Board certification, and bargained contract language that addresses workload reduction.

"Now, whatever workload issue can't be resolved at our monthly [labor-management] 'forum' goes to the grievance procedure," Westbury notes. "But we rarely have grievances; our forum committee solves most everything."

A Voice for Everybody:

Seitz stresses that high Association membership makes educators' voices louder, sends a message about the value of teachers' work, and creates a "positive culture" for new practitioners. "I'm proudest," she says, "when young teachers speak up for themselves—to find a place where they belong, to give back, and to get time for their career and personal lives."

—Dave Winans

For more, contact Allison Seitz.