What do CEA and your local association mean to you? Yesterday, seven of your colleagues shared their union stories for a new ad campaign, Because of Our Union, that CEA will be launching later this summer.
The online and social media campaign will feature teachers explaining how their union has supported them and why they encourage others to get involved. Watch the ads.
Connecticut 2022 Teacher of the Year Kim King became more involved in her local union, the Mansfield Education Association, last year when she took on the role of legislative chair.
“Just this past year I’ve started to realize how important our union is and all of the moving pieces that are in play,” she says. “I think it’s important for people who are not active in the union to really understand what our union dues are for, and this campaign will help get that message out.”
Since becoming more involved in her union, King has seen how her local supports teachers who need representation during a conversation with administration and advocates for measures that help all teachers. “We had some calendar issues and some contract issues this year, and the union really stepped up to act as an intermediary between our administration and the teachers,” she says.
“I believe in the collective power of our voices. I believe that our teachers’ union really can use our collective voice to move forward on some really important education issues,” says Torrington Education Association Vice President Michael McCotter.
The 10-year teacher says that some of the issues he’s passionate about include ensuring teacher safety and improving teacher pay and respect.
“As a new teacher, I had a lot of mentors within my district who helped provide me with opportunities to grow and get more involved with our local union and the state union as well,” McCotter says. “Our union has really given me a lot of different resources and has helped me grow as an educator.”
“I’ve been involved in my local association for probably 25 out of my 28 years teaching—I think I’ve served in almost every capacity in our local,” says East Hartford Education Association President Paul Apostalon.
Apostalon saw how impactful the union can be early in his career. As a new teacher, when there weren’t enough substitutes to cover all classes in Apostalon’s building, teachers would be asked to cover classes during their prep period.
“One day I was talking to some of my colleagues and asked them, ‘How many times have you had to cover a class?’ They responded that it had only been two or three times. I had had to cover classes 19 times, so I knew I was being taken advantage of as a new teacher.”
He continues, “I went to our local president and told her what had happened, and I never had to cover a class again. So I saw the value in speaking up for myself and why the union is so important.”
Emma Kerr just completed her first year teaching in East Hartford and took part in the new CEA campaign as an opportunity to learn more about her union and meet other union members. She was first introduced to CEA as a member of the UConn chapter of CEA’s Aspiring Educators Program.
“My first year teaching has definitely been a learning experience. I’ve come across situations where I don’t know what to do and it’s so helpful to be able to go talk to someone who has more experience,” she says.
Also participating in the campaign are 2024 Connecticut Teacher of the Year Kiana Foster-Mauro, Tolland Education Association President Kristen Deliman Grabowski, and Bloomfield Education Association President Gail Jordan.
Watch for stories from your colleagues throughout the summer. To learn more about the Because of Our Union campaign subscribe to the CEA Daily.
