If there’s one thing NYSUT members have proven time and again, it’s that when we work together, we win. Sixteen locals from around the state learned how to do that more effectively this week at NYSUT’s Local Action Project.
“Being a president, there’s a lot of pressure on you. You’ve got a lot of things on the table … and a lot of responsibilities," said Fillmore Faculty Association President Jennifer Austin. “I’ve only been president for two years, but I’ve learned it takes a team to run a good union, to make it functional, to make it successful.”
Austin and the Fillmore FA are in their second year of LAP. She says the summer training is helping her to build a solid group of driven leaders beyond her executive team.
“At presidents’ meetings when I hear other presidents say … ‘How do I motivate my people? How do I get member engagement?’ I say, go to LAP! It is a gamechanger.”
The Fillmore FA’s LAP team was busy expanding on the work they did during year one to flip their school board.
“We wanted more pro-education, pro-teacher people on our school board,” Austin explained. “So, Louisa (Pacheco, NYSUT Regional Political Organizer) did a training in here and said, ‘listen, there’s ways you can do it. Start out small.’ … We thought we had to do all this on our own and we didn’t know where to start. LAP gave us our starting point.”
LAP newcomers from the Wheatland-Chili Federation of Teachers say team building is their main goal. As a smaller local with just about 85 members, every member’s contribution is vital.
“I’m especially excited for the fact that we were able to invite and bring people who aren’t necessarily as involved as other members in our unit so we can kind of give them a taste and hopefully get them hooked on becoming union strong,” said Erin Ayers, WCFT president.
Ayer said they’re learning how to rebrand to reinvigorate the local as they head into a negotiation year. “I think with a new look … it might revive people and get people excited in that work.”
Finishing his final LAP year, Francis O’Brien, vice president of political action for the Amityville Teachers Association, said having dedicated time to brainstorm, reflect and just be together is one of the most valuable resources LAP offers.
“It is a commitment. It’s summer and teachers are in our recovery mode right now getting ready for next year, but to actually have time to talk to each other, hear other districts, what they’re going through, is very beneficial,” he said.
NYSUT Second Vice President Ron Gross said, “This entire room of people start feeling, ‘Hey, you know what? I can help out more. I can do this. I can contribute.’ And they don’t have to do this alone. You look at your table and all the sudden you have this team of people who are willing to help and move their local forward.”
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