Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/195036
Assoc. Rep I Training builds confident ARs In your words - by Kelley Cole Kelley Cole ixteen dedicated school employees chose to spend Saturday, September 14 at the DSEA Dover office. I, along with my workshop partners, honed our skills at Part I of an Association Representative (AR) training session. The second part of the training will be held on October 26. While it is never easy to give up a Saturday, the sacrifice is worth it when training is beneficial. Led by UniServ Director Val Hoffmann, we had the opportunity to learn how to be an effective AR for our respective districts. We all had many questions and many concerns about how to best serve our colleagues. Hoffmann and Joe Kirk, also a UniServ Director, had the answers. Each of us walked away with a binder full of information, including our district's contract. Elena Brenner, an English teacher at Delcastle Technical High School, thought the training was worth investing a Saturday . "I was impressed by the professionalism, respect, and organization of the presenters. I found the presentation informative, humorous, and helpful," Brenner said. "I "S highly recommend all who can attend to do so – it's totally worth the investment of time." The class, fast-paced and interactive, focused on the role of an AR. After dissecting the DSEA's mission and purpose, we discussed how to strengthen our unions at the school level. ARs need to be professional, credible, and transparent; we are responsible for showing the school community that we are their voice. "I left the training feeling encouraged about my role as an AR in my building," said Concord High School math teacher David Hogan, Jr. "Now I feel more empowered to serve my colleagues and my local." As the day progressed, we discussed membership recruitment, the fair share policy, effective communication skills, and how we can be good advocates for our members when a grievance takes place. Every topic was presented in a clever, student-oriented way that had us moving all over the room or drawing pictures to help us remember key points. It was evident that my colleagues and I respect our roles as Association Representatives. The training prepared us to better serve our colleagues so we all can work in a productive, positive environment. " Kelly Cole is an English Language Arts teacher and Assoc. Rep. at St. Georges Technical High School, NCC Vo-Tech School District. Assoc. Reps work in groups of two and four, examining what makes a highly effective local and then a highly effective AR. Elizabeth Stafford works in the bi-lingual program at Gauger-Cobbs Middle School, and is an AR for her colleagues in the Christina Education Association. Rosalie Ruane is an AR for her local, the Appoquinimink Educational Support Professionals. She is a paraprofessional at Old State Elementary School in Townsend. An English Language Arts teacher at Caesar Rodney High School, Joe Hartman is also one of that school's ARs. Jeannette Wilt and Gretchen Boyd both teach in Brandywine - Wilt, math at Brandywine High School and Boyd at Forwood Elementary School. 12 October 2013 DSEA ACTION! Jamie Clark says that her math teacher, Marge Windolph, inspired her to become a teacher. Clark is now also following in Windolph's footsteps as an involved Association member. And, she teaches math at her alma mater, Brandywine High School. Christine Schumacher (left) and Deborah Johnson Hargrove help each other fill in the blanks. Schumacher is a social studies teacher at St. Georges Technical High School, NCC Vo-Tech E.A.; and Hargrove is a food service worker at Christiana High School and AR for her local, the Christina Food Service Workers. www.dsea.org