Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1472975
(2022) Protecting Professionalism The House Education Committee kills Senate File 61 on a 5-4 vote after hearing testimony from WEA's Lobby Team and members. SF 61 would have mandated untenable additional workloads for education employees to list all materials used in the course of educating students and demeaned the professional judgment of certified educators. (2022) Ensuring Educator Voice Guides American Rescue Plan Spending WEA coordinates with each district in the state to advocate for educator voice to guide determining the needs and priorities of students and education employees to be addressed with federal COVID relief funds. UNIFIED VOICE Being a WEA member makes you a part of our unified voice. A strong Association gives members the greatest power in terms of bargaining for everything from better pay to flexible leave days (UniServ Directors also provide advice and guidance when addressing these issues with Administration). We use our unified voice to effect positive change with leaders and lawmakers who set policies impacting education. We use our collective voice to educate communities about the challenges facing Wyoming Public schools and to advocate for the needs and priorities of students and education employees. PROGRESS From better working conditions, to safer, more inclusive schools your WEA membership supports progress. At locals in districts across the state, governance leaders and WEA staff are working tirelessly to make schools in Wyoming the very best places to learn and work. Through the Association's Safe & Just Schools Cadre, we are working to make classrooms safe, inclusive, and inviting havens for learning and growing, in which all students can thrive. WEA's Lobby Team and the WEA Political Action Committee for Education— funded through voluntary member contributions—are working to elect leaders who value public education and who understand the importance of a well-funded, stable public education system. D i d y o u k n o w t h a t W E A e n s u r e s m e m b e r s a s e a t a t t h e t a b l e w h e n e n t i t i e s a n d l a w m a k e r s a r e s e t t i n g p o l i c y i m p a c t i n g W y o m i n g p u b l i c s c h o o l s ? W E A k e e p s m e m b e r s i n f o r m e d a n d i n j e c t s e d u c a t o r v o i c e i n t o v i t a l p o l i c y d i s c u s s i o n s b y w o r k i n g w i t h t h e W y o m i n g L e g i s l a t u r e , t h e G o v e r n o r ' s O f f i c e , t h e P r o f e s s i o n a l T e a c h i n g S t a n d a r d s B o a r d , t h e S t a t e B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n , t h e W y o m i n g D e p a r t m e n t o f E d u c a t i o n , t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f W y o m i n g , t h e W y o m i n g E d u c a t o r s ' B e n e f i t T r u s t , t h e A p p r e n t i c e s h i p A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e , t h e E d u c a t i o n C o m m i s s i o n o f t h e S t a t e s , t h e N a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n , a n d m o r e . 2007 Educator Salary Increase Significant salary increase for K-12 school employees as a result of the school funding equity lawsuit. Average salaries jump to top 10 in the nation. Growth for Higher Education and Retirees K-12 and community college salary increases, funding to retirement system increases 2014 2018 Protecting Education WEA's lobbying and public engagement campaigns prevent millions of dollars to cuts in public education 2021 Fending off Cuts The Association outspokenly advocates before the Wyoming legislature to protect Wyoming public schools against more than $300 million in cuts to education 2022 Work Continues From legislative wins to work toward Safe and Just Schools, the Association is progressing further and offering more than ever before. YOUR MEMBERSHIP MATTERS Y o u r m e m b e r s h i p b e n e f i t s y o u , y o u r c o l l e a g u e s , a n d W y o m i n g E d u c a t i o n . NEA Member Benefits negotiates on behalf of 3 million members to offer benefits that do more for you as an education professional. As a WEA/NEA member you enjoy exclusive access to members-only deals and discounts on gifts and everyday household purchases, plus mortgage programs, home, auto, and life insurance, and tickets to events, movies, theme parks, concerts, and more. Capitalizing on member benefits means your dues dollars are pulling double- duty. NEA Member Benefits programs will help you easily, affordably live your best life. Get started with NEA Member Benefits today! neamb.com/start