A New Set Of Voices: Milwaukee Education Assistants Add Diversity

The addition of 2,500 active, diverse and experienced Milwaukee educational assistants will make WEAC a much stronger association, the president of the unit said following this spring’s unification vote.

“We have a group that really likes to get involved, and we bring a lot of knowledge, new ideas and a fresh perspective.” — Kris Strnad —

“This group brings in new ideas and new ways of looking at the next level of education reform,” said Kris Strnad, president of the Milwaukee Educational Assistants Association.

“We have a group that really likes to get involved, and we bring a lot of knowledge, new ideas and a fresh perspective.”

MEAA members have a great deal of experience with difficult situations — the type of behavioral and learning challenges that are more pronounced in Milwaukee but are also becoming increasingly common in other parts of the state.

“We can offer a lot of advice and training in how to handle these situations as they filter out to other communities,” she said.

In addition, the Milwaukee educational assistants bring a lot of diversity to the organization, she said. More than 60% of MEAA members are minorities.

MEAA members voted overwhelmingly in March to unify with WEAC/NEA. The MEAA already was affiliated with the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association. MTEA teacher members re-unified with WEAC/NEA three years ago.

The MEAA unification is a win-win situation, Strnad said, because it benefits WEAC/NEA and it benefits MEAA members.

Training

One of the biggest advantages of unification for MEAA members, she said, is new training opportunities that will help them perform their current jobs better and advance to better paying positions.

Under the unification agreement, WEAC/NEA is working with the WEA Professional Development Academy to provide special training opportunities for MEAA members. The agreement provides $10,000 next year, $12,500 the following year, and $15,000 in 1999-2000 for special training opportunities.

Strnad said members are being surveyed to determine what types of training they want to pursue. Options include university courses, staff development, personal growth, and inservice credits.

Under the MEAA contract with the Milwaukee School Board, members can earn inservice credits. General assistants can work toward becoming para-professionals, and para-professionals can work toward becoming teachers.

The WEAC/NEA training opportunities will make it much more convenient and less expensive to pursue those goals.

Legislation

As a result of the unification, MEAA members and WEAC will work together as a stronger single force to fight against policies that threaten the job security of educational assistants.

“Tommy Thompson seems to just really love Milwaukee. And with the things he’s looking at — privatization and charter schools — the first jobs that are going to go are out of our unit,” Strnad said.

MEAA members will benefit from the resources of WEAC, and WEAC members throughout the state will benefit from the lobbying strength that 2,500 new members add to the organization.

Insurance

WEA Insurance offers MEAA members better, less expensive and more reliable insurance options.

Networking

WEAC and the NEA provide new opportunities for MEAA members “to be involved statewide and nationwide,” Strnad said. State and national conferences offer members a chance to interact with many colleagues and share experiences and ideas, she said.

The unification officially begins September 1, and Strnad said MEAA members will begin benefitting from it “as soon as they decide to take advantage of it.”

Posted April 28, 1997