Last year Antwanette Shipman often felt unvalued due to a toxic work environment. She had created a five-year exit plan to leave the profession if things didn’t get better. But now they have. Antwanette took a bold step and transferred to a new school, her current worksite Lake Myra Elementary in Wake County, where she teaches second grade and is happy and thriving.
She shared this story with an organizer who recently visited her classroom as part of the Wake NCAE Membership Blitz. The PENC member made the decision to join NCAE after hearing about how the local provides support for its members, its list of successful wins, and efforts to organize educators, like her, to be part of the movement to grow the union, lead the profession and restore the promise of public schools and our democracy.
Over the course of the two-day Blitz, educators had conversations with NCAE leaders, staff and members on topics ranging from the current political climate, to educators’ lack of autonomy, to students’ social-emotional well-being. Whether administrators, teachers or support staff, they graciously invited team members into their schools, were receptive, and welcomed being able to have their concerns heard.
The Wake NCAE Blitz yielded a total of 55 new members, more than 170 conversations, and 28 potential leaders were identified. “The Wake Week of Action was an exciting opportunity for member leaders to develop organizing skills and build their leadership capacity to grow our local union,” said Christina Spears, president of Wake NCAE. “We are thrilled to welcome our new members at 14 worksites and plug them into an organizing structure that wins real improvements for our working conditions and students’ learning conditions.”
