With the same back-to-school energy being felt throughout the state, East Hartford Education Association leaders and members last week welcomed 30 new colleagues into the fold.
“We are so excited you’re here,” said EHEA President Paul Apostalon at a new teacher orientation and luncheon held at the high school, “and we want to share with you the many benefits of belonging to our union.”
In addition to learning about a new contract that union members will be ratifying this week, teachers heard from CEA President Kate Dias, Vice President Joslyn DeLancey, and East Hartford teachers Nadia Wentzell and Emma Kerr, both of whom were new to the profession and the district a year ago. (Kerr and Apostalon are featured in CEA’s new Stronger Together campaign.)
“I encourage you not only to join your union but really become a part of it,” said Dias. “Our union is extraordinary in the sense that you all drive the mission, direction, and purpose of what we do. When you look at CEA, you should be seeing things that look familiar, that are about you and the things that matter to you. We survey and talk to our members to make sure what we do is what matters most to you. We support you in your classroom so that you have the energy to focus on your students and the work you’ve committed to doing.”
Dias invited new EHEA members to participate in CEA professional development, conferences, legislative breakfasts, social engagements, county forums, and other events designed to bring every member to the table.
Commit to yourself
CEA and EHEA gatherings are a great way of finding support, Kerr added, particularly for educators who are new.
“I was sitting where you guys are now, about a year ago,” she said, “and as a first-year teacher I found myself juggling curriculum and lesson plans, experimenting with different classroom management techniques, coming off student loans, and wondering whether I should be paying union dues. I soon realized all the benefits membership has to offer.
Connecticut teachers earn some of the highest salaries in the nation, largely thanks to the strength of our union, and CEA offers professional development especially geared toward new educators. I urge you to join your union as a commitment to yourself and the students who depend on you.”
“Being a first-year teacher can seem overwhelming, but getting involved in your union actually helps you handle those responsibilities,” said Wentzell, “because it comes with a support system and variety of other benefits. It’s a bunch of people who understand exactly what you’re going through.”
“New teacher orientation is crucial in helping educators transition smoothly into their new roles, build connections, create a supportive network early on, and gain an understanding of their rights and benefits as union members, which can be critical for job security and professional growth,” said EHEA Secretary Stacy Constantine.
“For the union,” she adds, “orientation is a chance to engage new teachers early on, foster a sense of belonging, and explain their role in advocating for better working conditions, fair pay, and educational policies. For us, welcoming 30 new teachers is exciting because it brings in fresh perspectives and energy that invigorate our district and enhance our collective bargaining power and influence.”
When we fight, we win
DeLancey provided recent examples of union influence and power at the statewide level.
“This year you can celebrate the fact that we are the first state where teachers are no longer rated on their teacher evaluations, there are no more standardized indicators, and we are now following a growth model,” she said. “In addition, play-based learning is now officially the primary pedagogy in preK and kindergarten, thanks to an idea that came from delegates at a CEA Representative Assembly who wanted to make it a priority in our legislative agenda. CEA leaders and members took up the cause this legislative session and scored a win for us and our students. We listen to our members, we hear what they value and need in their classrooms, and we fight for it—together.”
She added, “East Hartford is a really strong association, and your leaders are incredible partners with CEA.”
