Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1355740
ASSOCIATION GOVERNANCE 12 ADVOCATE | SPRING 2021 Region 6 Director Carlos "Chico" Robinson As an educator, I'm acutely aware of the role of politics in shaping public education. I've been involved in activism with both the Red for Ed movement and Prop 208, as well as supporting pro-education candidates in my community. Over the past year I've worked on developing a video podcast called "Cafe con Chico e Isela" that reflects issues in public education in Arizona and provides a platform for local candidates that push for progress in social justice and education, including legislators, school board, and superintendents of public instruction (county and state). As past president of the Fowler School District Association, current Vice President in my local association PECTA, and an alternate board member and past member of the Fund committee of Arizona Education Association, I have experience vetting candidates to assess their educational priorities and willingness to work toward our common goals of achieving progressive, equitable educational systems in our state. As past chair of my local's Meet and Confer committee which bargains with the school district on behalf of its members, I have experience navigating the needs of varying strong voices and steering the committee toward successful negotiations. I am passionate about the role that public education as our greatest resource plays in creating strong communities, and will constantly work toward the goal of strengthening education in Arizona for our students. Address: 2545 N. 11th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85006 Home Phone: 602-620-6883 Local Association: PECTA Education Position: 7th/8th Social Studies Years Employed: 2 Total Years of Education Employment: 10 Total Years as AEA Member: 4 As NEA Member: 4 Higher Education Degrees Held: Masters in Sec. Ed Elective positions held in local, state and/or national education associations: Fowler S.D. President, 2018-2019 PECTA V.P., 2020-2021 Region 6 Alt Director, 2020-2021 Appointive positions held in local, state and/or national education associations: Chair of Meet & Confer PECTA, 2019-2020 AEA/NEA Task Force, 2019-2021 Non-education positions held: Community Outreach Director/Santa Maria Middle, 2018/2019 Region 6 Alternate Director No candidates nominated as yet Region 7 Director Melanie Cobos I am a passionate, member-driven, highly qualified union activist and organizer with over 20 years of experience. I am running to be the VOICE for ALL EDUCATORS because our schools and students deserve the best! Why am I the best candidate? As a passionate state and local leader, I defend racial and social justice and advocate for the health and safety of all educational stakeholders. I have held almost every position imaginable at the local level and have 6 years-experience on AEA Board of Directors (non-consecutive terms). My greatest accomplishment is leading my district of 2,300 employees in the #REDforED Walk-Out in 2018. I am also a proud founding member of ESWAG, a group which inspired a nationwide trend of new educator engagement. In 2019, I was honored to be chosen as one of 30 candidates across the country to participate in the NEA's Pre-Uniserv/ Organizational Consultant Academy in which I became a highly trained union organizer. ese experiences and many others, have catapulted me to become the knowledgeable leader I am today. My areas of expertise include Membership Organizing; Political Action and Lobbying; Issue and Relational Organizing; Traditional and Collaborative Bargaining; Organizational Development; Internal and External Communication; Leadership Identification and Development; Community Engagement; Public Relations and Communications; Adult Training; Professional Development; Peer Assistance and Mentoring; Conflict Resolutions; Grievance Adjudication; and Employee Rights. I've given substantial consideration to the Director role and cannot wait to contribute my 20+ years' experience in speaking truth to power. I appreciate your vote! Address: 4115 W Rimrock Dr., Glendale, AZ 85308 Work Phone: (c) 602-509-3422 Home Phone: 623-879-0444 Local Association: Cartwright EA Education Position: ELL Kindergarten Elementary Teacher Years Employed: 20 Total Years of Education Employment: 20 Total Years as AEA Member: 21 As NEA Member: 21 Higher Education Degrees Held: Master of Education, Educational Leadership-Principalship; Master of Education, Elementary Education- Reading; and Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education-English as a Second Language Elective positions held in local, state and/or national education associations: Political Action Chair Cartwright EA Executive Board, 6 years Region 7 Director, Arizona EA Board of Directors, 6 years (not consecutive terms) Representative Assembly Delegate, 4 years Appointive positions held in local, state and/or national education associations: Cartwright Education Association Negotiations Team Member, 8 years Arizona Education Association Educators of Color Task Force Co-Chair, 3 years Arizona Education Association Membership Benefits Task Force Co-Chair, 1 year Non-education positions held: Cartwright School District Bond Political Action Committee Chair, 2020 Region 7 Alternate Director Sandra Cobos I, Sandra Cobos, a fieen-year teacher and AEA member, and current Region 7 Alternate Director am excited to run for re-election as Region 7 Alternate Director. I am proud of this role and many positions I have held over the years at the state, local, and national levels. As your current AEA Governance Champion I recruit and engage new educators across the state. I am the former Vice President of the Cartwright Education Association and have held many roles on the Cartwright Executive Board. Some of these roles include being a member of the negotiations committee as well as creating the student scholarship application for our school district's graduating 8th graders. I am very proud to say I was one of the founders of eSWAG and the chair for many years. I was an integral leader in supporting new educators by showing them how to become activists in their profession and providing leadership opportunities. With my experience and dedication to education, I would appreciate your vote again for Region 7 Alternate Director. ank you! Address: 10 W. Minnezona Ave. Apt. 1119, Phoenix, AZ 85013 Home Phone: 602-909-2512 Local Association: Cartwright Education Association Education Position: ELL First Grade Elementary Teacher Years Employed: 15 Total Years of Education Employment: 15 Total Years as AEA Member: 15 As NEA Member: 15 Higher Education Degrees Held: Master of Education, Educational Leadership-Principalship and Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education- English as a Second Language Elective positions held in local, state and/or national education associations: Vice President of Cartwright Education Association, 2 years NEA Representative Assembly Delegate, 3 years Appointive positions held in local, state and/or national education associations: AEA Governance Champion, 2 years Region 8 Director Shaun Creighton I have been a member of the Chandler Education Association, Arizona Education Association, and National Education Association for my entire 25-year career. During that time, I have attended many AEA Delegate Assemblies and NEA Representative Assemblies, and served in numerous leadership roles, most recently as the AEA Region 8 Director and AEA Election Committee chair. I humbly ask for your vote as I seek a second term on the AEA Board of Directors. Address: 1250 N Abbey Ln #285, Chandler, AZ 85226