Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1251513
" Q&A W I T H T H E W E A P R E S I D E N T - E L E CT & V I C E P R E S I D E N T - E L E CT WEA What inspired you to run for WEA President? First, let me begin by saying how grateful and excited I am to have been elected WEA President. It is truly an honor to be able to represent public education, our members, and our students across the state. My passion for public education and the opportunity to advocate for students and members is what inspires me and why I ran for President. For new members, what does the role of WEA President look like? The WEA President becomes the full-time advocate for Wyoming students and for all public education employees across the state. Please share with us a little bit about your experience as WEA Vice President. It has certainly been a privilege the past 8 years to serve as the Vice President. This experience allowed me numerous learning opportunities and provided tremendous leadership develop- ment. It also allowed me the great honor of working with mem- bers around the state. Our membership growth is certainly a large part of being the Vice President, but it is also much more about member engagement. The experiences, just to name a few, range from one- on- one conversations with members to testifying and lobbying on behalf of all mem- bers and students in Wyoming. What will your priorities be when you take your new office? My answer to this question has changed because of the coro- navirus pandemic that we are all currently coping with. The priority now must be support- ing educators across the state as they look to begin returning to schools and campuses in the Fall and keeping them, and our students, safe and healthy. Supporting our members has always been, and will continue to be, one of our top priorities. What will you miss most about the classroom? I will miss the students most! I will also miss the shared learning experiences that we all have and enjoy in our classrooms. I also know that I will certainly miss working with other amazing educators on a daily basis and seeing all of the phenomenal things that happen within the school. What are you most excited about in your new role? I am most excited about having the full-time opportu- nity to continue advocating for public education, for our students, and for all education employees. Now, I will not have to try to balance being in the classroom full-time and doing the work of the Associa- tion. I really am excited about the idea of focusing all of my time and attention towards our students and all educa- tion employees in the state of Wyoming. What words of wisdom would you share with WEA members to help them get the most out of their mem- bership? My number one piece of advice to all members is to be- come involved with the Associ- ation and to take advantage of the opportunities that exist. There are countless ways to do this, and I can assure you will become a better educator by doing so. I know for a fact that I was a better classroom teacher because of my own in- volvement in the Association. If you are a member that is currently involved, thank you, and I would encourage you to mentor those members that are not as involved or that are new to the profession. What has being a WEA mem- ber meant to/for you? Proudly being a WEA member has always meant that I am part of my professional asso- ciation and that I am part of something bigger than myself. I know that it is our collective voice that has always paved the way for improvements within the profession, and that benefits our students as well as the members. What do you hope to see con- tinue or grow in the Associa- tion? Where do we have room for improvement? I am very excited about the work that WEA is doing for our ESP members around professional growth and devel- opment with the Professional Growth Continuum (PGC) and micro-credentials. We also must continue to focus on the strategic priorities that have been identified by our mem- bers. I wholeheartedly believe in continuous improvement and I believe member engage- ment and communication are two areas that can always be improved upon. What makes a great educa- tor? In the most simplistic of terms, I would say that a passion for learning and the ability to establish a strong rapport with students are what make a great educator. President-Elect, Grady Hutcherson 6