Understanding Your Association. The History and Structure of the NEA

Transcription

1 Understanding Your Association The History and Structure of the NEA

2 Learning Objectives 1. How well do you understand the structure of the National Education Association? 2. Can you describe the various levels of association leadership (local, state, and national)? 3. Can you list ways to increase your association involvement?

3 Session: 001 n a scale from 0-10, ow do you rate your nderstanding of each learning objective?

4 Objectives To study the structure of the NEA to better understand the various levels of the Association To determine where you can increase your involvement in the Association

5 We will accomplish this by: Identifying the three levels of decision making in the Association Discussing the informal structure of the Association Becoming aware of the interrelationship of the three levels of the NEA

6 1857 The National Teachers Association (NTA) is formed with an initial membership close to 100. Robert Campbell, a Black teacher, serves as a founding member.

7 1866 NTA admits women to active membership. Miss Blanche Lamont Montana Log School

8 1870 The NTA joins with the National Association of School Superintendents and the American Normal School Association to form the National Educational Association.

9 1884 Booker T. Washington addresses the annual NEA convention.

10 1886 The National Educational Association was incorporated in Washington D.C. as the National Education Association.

11 1899 NEA establishes a Department of Indian Education. Lincoln Institution, an Indian Girls' School in Pennsylvania Children were sent to boarding schools to "unlearn" their native culture.

12 1904 During the Jim Crow period of segregation, a group of Black educators form the National Association of Teachers which later becomes the American Teachers Association (ATA). J.R.E. Lee is one of the founding members.

13 1906 The NEA is chartered through an act of Congress.

14 1910 Ella Flagg Young is elected as the first woman president of the NEA.

15 1917 The NEA headquarters moved to Washington D.C., acquiring a permanent building in 1920.

16 1919 NEA members in New Jersey establish the nation s first state pension. By 1945, all states had established pensions.

17 1926 NEA creates a committee to study the status of Black teachers in the U.S. This committee becomes the Joint Committee of the NEA and ATA.

18 1943 NEA limits conventions to cities that do not discriminate against minority delegates. A multilingual teacher instructs immigrant students in an Ellis Island classroom, circa 1940s.

19 1956 The NEA RA recommends a study on the implications of the Equal Status for Women Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The following year, the NEA Executive Committee votes against endorsement as NEA had existing policy to oppose all discrimination based on gender at that time.

20 1959 Wisconsin is the first state to pass a collective bargaining law for public employees. Over the next 20 years, most states pass similar laws. NEA begins to represent states as a labor union as well as a professional association.

21 1965 NEA is instrumental in the passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

22 1966 NEA merges with the ATA. ATA President R.J. Martin & NEA President Richard D. Batchelder sign the merger agreement. Also present: ATA Executive Secretary Joseph T. Brooks, NEA Executive Secretary William G. Carr, & ATA President-elect Hudson L. Barksdale.

23 1966 The symbol of the united teaching profession is adopted by the NEA Executive Committee to signify the legacy of the past (the pi symbol is the ancient Greek word for education) with new direction for the future (the arrow across the pi symbol). The spherical triangle, serving as a background, represents the mutually supportive programs of local, state, and national education associations.

24 1967 Braulio Alonso becomes the first Hispanic president of the NEA.

25 1968 Elizabeth Duncan Koontz becomes the first Black president of the NEA.

26 1970 NEA creates the Minority Involvement Program (MIP).

27 1971 The NEA Black Caucus is formed. NEA establishes a Task Force on First American and Hispanic Education.

28 1974 The NEA Asian and Pacific Islander Caucus is formed. In 1943, the NEA Journal published an article on the Japanese internment camps, posing the question, "What Makes an American?"

29 1975 During the term of James Harris, the 2 nd Black president of NEA, NEA creates the Special Committee on Minority Affairs.

30 1976 The RA adopts a resolution calling for the development of the Women s Leadership Training Program.

31 1977 The RA votes to refuse support to candidates for public office if they oppose ratification of the ERA.

32 1978 The RA supports extension of the deadline for ratification of the ERA and makes ERA ratification a major legislative priority.

33 1979 NEA is instrumental in the establishment of the U.S. Department of Education.

34 1982 The RA establishes the Action Plan for Sex Equity.

35 1983 Mary Hatwood Futrell becomes the 3 rd Black president of NEA. By this time, NEA has elected a total of 31 female presidents.

36 1983 The NEA Board of Directors adopts policy promoting the concept of a labor movement and directs NEA to seek alliances and working relationships with other unions

37 1984 NEA wins passage of federal retirement equity laws to end sex discrimination against women in retirement funds.

38 1985 The RA adopts 9 Principles for transforming public education. NEA holds the first satellite telecast of EdNet, enhancing nationwide collaboration to improve education.

39 1987 The NEA Health Information Network is created as a result of a resolution at the 1986 RA in response to the AIDS epidemic. NEA is a founding member of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

40 1991 The NEA holds its first annual Women s Issues Hearing at the RA.

41 1993 NEA launches Keys to Excellence for Your Schools (KEYS) as a comprehensive, research-based, data-driven approach to continuous school improvement

42 1994 NEA establishes a Diversity Cadre and the Minority Affairs Committee (MAC) which is later renamed as the Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee (EMAC).

43 1997 NEA launches Read Across America.

44 2001 The RA approves a partnership agreement between the NEA and the American Federation of Teachers. Prior to the NEAFT Partnership, there were at least four serious attempts at a merger between them.

45 2002 NEA elects its fourth Black president, Reginald Weaver.

46 2009 The NEA launches its Priority Schools Campaign to work in collaboration with communities and policymakers in pursuit of innovative programs to measure student success and teacher quality.

47 2012 NEA President Dennis Van Roekel appoints 56 members to the NEA Common Core Working Group.

48 2013 NEA launches Raise Your Hand, a national initiative to mobilize educators, parents, and community leaders who share a commitment to the success of all students.

49 NEA Facts Nation s largest professional employee organization 3.2 million members 51 state-level affiliates Over 14,000 local affiliates

50 What Does the NEA Do? At the Local Level Local affiliate organizations over 14,000 Protects the rights & working conditions of members Activities range from scholarship programs to conducting professional workshops to bargaining contracts

51 What Does the NEA Do? At the State Level Provides support to local affiliates Lobbies legislators Campaigns for higher professional standards Protects academic freedom & rights of members

52 What Does the NEA Do? At the National Level Lobbies Congress & federal agencies Works with education organizations Provides training & assistance to its affiliates

53 Bylaw 3-1 g It is the policy of the Association to achieve ethnic-minority delegate representation at least equal to the proportion of identified ethnic-minority populations within the state.

54 Basic Governance Structure Membership Representative Body Board of Directors Executive Committee Officers

55 NEA Representative Assembly Composition Two types of delegates: state & local State ratio: one delegate per 1000 state members Local ratio: one delegate per 150 local members Approximately 9000 delegates Duties Meets once a year Establishes Association policy & objectives Adopts the budget Establishes dues Elects the Executive Officers, Executive Committee & At-Large Members of the Board of Directors Exercises final authority in all matters of the Association

56 NEA Board of Directors Composition One Director per state affiliate One Director per 20,000 state members Six Directors for retired members Three Directors for student members 16 At-Large Directors 4 nonvoting At-Large Directors Total number of Directors: 172 Ethnic minority representation: at least 20% Terms of office: 3 years with no more than 2 terms served Duties Meets five times annually Implements policy established by the RA Acts on behalf of the Association between meetings of the RA

57 NEA Executive Committee Composition Nine members including the Executive Officers Ex-officio members of the Board of Directors Ethnic minority representation: at least 20% Terms of office: 3 years with no more than 2 terms served Two of the six At-Large members elected every year Duties Meets seven times annually Acts for the Association between meetings of the Board of Directors

58 NEA Executive Officers Composition President Vice President Secretary-Treasurer Duties Implement policy established by the RA Perform duties stipulated by the Association constitution & bylaws

59 NEA Officers & Executive Committee Officers Dennis Van Roekel President Lily Eskelsen Vice President Becky Pringle Secretary-Treasurer Executive Committee Greg Johnson Christy Levings Paula Monroe Princess Moss Len Paolillo Joyce Powell

60 NEA Structure Representative Assembly 9000 Delegates Board of Directors 172 Directors Executive Committee 9 Members including 3 Officers President Vice President Secretary-Treasurer

61 Standing Committees of the RA NEA Committees Resolutions Constitution, Bylaws & Rules Program & Budget Credentials Elections Strategic Priority Standing Committees Employee Advocacy Professional Standards & Practice Legislation Membership Services/Affiliate Relationships Human & Civil Rights Advisory Standing Committees Ethnic Minority Affairs Women s Issues Membership Student Members NEA-Retired Advisory Council (elected) Committee on Sexual Orientation & Gender Identification

62 Ethnic Minority Caucuses American Indian/Alaska Native Caucus Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Black Caucus Hispanic Caucus

63 Learning Objectives 1. How well do you understand the structure of the National Education Association? 2. Can you describe the various levels of association leadership (local, state, and national)? 3. Can you list ways to increase your association involvement?

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