February 11, 2022
Hello friends,

Tuesday, February 15th is a big day for Public Education in Region 3. Double, no triple check to see if your area is having a primary. Local union educators at Pulaski, Howard Suamico, New London and West De Pere have been hard at work screening school board candidates. These are the candidates they recommend:

Howard Suamico:
Jason Potts, Teresa Ford and Michael Moran

Manitowoc:
Dave Nickels, Lisa Johnston and Meredith Sauer

New London:
Peter Bosquez and Tina Ruckdashel

Pulaski:
Jackie Huisman

West De Pere:
Jamie Kinjerski, Barb VanDeurzen and Scott Borley

These districts also have primaries on Feb 15th:
  • Appleton
  • Gibraltar
  • Kaukauna
  • Kiel
  • Neenah
  • Reedsville

We've seen A LOT of money flood into this election already. Luckily, the answer to organized money is organized people, and educators have been hard at work texting and calling union members to turn out the vote!

What's your plan to vote on Tuesday?

Kristin Lytie
Regional Director
WEAC Region
Upcoming Events:

February 17, Thursday, NBCT, 5PM

February 28, Monday, Organizing Committee Meeting, 5PM
 
March 1, Tuesday, Region 3 Roundtable, 6PM
 
March 9, Wednesday, Zone A Meeting, 4:30PM

March 17, Thursday, NBCT, 5PM

April 7, Thursday, Just One Campaign Kickoff, 4:30PM

April 12 ,Tuesday, Zone B Meeting, 6PM

April 13, Wednesday, Region 3 Executive Committee Meeting, Follows 5PM WEAC Pre-RA

April 13, Wednesday, WEAC Pre-RA, 5PM

April 30, Saturday, WEAC RA, Marriott Madison Hotel

May 14, Saturday, Region 3 RA, 10AM
The Member Spotlight is a new feature in the Region 3 Connection to hold up the awesome work our fellow union members are doing. This month I was excited to chat with Emily Tews, an Early Career Educator and High School Social Studies Teacher at Sheboygan Falls.

Emily, thank you so much for being our first Member Spotlight! What made you want to become a teacher?
My motivation for becoming an educator was that I wasn’t always academically motivated or inclined but one of my turning points was attending a week-long government simulation activity. That activity really turned me around because one of my teachers encouraged me to go. It made me realize the teachers who do encourage students who aren’t doing as well, make a big difference. I realized if I had the power to help those students in a positive way and change their lives, that would mean a lot to me. I wanted to be there to help students unleash their potential just like it had been done for me.

What’s been your proudest moment at Sheboygan Falls so far?
Oh definitely starting the GSA. Just seeing the positive impact that it’s had on the school climate and school environment. Students’ efforts, as well as my effort, I couldn’t do it without them.

What kind of roles have you seen students step up to fill and what has their involvement been like?
This year we decided to hold officer elections. I put together a slide show on what the specific roles would be for each position. We have a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and then a social media outreach chair. For the most part, the president and vice president do the majority of the planning. The treasurer handles any budgetary issues we might have. The secretary keeps the notes and sends out regular emails, and the social media chair has an Instagram page he’s in charge of. This year we have printed out Safe Zone signs and LGBTQ+ flags that a lot of teachers have put in their rooms.

What do the Safe Zone signs mean?
They represent a teacher or someone who is comfortable having students come to them. Let’s say they want to talk about their own gender or sexual identity. Or they want to open up about problems going on in their lives. Just having a Safe Zone sign lets the students know they have a zero tolerance policy for bullying or harassment in the classroom and that they also welcome them to come and share their stories with. We’ve put quite a few of them in the teachers’ windows.

What are the main goals and initiatives within the group? What are members of the GSA excited about?
Last year we did create a mission and a vision. Within that mission and vision are our three goals: 1) Educate, to create more education and knowledge about the different facets of the LGBTQ+ community; 2) advocate for the rights of those students within the group as well as their peers; and 3) support and create a supportive social environment. The three goals are trying to work together to create a healthier school environment.

Are there any fun events on the horizon or has Covid minimized that?
This last year we did actually manage to take part in a local parade. We marched together as the GSA. We've had guest speakers. We had one last week and are having another one in two weeks. We are working on a social event for our GSA. In December we had a meet and greet with other GSA’s from the area where professionals in the community opened a Q&A and shared their stories with the students. So, with being such a new group, we’ve done quite a few things. I think we’ve done an excellent job trying to move forward.

What are you looking forward to most in your career at Sheboygan Falls?
Continuing to develop as an educator, continuing learning better classroom management and continuing to foster healthy relationships with my students and my colleagues. Also, continuing to see the GSA have such a positive impact on the rest of the student body, as well as seeing how that’s helped students who are part of the group. Last year when we started the group there was about ten students, maybe less, and now we have between 50 to 60.

Is there anything else you’d like your fellow union members to know about the work you’re doing as an early career educator?
I would say that if you are thinking about forming a GSA, I would definitely do it! There are lots of students out there who maybe are not comfortable with their identity or they don’t know how to express themselves. They’re not really sure where they fall, and having a strong role model that says this is normal, this is healthy, to be part of this community standing up for them and making them feel visible and feeling is so rewarding. So if you’re thinking about starting a GSA, I would definitely start a GSA!

Read more about starting your own GSA here.

Know a fellow union member we should feature in the Member Spotlight? Let us know!
Next Region 3 Roundtable
March 1st, 6pm

This year, CPI is set at 4.7%, which provides Locals with an opportunity to win more at the negotiations table than in past years. Now's the time to gear up and develop a game plan with your Meet & Confer/Negotiations Team. Join us for a conversation on total base wage negotiations, CPI, and creative proposals. 

Region 3 is taking nominations for Executive Committee positions:
 
Delegates to the WEAC Region 3 RA will be electing the following positions to the WR3 Executive Committee: 
 
  • Officer positions for two-year terms: President and Vice President
  • At-large position for one-year term: ESP Member-at-Large
  • Zone Leaders for one-year term: Zones A, B, C, D North, D South, E, F.
 
To determine which Zone your local is in, please click HERE. To view the duties of each, please click HERE.
 
In order to be elected to one of these positions, nominees must be a local delegate (either the local president or their alternate, or elected by the local) or delegate-at-large to the WR3 RA. 

Send nominations to region3@weac.org.
Wisconsin Lifetime License Background Check

Wis. Admin Code s. PI 34.041 requires educators who hold a valid Lifetime license to submit a request to the department to have a new background check conducted and to confirm employment status at least once every five years. The request shall be made between January 1 and June 30 of the fifth year since the individual's last background check.  If your most recent background check was in 2017, you are due to submit an application to DPI in order to maintain your Lifetime license.  You must submit this application to DPI by June 30, 2022, to maintain your Lifetime license.  
 
Follow the Application Directions for Background Check to Maintain Lifetime License to submit your background check HERE .
Next Region 3/GBEA National Board Support Session - February 17
 
WEAC, Region 3 and GBEA have organized ongoing monthly National Board Support for the 2021-2022 cycle. Sessions will be held in person at the WEAC Region 3 office but with a virtual option and facilitated by Sarah Johnston (Marinette) and Ellie Hinz-Radue (Green Bay).
 
Campaign Kickoff

Through the Just One campaign last year, we were able to quadruple the number of new members we normally recruit with Early Enrollment! Given it's success, we are continuing this program starting April 1st of this year. We will have a training available to members who want to participate in the program and learn how to strengthen their union. Our training will be Thursday, April 7th at 4:30. Register HERE.

Members who successfully recruit new members through Early Enrollment will be entered to win up to ten $50 gift cards. Participants will receive weekly email updates containing wins and best practices from around the Region!
WEAC Webinar Wednesday

On Wednesday, March 2, be sure to register for Informational Design for Teaching and Learning. Information design is the practice of organizing and arranging information, which includes text, graphics, and other elements. Whether you’re aware of it or not, you follow or break principles of information design every time you create a document, presentation, or other form of communication. In this session, you’ll learn the basics of information design, and discover ways that you can use those basics to sharpen, clarify, and enhance your communication with students, families, colleagues, and organizations.

Register HERE.
 
Check with your municipal clerk for specific dates and times for registering to vote, requesting an absentee ballot, in-person early voting, and election day voting.

Spring Elections Are
Right Around the Corner!
 
Help elect the candidates for local school boards who will fight for healthy, safe, and well-funded public schools and the educators that make those schools great!
 
 
And if you really like politics . .

The Region 3 Legislative Committee has openings for a Committee Chair and Committee Members.
 
As public employees, Region 3 members are tremendously impacted by politics, the political process, and the decisions made by legislators, legislatures, and school boards. If you are looking for a way to contribute to Region 3, the Legislative Committee needs your passion, experience, and knowledge to formulate plans, identify priorities, and generate a sustainable voice for members in the political process.
 
The Committee generally meets a couple times each year with at least a virtual option. For in-person meetings, food and mileage reimbursement will be provided. If interested email Region 3.
This is an 11.0101(10)(b)(1) communication with WEAC members