A strong union lets me connect students to learning
Amanda Long taught in Greensboro, NC before moving back to Washington to teach kindergarten. Being a WEA member, she says, gives her a sense of not having to do everything by herself.
Amanda says one of the biggest differences she has noticed now that she has a strong union contract is that her expertise is taken more seriously and that she receives pay for work she does outside of her workday, something she never got in North Carolina.
She likes that her contract allows her to push back when she feels something is not working well for her students. “When I had a problem before, I couldn’t do anything about it. I had no choice. Now, if something feels off, I can say it without repercussions,” she says.
Planning time is sacred and it’s not fair to have to give it up, Amanda says. Planning time was completely disregarded in her school in Greensboro. She also says she appreciates that her contract brings her extra compensation for extra students above a cap in her kindergarten class.
Amanda serves on her union executive committee because she likes to take action to help solve problems and taking action is the first step.
“I belong because being a union member lets me do what is closest to my heart -- connecting students to learning.”
