Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1508385
October/November 2023 isea.org • ISEA Communiqué 6 MARY JANE COBB Iowa State Education Association Executive Director Mary Jane Cobb will retire in January, capping o a decades-long career in public education and the labor movement with 15 years running the day-to-day operations of the ISEA. Her tenure makes her the second- longest serving state executive director in the country – behind only Montana's Erik Burke – in a job well known for much more frequent turnover. Cobb began her professional education career at Douglas McArthur State Technical College in Opp, Alabama. She moved into eld work at the Alabama Education Association and government relations work for the National Education Association before coming to Iowa in 2008. She continues to manage ISEA sta and advise the ISEA President Mike Beranek as the search for her successor is underway. "Mary Jane has been a mentor, guide and friend to me as I traveled the leadership path. The lessons she has taught are invaluable, but her friendship is truly priceless," Beranek said. She also took time to answer these ve questions: 1) What motivated you to get involved in labor union work in the rst place? I was a cooperative education director at a technical college and joined the association. It was apparent, as educators, we are always going to be stronger together than we are on our own. After learning more about the work of the union I decided that was the appropriate career path for me. That was 29 years ago, and I have worked at the UniServ, national and state levels and I am proud of the work I have been able to do. I have worked with amazing sta and leaders and our members are the most incredible people I know. 2) If you could give your past self one piece of advice on your rst day here, what would it be? Savor every interaction with the sta and members. Fifteen years can go by very quickly! 3) You worked with four ISEA presidents – Linda Nelson, Chris Bern, Tammy Wawro and Mike Beranek – how were their personalities and priorities reected in the union's work? One of the things that I have been most amazed by during my association career is the fact that the right leader for the time seems to present themselves when they are needed most. I worked with Linda Nelson as an NEA sta person assigned to work with ISEA. Linda's strong political background and knowledge of the legislative process guided ISEA through strengthening our presence in both arenas. Linda led the board that hired me, and I will always be grateful for the faith she placed in me. Chris Bern and I came into the oce a few months apart. Chris knew ISEA inside-and-out. He knew our policies, practices and people and was generous in sharing his knowledge and relationships. He helped me get a solid footing at ISEA and in Iowa. Tammy Wawro is a warrior! She led our ght against challenges to our collective bargaining law, our payroll deduction system and our power. Many people predicted our demise in 2017. Tammy was tireless in eorts to make sure that did not happen! Mike Beranek is the consummate educator. I love hearing the stories of his school visits and seeing the pictures of our members and their students as they create amazing learning experiences. Mike was steadfast and calm during the tumultuous times of the COVID-19 pandemic, school closures and re-openings. I love that he refers to his oce as his "room". Being ISEA President may have taken Mike out of his classroom but it in no way took the teacher out of Mike! 4) If the ISEA had a time capsule, what two items would you contribute that are reective of your time here? Why? I would probably put a membership form in there with information on how to sign up for electronic funds transfer. When Act 10 passed in Wisconsin we knew that similar legislation could happen in Iowa and we began planning and transitioning to EFT. I think that planning and forethought helped us survive what many people thought would be a fatal blow to the union. I would also put a piece of paper with the word "grace" on it. As union members and sta, we face numerous challenges and it is important to give ourselves and our colleagues grace to make mistakes, grace to not know the answer, grace to be afraid, and the ability to win with grace. 5) Maybe you'll leave a note for the next executive director to read when she or he opens the desk drawer. What are you going to write? I absolutely plan to leave a note for the next executive director to read when they arrive. I have started it a few times in mind and cannot fully form it yet. But I know how it ends. It ends with me saying that I want them to be wildly successful in the job. I hope that they will love it as much as I have. And, I will always be cheering for them and the ISEA! I am leaving a part of my heart with ISEA when I go. I will ask them to look after it with the care that I hope that I have. 5 questions for Mary Jane Cobb Long-time executive director set to retire. Members of ISEA Council 7 work through their agenda during their Sept. 13 meeting at Casa de Oro in Perry. ISEA Councils are made up of local aliate presidents or a president's designee from a geographical area based on Area Education Agency boundaries. Councils meet four times a year at a location not to exceed a 45-minute drive from any individual local. The meetings are an opportunity for training, conversation, and connection. Councils are all scheduled to meet on the same day in dierent locations across the state. The next council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 15. MIKE WISER/IOWA STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION Let's get together