Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/85591
WEA meets WEA President Kathy Vetter visits with the Casper Star-Tribune editorial staff. Pictured left to right - Darrell Ehrlick, Ron Gullberg, President Kathy Vetter. The Wyoming Education Association represents more than 6,000 education employees in Wyoming. Whether it is the teacher in the classroom or the custodian cleaning the floors after a long day of school, the focus of the Wyoming Education Association is to ensure the best education possible for every Wyoming student. Since education is at the core of our association, it was a pleasure to meet with the editorial board of the Casper Star-Tribune last month to educate them about the Wyoming Education Association, as well as the WEA-Political Action Committee for Education. Our meeting was intended to put a face on the WEA, as well as to clarify Editor Darrell Ehrlick's column "Misplaced Priorities," published Aug. 19. be widely disseminated. This is an effort to allow the candidate to be open and honest with us, not an effort to hide information from our members. Quite the contrary, our goal is to have honest discussions with candidates in an effort to build that relationship when they are elected or re-elected to office. Once the candidate interview team has interviewed all candidates seeking endorsement, it makes a recommendation to the WEA-PACE Council. This council includes every president from every local in Wyoming. Contrary to Ehrlick's assumption, this process is entirely member-driven. The WEA invites and encourages our members to talk to legislators, and members of Wyoming communities, because the WEA members are a part of Wyoming communities, too. I believe our meeting went extremely well. We were able to clarify for Ehrlick, and the editorial board, the process by which WEA-PACE endorses candidates. Ehrlick clearly did not understand the process, based on his editorial. The WEA-PACE sends each candidate who files for the Wyoming Legislature or U.S. Congress a questionnaire. This begins the process for candidates who wish to seek the WEA-PACE endorsement. Ehrlick based his editorial on this one, single document. Once candidates seeking endorsement complete the survey, they are invited to an interview with local WEA members from their legislative districts. Contrary to Ehrlick's assumption, the process could not be more local. This candidate interview team, consisting of classroom teachers, support staff, etc., uses the questionnaire as a starting point for a conversation that addresses every facet of education ranging from accountability to class size. Our intent is not only to find out what candidates' views are on education issues, but to help them understand what is happening in their local schools and in schools around Wyoming. As with other political action committees, WEA-PACE tells the candidates that their answers will not 6 BACK TO SCHOOL 2012 | WEAnews After the WEA-PACE Council deliberates the recommendations from the local Candidate Interview Team, the council votes and candidates are either endorsed, considered acceptable, or not endorsed. Endorsed candidates are often given a monetary donation. Keep in mind, no member dues are used for political action. All of the WEA- PACE funds are generated by voluntary contributions by WEA members and their families. In addition, WEA members are encouraged to assist endorsed candidates because they have been determined to be pro-Wyoming education. WEA supports candidates and legislators who are willing to listen to education employees who have direct contact with Wyoming students. We want legislators to base their decisions on what is actually happening in Wyoming schools, not on what they are hearing editorial board of the Casper Star-Tribune By Kathy Vetter WEA President from out-of-state anti-public education entities. Fortunately, WEA has a good working relationship with legislators. They know they can contact me, any member of the WEA Board of Directors, our members, or our staff about any education issue. We have also extended an invitation to the Casper Star-Tribune Editorial Board to establish this open dialogue. We believe Ehrlick's sincerity that he will take an opportunity to reach out to me, our members, or our staff. In his column, Ehrlick asked, "Why does the WEA assume that candidates can't speak directly to the members, or does it assume its members can't think for themselves?" The WEA has the utmost respect for its members and the children they educate. The WEA invites and encourages our members to talk to legislators, and members of Wyoming communities, because the WEA members are a part of Wyoming communities, too. We encourage policymakers, parents, and any Wyoming citizen to talk to Wyoming education employees and educate themselves about issues facing Wyoming's education system. Getting Wyoming community members involved in their local schools will give them a chance to see the great things happening in Wyoming schools every day. editorial staff, while WEA President Kathy Vetter and Executive Director Ron Sniffin listen in. WEA Government Relations Director Ken Decaria talks with the Casper Star-Tribune