Arizona Education Association

Spring 2014

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4 Spring 2014 x AEA Advocate Member Leaders Are Shaping Our Profession Inside this AEA Advocate you will read stories about Association members leading the education profession—taking the initiative in affecting change and acting on two of AEA's core values: teaching as an esteemed profession and Education Support Professionals as valued partners. The great work our members perform delivers the promise of a quality public education for every child. Today's AEA members are shaping their profession and leading their own education reform movement. At the national level, NEA's Raise Your Hand initiative highlights student-centered, member- led efforts to ensure student success. Traditionally, when we talk about leadership, we often mean formal leadership roles in our districts and in the AEA. We work with elected governing boards, appointed superintendents, and elected Association officers at the local and state level. That's not enough for the profession in 2014. Redefining professionalism means finding the leadership capacity in each member, building an organization in which every member is pursuing individual goals for impact, development, and growth. It is time to redefine the so-called "rank and file" AEA member as a developing leader pursuing a context for action. Our professions face enormous pressures from misguided "reforms" and a coordinated political campaign intent on devaluing our enormous contribution to this country. And still we can lead ourselves to victory through member-driven campaigns of individual leadership. To this end, AEA and NEA must partner with local leaders and with our members to explore new leadership training, developing member skills in four principle areas: • Leadership of practice: Enhancing professional expertise—as teachers, counselors, and in our many Education Support Professional roles; • Leadership in policy: Understanding, evaluating, and explaining the impact of laws and policies on our students, schools, and colleagues; • Leadership in organizing and networking: Creating power through collegial, professional networking and our Association to drive agendas at the state and local level; and • Leadership in community: Developing the ability and confidence to engage community members and leaders in strong support for public schools and our associations. In this issue, you will read about Beth Maloney, who was named 2014 Arizona Teacher of the Year; the work Mesa ESPA members are doing to give back to their colleagues and community, the 122 teachers who attained National Board Certification, AEA's involvement in the Teacher Leadership Initiative with NEA, and more stories about AEA members pursuing individual leadership in different arenas. These stories of member-led, student-centered campaigns ring with the truism that the best voices to shape education are those who are members, those in our schools, and those working with our students. Andrew F. Morrill, President Arizona Education Association The AEA Advocate is published by the Arizona Education Association, 345 East Palm Lane, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-1532. Phone: 602-264-1774 or 800-352-5411 Fax: 602-240-6887 Email: sheenae.shannon@arizonaea.org. AEA's website may be found at www.arizonaea.org. Permission to reprint any material originating with this publication is granted provided that credit is given to the AEA Advocate. The AEA Advocate (ISSN 0194-8849) is published in Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer for $3.50 per year by the Arizona Education Association, 345 East Palm Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85004-1532. Periodicals postage paid at Phoenix, Arizona. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the AEA Advocate, 345 East Palm Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85004-1532. POINT OF VIEW by Andrew F. Morrill AEA OFFICERS Andrew F. Morrill President Joe Thomas Vice-President Nidia Lias Treasurer AEA STAFF Renae Costa Interim Executive Director Sheenae Shannon Editor Penny Skubal Graphic Design Advertising Nancy Hall Editorial Associate - 9 Spring.14advo.indd 4 1/28/14 5:11 PM

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