Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/485425
March 2015 isea.org • ISEA Communiqué 6 COVER foothold in this rural part of the state. A few years ago, Schillerstrom faced her own dilemma. A sizable cohort of teachers – and WLEA membership - was set to retire. She worried the new teachers coming in wouldn't step up to replace the retirees. "They had seen a pattern of new teachers not joining the association and they decided to try and reach those people," said Northern Pride UniServ Director Brenda Zahner, who works with 33 locals in northwestern Iowa. One of the first steps Schillerstrom made was to get permission to hang a bulletin board dedicated to WLEA business in the teachers' lounge. Next was a revamp of the association's giving guidelines which expanded from members to include the community at large. This change resulted in the WLEA food drive for local food banks, raising money for the library and more. A connection with educators and the community "The attitude is more 'This is who we are and this is what we represent,'" said Janelle Rentschler, a technology integrationist. The association then surveyed both members and non-members on their perspective on the mission of the WLEA. Information gleaned from that survey led to additional initiatives by the WLEA and generated interest from potential and new members like second-year teacher Ashlee Koedam, the school's mass media instructor and Kristen Clasen, a three-year veteran of West Lyon who teaches family and consumer sciences. The two created a Google class to help teachers learn how to use Google in their classroom. "I remain in the association because I feel like it's important to be a part of something bigger than myself," Koedam said. "I like having that connection." Schillerstrom credits younger members like Clasen, Peterson and Koedam with bringing a new energy to the association. They, in turn, credit the veteran teachers with making them feel welcome, with being open to their ideas and sharing expertise. For instance, science teacher Mary Stai started the "Apple Core Group" as a way to bring new, mid-career and veteran teachers together to discuss educational issues. The group, now in its third year, meets once a month after school. "It's really a way to promote education, camaraderie and professionalism," said Stai. She said there's a core group of about a dozen who regularly attend which builds a nice cohesiveness. The outreach both inside the WLEA and to the community runs the gamut from simply making sure a WLEA member attends the monthly school board meetings and hosting a new member lunch to expanding Read Across America to a district-wide event and adopting a family at Christmas. Peterson, the industrial arts teacher, developed a basic home maintenance curriculum and teaches a class for adults in the community who want to learn how to do small home repairs. The effects on WLEA membership are noticeable, too, with membership going from just over 59 percent in the 2010-11 school year to more than 65 percent this school year. "As usual with most of our members, they don't think what they're doing is exceptional," Zahner said. "However, it is by far the most impressive effort I've seen." Moving in the right direction in West Lyon The West Lyon Education Association's membership as a percentage of employees has grown every year since 2010 and is among the highest in decades. Association members believe much of the growth is due to the adoption of a new engagement philosophy. Percentage union School year membership 2010-2011: 59.454 2011-2012: 60.343 2012-2013: 62.509 2013-2014: 64.359 2014-2015: 65.948 Source: Northern Pride UniServ Unit West Lyon Education Association Co-President Shane Peterson shows off some of the handiwork in his industrial arts shop. Members of the community raised money to help the district expand the school's shop in an effort to keep Peterson on staff. Family and Consumer Science teacher Kristin Clasen helps a student with a lesson that teaches students about debt, borrowing and credit. In addition to working on WLEA projects like the food drive and Christmas tree donation, Clasen is building up her FCS class to be a state contender. Science teacher Mary Stai started the "Apple Core Group" as a place where teachers of all skill levels could get together informally to discuss educational issues and build relationships. English/Literature teacher Roselyn Schillerstrom is a driving force behind the WLEA's efforts to bring in new members and get the union more involved in the community at large. GROWING Continued from page 1