In 2001, Kay Hansen decided it was time to get more involved in her profession and become more of an advocate for public education and children in Wisconsin.

Hansen, a paraeducator in the media center at Denmark Elementary School, came to the WEAC Summer Academy that year and enrolled in a session called Emerging Voices.

"Now, I've emerged and am a trainer," she said at the 2006 WEAC Summer Academy in Appleton.

This is a special year for Hansen because one of her "students" is her daughter, Kara Olson, a third-year school psychologist who is moving from the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District to the Ripon School District this fall.

Olson said she isn't sure at this point how active she will become, but she's ready to explore the possibilities.

"I wanted to come and learn more about it and see where my interests lie," she said.

If she follows in her mother's footsteps, the children of Wisconsin will benefit greatly. Hansen found the 2001 "Emerging Voices" training so inspirational that she has since become extremely active in WEAC and the NEA. Hansen, who is a former WEAC Education Support Professional of the Year, serves on the WEAC Board of Directors and is co-chair of the WEAC Bargaining Goals Committee. She is also the Denmark association's ESP president and chief negotiator. And she was just elected at the NEA Representative Assembly this summer to be an ESP at-large member of the NEA Board of Directors

Throughout her life, Kara has been influenced by her mother's dedication to children and public education.

"My mom being in school opened my eyes to it," said Kara, who received her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and her master's degree from UW-Whitewater.

"I talk about it all the time," Hansen said. "We are not just a labor union. We are also there to be advocates for kids and public education. Who else is going to speak for the kids?"

At the Emerging Voices session, Kara and other participants are learning what it takes to be a leader and be involved in advocating for kids. Kara said, for her, it's an extension of what she's already doing in the schools.

"Advocating for kids. It's the reason I do what I do," she said.

The 2006 WEAC Summer Academy was Sunday, July 30, to Wednesday, August 2, at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton.

This summer’s Academy featured a variety of training tracks and opportunities to network and have fun with members from throughout the state. Bargaining team members, building reps, UniServ and local leaders worked to improve their skills while practicing with some of the latest support tools and best practices.

Courses included public relations, member engagement, advanced and beginning bargaining, and more. Courses provided assistance to teachers seeking National Board Certification, informed educators about present issues involved in tax and funding legislation, focused on how to relate current teaching practice to the Ten Wisconsin Teaching Standards and more.

Updated August 4, 2006