Sharing Our Commitment to Excellence

It came as no surprise that when the gavel finally came down on the 2012 Utah Legislative Session, I breathed a sigh of relief. However, I also experienced a great sense of collaboration. This past legislative session was unprecedented in many ways.

UEA played an integral role in the creation of landmark legislation in the form of Senator Aaron Osmond’s Senate Bill 64: Public Education Employment Reform. Our professional voices were valued and respected as this legislation was being crafted.

A bill creating a pilot program for Peer Assistance and Review also passed with many local districts looking toward applying for the monies to help improve mentoring and remediation. In addition, we were able to defeat or defer many bills designed to make it more difficult for the Association to conduct business and to advocate for our students and our profession.

It is with great hope that I look forward to building upon the relationships developed over this past legislative session. I am optimistic that there is recognition of the importance and willingness of our members to engage in the critical work to improve public education. I have faith that the voices of those who continue to vocalize rhetoric with no positive solutions will be drowned out by the voices of those whose desire is to collaborate in order to create a great public school for every child.

This session taught me that we can accept conditions as they exist or accept the responsibility for changing them. UEA members stepped up and accepted the responsibility to improve our relationships with our legislators. Policymakers took notice. They welcomed the change in the discourse. Now, we must stand ready to continue to be the agents of change.

We cannot underestimate the necessity to share our vision, our expertise, our passion and our commitment to excellence with those in our legislature and our community. The 2012 Legislative Session was a great beginning in this work.

4/3/2012


Comments

I'm a male teacher commited to help but not given the oppertunity

Date Posted: 6/28/2012 4:06:16 PM
Name: Mr. Black

I’m a white male who finished his first year of teaching in a lower grade. I know men are needed to teach in lower grades because there are not many. There is an increase in single mothers and they want their children to have a positive role model. I excelled in my first year of teaching. I can not find a job this year. I am teaching part time now and can not survive on the amount I’m paid. I was replace with a woman intern which the amount is increasing. There were many 1st and kindergarten jobs open and I didn’t get one call. I talked with the pricipals many times. I have a stack of reference and letters from the parents of the students I taught. There are only 5 male teachers from 2nd to kindergarten in our district. Two are almost ready to retire. How is it that an inexpirenced woman can get a job but a male who is needed can not. Where is the justice? It breaks my heart because I want to teach the little ones. I know the importance of giving them a strong foundation of which to build a life time of learning and a love for learning. What can I do to get a job? I can’t move. I was told that the amount of interns may be increasing next year. How sad it is that a male teacher would be pushed out of teaching to be replaced by a female teacher who has less experience.How can I help to create a better education for students here in Utah if I'm not given a chance to teach!

I agree!

Date Posted: 4/9/2012 1:54:32 PM
Name: Jennifer Boehme

Seeing UEA lead out on collaborating on legislation is a huge step toward being the experts in our field, which we are. Teachers in the classroom are the ones who know what students need and how best to meet those needs. We can also say that UEA is leading on providing a great educator in every classroom. Thanks to Sharon and the rest of the UEA Legislative Team for all of your work on our behalf.

 

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