we2.0 Washington Education Association Volume 50, Number 2 – Spring 2012 Our decisions today will affect the Class of 2020 and beyond. Spring 2012 1 Our public schools, and our rights as employees to McKenna’s attacks on educators get personal speak out for students, are under attack. But WEA Theresa Lee-Hodson would be a great helping students in Bethel. She is a fiercely teacher to offer state Attorney General Rob independent voter with a Catholic upbringing. members are as committed McKenna a lesson in classing up his politics. A fiscally conservative small-business owner. to ensuring that our students “I don’t want to say anything negative about A military veteran. A college graduate. A get the best education the other person because I don’t believe in self-described patriot. possible, now and in the negative campaigning,” Lee-Hodson said as an “If you threaten what makes our country future. That’s why it’s aside during last month’s WEA Representative so wonderful which is this idea that people critical to realize that the Assembly in Spokane. But her good example fought for, that every – every – child has a attacks on workers’ rights didn’t stop McKenna from openly mocking right to a free public education ― you threaten in Wisconsin, Michigan, her a few days later as he stepped up his attack that, and you threaten our democracy,” Idaho, Arizona, Ohio and on workers’ rights during a speech at the state Lee-Hodson said. elsewhere around the Republican convention. “I used to be a Republican precinct committeeman, so this is never easy for me. nation are not just distant ‘I believe Jay But the reason I support Jay Inslee is that events, but a blueprint Inslee will do right now our public education system is being of what will happen here what is right for threatened. It’s under attack,” she said. “I don’t depending on the outcome our state, what want to be negative about McKenna but I’m of Washington’s governor’s is right for our just going to have to say it: I’m afraid. I support race. The attacks here have Jay Inslee because of fear. I’m really concerned already surfaced with the students, and for about what I’ve heard from McKenna. … I attempted health-care our educators.’ believe Jay Inslee will do what is right for our state, what is right for our students, and for takeover this spring, but – Theresa Lee-Hodson WEA members rallied in 8th grade teacher, Spokane our educators. I don’t think McKenna will. their local communities and I don’t think that the other side has the best “There’s a clip with an interview of a teacher interests of our students at heart. From what prevented the worst of the (in a WEA video) who says, quote, ‘I support I’ve heard, what I’ve read, it’s just impossible for changes. The message from Jay Inslee because of fear,’” McKenna told me to believe anything good will come from school employees in other his supporters. McKenna becoming our next governor.” states: recognize the “Isn’t it striking that these union leaders, She is no stranger to the political process, seriousness of this who are supposed to be concerned about our and has long since grown disgusted by political coordinated attack now, children … are more concerned about their attacks like McKenna’s, but she keeps her before the governor’s jobs and about fear and their union than they focus on her students. election, and fight to protect are about the kids?” McKenna continued. “I will support Jay Inslee,” Lee-Hodson your schools, your students So who is this supposedly selfish “union says. “I will make the phone calls. I will do leader” that McKenna pointedly disparaged, and your voice as middle- the door-belling. I’m really worried about our and why didn’t he explain to his supporters the public education system.” class workers. real reason she’s afraid? Theresa Lee-Hodson is an eighth-grade Learn more about who Jay Inslee is, and why history and a ninth-grade economics he’s won the support of classroom educators, teacher. She has dedicated her career to on page 4. 2 Perspective 4 Why WEA backs Jay Inslee 3 Our Voice 6 Innovation at work Governance and Administration: We 2.0 (ISSN 1544-5283) is published quarterly by the Mary Lindquist, WEA President Washington Education Association, 32032 Weyerhaeuser Way S., Washington Mike Ragan, WEA Vice President Federal Way, WA 98001-9687. Subscription cost of $1.18 is Education John Okamoto, WEA Executive Director included in annual membership dues. Separate subscription Association price: $15.50 annually. WEA Communications Staff: Dale Folkerts, Brooke Mattox, Lisa Kodama, Eddie Westerman, Linda Woo and Rich Wood Copyright 2012 by the Washington Education Association. We are interested in your feedback and ideas. Reach Editor Linda Woo Periodical nonprofit postage paid at Auburn, WA, and at [email protected], by mail at P.O. Box 9100, Federal Way, WA additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send Scan with your smartphone 98063-9100, or 253-765-7027. address changes to We 2.0, P.O. Box 9100, Federal Way, to stay connected to WEA. WA 98063-9100. 2 Washington Education Association McKenna’s attacks on educators get personal Legislators in Olympia tackle Nearly 600 WEA u members, parents, After a 60-day regular session and a 30-day The state is failing to fund K-12 education as administrators, special session, the Washington Legislature finally required by the state Constitution. students and other u friends of public adjourned in the early morning hours of April 11. Maintaining the status quo isn’t realistic. u education gathered For public education, the results were mixed: The pressure for government “reform” in Olympia for a u Legislators passed a state budget plan that, for will continue. Day of Action to let u legislators know the first time in three years, did not cut funding Lawmakers want more centralized state Washington can’t for K-12 schools or higher education. Yet control over education. afford any more cuts u lawmakers eliminated Initiative 728, the class- When WEA members care about an issue, to public education. The Nov. 28, 2011 size reduction measure voters approved in 2000. they take action – and their advocacy makes u events led to record With strong opposition from WEA members, a difference. number member charter school legislation failed (again). Yet lobby visits, local Looking ahead, we can anticipate: gatherings and legislators passed a new teacher and principal u A charter school ballot initiative funded by future “Wear Red” evaluation law that was written behind closed very rich businesspeople. days throughout the doors and with no input from actual u legislative session A battle over teacher compensation, including to further highlight classroom teachers. u merit pay and the elimination of local the political games WEA members defeated the proposed bargaining over salaries. in Olympia over state takeover of K-12 health care and the u school employee Pressure on the Legislature to comply with corresponding loss of local bargaining rights. health insurance. the state Supreme Court’s McCleary ruling, Yet legislators passed a confusing health care which ordered lawmakers to fully fund basic law that didn’t address the real inequities in K-12 education by 2018. health care funding. u Continued attacks by the Public School With everything from evaluations to health Employees union, which deliberately tried to care at stake, WEA members played a big role in undermine and discredit WEA during the Olympia this year. More than 800 members traveled fight over health care. to the capital and lobbied their legislators in person. And mostly importantly, throughout the 2012 Nearly 10,000 emailed their lawmakers. Another election cycle and into the 2013 legislative session, 4,000 attended back-home health care rallies. Others the future of public education in Washington largely doorbelled in their legislative districts, and many rests with WEA members. called the legislative hotline or wrote postcards to their legislators. Read the end of session report compiled by WEA’s lobbyists WEA provided support by running full-page ads at www.washingtonea.org/content/docs/gr/eos.pdf in several daily newspapers and airing three statewide radio ads. Plus, thousands of WEA members received live and automated calls and postcards on the health care issue. While the results were mixed, the outcome would have been very different without WEA’s advocacy. Looking back at the 2012 legislative session, some things are clear: u Political deals sometimes get made in secret without input from the people affected. u Big, powerful corporations usually get their way. u The state’s revenue system is inadequate. WEA members joined Idaho educators across the bridge from Clarkston to Lewiston in a show of solidarity on Nov. 28, 2011. Spring 2012 3 Born 1951, grew up in White Center; father and brother worked as teachers. Married his high school sweetheart, Trudi; lived and worked in Eastern Washington nearly 20 years and the couple raised three sons in the Yakima Valley. Started his career in public service with a successful eighth attempt to pass a school construction bond (after seven community tries had failed). Later represented Eastern Washington in the state Legislature and in Congress, before moving back to the Puget Sound region and winning re-election in 1998. Education proposals: Investing in education and job training programs that match growth industries in our state will revitalize our state’s economy, Inslee applauds existing says WEA-PAC recommended gubernatorial candidate Jay Inslee.