Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/48237
A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL KEA President Erin Kirchoff (left) and KEA Vice-President Kinora Hernandez PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE KEA's Culture of Belonging Belonging to a group means you feel welcome among them and share similar values. To experi- ence a culture of belong- ing is to work together for the benefit of all. It is a given that teach- ers will join the Kyrene Education Association (KEA) when they are hired within the Kyrene School District. "My mom worked in the district, so KEA is in my blood," says KEA President Erin Kirchoff. "When I first got hired and started filling out all the paperwork, my mom put the membership form in front of me and told me I needed to join my professional association." KEA Vice-President and Membership Co- through the Educator Gag Bill would only minimally impact KEA's budget and its ability to provide quality service to its membership. At a new teacher "I see value in belonging, and I want to make sure I let members know about the value of their membership too." —KEA President Erin Kirchoff Chair Kinora Hernandez relates a similar story, "In my first year of teaching as a student teacher, I knew I would join KEA. It was expected of me." With membership consistently at 80-90 percent, one would be hard pressed to find a teacher who is not a KEA member in Kyrene. During the recent campaign to flip all members from payroll dues deduction to an alternative method of dues payment, KEA flipped nearly all of its members, thus ensuring that the state legislature's attempt to weaken the Association orientation event at the beginning of the school year, not only did KEA sign up nearly 80 per- cent of the new teachers attending, the superin- tendent, assistant super- intendent, and govern- ing board president all signed a form to become a friend of KEA and join as associate members. In addition to high membership, KEA mem- bers are very active. "I find a role for everyone in KEA," says Kirchoff. "We never turn away someone who wants to participate. There is a role for everyone here." KEA has consistently and successfully campaigned for the passage of overrides, bonds, and board member rec- ommendations in past elections. They have also gotten involved with statewide issues by attending rallies in support of public education funding, including the March4Schools rally at the capitol in 2009 and the March4Schools rally at Kiwanis Park in 2010. When asked about KEA's culture of belong- ing, Kirchoff and Hernandez are quick to point 22 Winter 2011/12 ❘ AEA Advocate