feb-march_advisor

ADVOCATING

12 CEA ADVISOR FEBRUARY–MARCH 2019

YOUR BUILDING REP IN YOUR CORNER

STAMFORD’S KATE TOBIN BRIDGES CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS Between planning, teaching, grading, and assisting with

“Toward the end of September, many of my colleagues were so ill they couldn’t come in to work, and the kids were not feeling well,” Tobin says. “I saw my role as making sure someone was doing something to address our mold problem. I started attending the meetings of the city’s mold task force to advocate for my students and my colleagues.” In the midst of more than a dozen teacher absences and a school in disarray due to mold abatement efforts, administration moved forward with plans to change to a completely different daily schedule for the next school year. Already feeling overwhelmed, teaching with block scheduling, teachers shared their concerns with Tobin, who brought those concerns to administration. Initially, she got no response. When she organized members, 93 percent of whom signed on to a letter saying they don’t want to go to a block schedule next year, administration agreed to a conversation. “Our voice does matter when we come together and speak up,” Tobin says. Speaking up and taking teachers’ concerns to administration was scary at first, she recalls. “The first time I and with no professional development on

extracurriculars, teachers are often stretched thin. That’s certainly the case for Stamford teacher Kate Tobin, who manages a full load of English classes, has co-organized lip- dub music videos to enhance school spirit at Westhill High, and coordinates the Westhill Alumni Network. Despite her many commitments, however, she makes it a priority to help her colleagues by taking an active role in her union. Tobin serves as a building rep, Stamford Education Association secretary, SEA newsletter editor, and a member of the negotiations and grievance committees. “I don’t find the time,” she says. “I make the time. Having a teachers union is really important. If we didn’t, teachers would be a lot more abused, and new expectations and responsibilities would be foisted on Tobin’s Westhill colleagues greatly appreciate her willingness to step up. “Kate deserves recognition for her hard work and the time she spends aiding her colleagues,” says fellow Westhill English teacher Erica Brunner. Brunner says Kate helped her a few years ago with an issue she was facing. “She was more than willing to With the legislative session underway and education issues being debated on the House and Senate floors, Connecticut teachers will be receiving CEA Action Alerts outlining what’s at stake—from school funding to teacher pensions—and what they can do about it. Meet a key CEA staffer behind those emails. August “Gus” Melita coordinates digital and letter-writing campaigns on critical education issues ranging from public school funding to school safety. “I help local teachers’ associations and members mobilize and organize around elections, budget referendums, and various legislative issues, one of the biggest of which has been ECS funding. When we work together, we flood the mailboxes of legislators who decide these issues, and we let them hear teachers’ perspectives.” Melita says he owes his interest in education and political activism to a high school science teacher. “My biology teacher got called back to active duty in Iraq, while I was a student,” he recalls. “His mother ended up subbing for our class, and I saw firsthand the impact of taking teachers out of the classroom. That’s when I got involved in politics.” Active in political campaigns since 2006, when Ned Lamont ran for U.S. Senate, Melita has worked on 15 races. A graduate of the University of Vermont, where he majored in political science and history, he has been with CEA’s Government Relations Department for nearly six years. us without our input or any additional compensation.”

had to send an email as a union rep, it was terrifying—but after that, it got easier.” For anyone considering becoming a building rep and facing those initial fears, Tobin says, “If you have an existing building rep you admire, apprentice yourself and start there. I learned so much from Ruth Walden, my mentor. It was always helpful to

Do you know a great building rep who deserves to be recognized? Email laurelk@cea.org .

listen to my concerns, come to meetings on my behalf, and work with HR to rectify the situation.” Tobin, who herself graduated from Westhill High and has been teaching for 14 years, finds that not many teachers her age are involved with their union. “I feel an obligation to be an active member,” she says. “I’m the oldest of four and have always had a ‘stand up for the little guy’ mentality.” This year has been a particularly challenging one for Tobin and the other Westhill building reps, as their school is one of the most severely affected by Stamford’s mold crisis, which has negatively impacted teaching and learning throughout the district.

have her there to ask how to handle an issue I hadn’t faced before.” If you don’t have a union rep in your building, then you’re needed all the more. “Focus on ‘What can we do to fix a problem?’ rather than going right to a grievance,” Tobin advises. “Always start with a conversation—but have a time limit.” And don’t forget to look for support when you need it. “Remember, you can always turn to your local president or CEA UniServ Rep. They are there for you.”

GUS MELITA CEA Government Relations and Political Action Associate

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FOR TEACHERS What to know if you become ill or injured on the job Have you or your colleagues become ill or injured as a result of your job? It often surprises KNOW YOUR RIGHTS of the most hazardous work environments in the public sector. In fact, when you look at the sheer number of job-related illnesses and injuries, elementary school teachers are near the top of the list of most dangerous occupations. Last month’s CEA Advisor issue featured the story of a school district inundated with mold. CEA’s Member Legal Services team of attorneys helped scores of teachers in that district file workers’ compensation claims for mold-related illnesses, and more claims are expected. But the risks go far beyond one city and well beyond the issue of mold. Every day, in schools throughout the state, teachers suffer painful, traumatic, and sometimes debilitating injuries ranging from slips and falls to injuries at the hands of students. • Report any work-related illness or injury immediately to building administration. • Ask building administration for the approved urgent care facility to be seen for your injuries and seek treatment there as soon as possible after the injury. The doctor needs to establish that your condition or symptoms are caused by your work conditions. • Make sure that building administration completes the Employers’ First Report of Occupational Injury or Illness form (FRI). If you are asked questions to assist the district in completing this paperwork, provide those responses. Also provide your district with any notes from your healthcare provider outlining any work restrictions you may have. For additional guidance or information, contact CEA’s Member Legal Services team at (860) 525-5641. people outside the teaching profession that schools are some

One of his earliest initiatives at CEA, he recalls, was a listening tour on the subject of SBAC testing. “I helped get legislators to come to our county forums and meetings and hear directly from teachers about the effects that overtesting has on students and on teaching. It was eye-opening for lawmakers, and eventually CEA succeeded at having SBAC scores eliminated from teacher evaluations. It was a major victory.” When he is not coordinating Action Alerts and letter-writing campaigns, Melita can be found hiking, cooking, hanging out with his wife and their dog, or playing basketball, football, softball, or disc golf.