Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1297492
Stacia Cook with students from her class of kindergartners. September 2020. "I'm proud of all that WEA is doing to protect students and education employees during the COVID-19 pandemic," President Hutcherson told WEA News. "I've had members reaching out to me to learn more about what WEA is doing in response to COVID-19. Our response has been ongoing and multifaceted, so it's hard to recount everything we've done," he said. "Even as far back as March we've been working to elevate public perception of educators, working to protect positions threatened by the economic instability exacerbated by COVID- 19, and—of course, our UniServ Directors and legal counsel have been hard at work supporting locals in protecting the rights and physical health and safety of members and students in school buildings across the state." From socially-distanced back-to-school events to opinion pieces supporting educators, interviews with the press, COVID-19 resource and information development, and more, it's an understatement to say that President Hutcherson has hit the ground running in his first 90 days in office. "It's been a whirlwind for me," he says, "after 24 years in the classroom, this has been a big adjustment. But, he wouldn't trade it for the world. "I do miss my students and colleagues in Torrington, but I feel very fortunate to be able to support our members in this new role." Reflecting With President Hutcherson: Advocating for Educators Through the Pandemic WEA News caught up with WEA President Grady Hutcherson to learn more about the Association's work through the COVID-19 pandemic and reflect on his first three months in office. President Hutcherson is quick to shift the limelight away from himself. "I'm not really interested in talking about me," he said "I appreciate taking a moment to reflect on what we've done so far so that we learn from that and shift our focus to what's next for our members. I want to focus on finding our thoughtful, intentional, measured next steps that we, as an Association, can take to support our members across the state. What can we be doing to keep everyone safe? What can we be doing to help everyone—students, members, legislators, and communities—to navigate these difficult times?" President Hutcherson welcomes input and ideas from members. He can be reached at ghutcherson@wyoea.org or (307) 532-1731. Learn more about resources available to WEA members around COVID-19 at wyoea.org or weacovidresources.com. Photo captions, clockwise from upper left corner: WEA Executive Director Ron Sniffin, Douglas EA President Nikki Lally, and WEA President Grady Hutcherson at a Douglas back-to- school event. SIEA President Mary Wolf in PPE. WEA Northwest Region UniServ Director Elise Robillard at the 2020 Membership Committee Meeting. Paraeducators at Ft. Washakie Elementary School. President Hutcherson advocating for educators, speaking with Wyoming News Now, via Zoom. Johnson County EA President Annie Gripp meets with WEA Central/Northeast Region UniServ Director Judy Trohkimoinen. 17