Representing: How you can help
Join the Tacoma Specialists Advocacy Council
Are you passionate about improving the culture and attitudes around the role of specialists in education? Join the team! Our work works! But it is work and to represent Specialists effectively, we need team members in PE, Library and Music.
You are invited to come to our next meeting. Come try it out!
Wednesday, August 10th at 10:30 am
(Most of our meetings are on Zoom in the evenings, but TEA is hosting this one at their offices.)
Be a TEA Building Rep
Serve your building by creating a direct link with the union. Having Specialists voices in our Association has enabled us to make steps toward better professional lives. As we continue the work toward equity, quality instruction, and safety, it is important that we as a group are heard. Check with your building to find our what being a rep involves and to throw your hat into the ring.
Change the Conversation
Check your language (and actions) to be sure that you are not perpetuating the idea that Specialists are merely planning time coverage for "real" teachers. The goal is not to drive wedges, but to encourage those around us(as well as ourselves) to think differently.
For example, referring to non-specialists as "Homeroom Teachers" instead of "Grade-level Teachers" or "Classroom Teachers". Specialists are both Grade-level and Classroom teachers. This simply looks different because of the number of students we serve and the nature of our work.
A homeroom teacher's work day is a mixture of Instructional Time --actively instructing--and Contact Time--supervising work and play, housekeeping, traveling, etc., while the Specialist day is almost entirely Instructional Time. This means Specialists have different needs to provide quality instruction for our students and to keep ourselves safe and healthy in mind and body than those of homeroom teachers.
All for One and One for All
Claim your contractual rights. They are hard-won, and if you waive them, it makes it harder for someone else to claim them. "It's the only way", is not a reason to allow an uncomfortable, inequitable, or non-contractual situation. This just means that administration must go back and rethink things.
Turn "Take one for the Team" on it's head. By claiming, or "taking" your rights, you are improving equity, safety, and the quality of instruction for not only Specialists, but other staff and students across the district. So take them for all of us. Your teammates have your back.
