Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/851305
20 ADVOCATE | SUMMER 2017 Around AEA O ver 100 leaders from local associations across Arizona attended the 2017 AEA Summer Institute: Leading Our Schools Now. The Institute was held June 15-17, 2017, at Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch. "I'm here because I want to improve my skills and get better tools to be a better membership chair," says Phoenix Union High School Classified Employees Association member Karen Guss. AEA Summer Institute provides professional development and leadership training for local association officers, site leaders, and emerging leaders in the following program areas: Membership; Organizing; Quality, Teaching, and Learning; Advocacy; Bargaining; Communications; and Public Policy. New and advanced leaders took part in Officer's Training and early career teachers and school employees took part in SPARKS, a hands-on experience to spark an interest in Association leadership. "I'm hoping to learn about legislative policies and issues so our public teachers are informed next school year," says Washington District Education Association member Katie Piehl. On Friday evening, attendees participated in the first-ever AEA Team Trivia event to raise money for the AEA Education Improvement Fund (EIF) to support education initiatives on the ballot. AEA Leaders Training, Learning, and Supporting Each Other at Summer Institute Leading... Summer Institute 2017